Jussie Smollett is poised to return to Empire - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 06-04-2019, 07:40 PM

https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/jus...-6-1203232805/

Variety reports the "road is being cleared" for Smollett to return to the Fox drama for the latter half of the sixth and final season after he was removed from the show following assault case controversy. "According to multiple production sources, Empire’s writers are currently breaking ideas for the Fox show’s sixth and final season with the expectation that Smollett will appear in the back half of the 18-episode season," reports Variety's Joe Otterson. "Smollett was written out of the final episodes of the show’s fifth season following severe backlash stemming from accusations the actor and musician faked a hate crime against himself earlier this year in Chicago. The same sources also note tensions were ratcheted up on set between the show’s primarily black cast members, who still believe Smollett is innocent, and the mostly white below-the-line crew, many of whom believe Smollett is guilty. The hope is that those tensions will have eased in the break between seasons should Smollett come back, but no final decisions on his return have yet been made." During Fox's upfronts week last month, Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Colliers said "we have no plans" to bring back Smollett. Fox Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television declined to comment to Variety.

Mr. Television · 06-04-2019, 08:03 PM

Hypocrites. How anyone can take Hollywood serious I'll never know.

JamesG · 06-04-2019, 08:14 PM

"Empire" Creator Lee Daniels Confirms that Jussie Smollett is not Returning
by Dave Nemetz
June 4, 2019

Jamal Lyon’s "Empire" reign has officially ended: Embattled cast member Jussie Smollett will not be returning to the Fox drama, creator Lee Daniels stated emphatically on Tuesday.

Daniels’ declaration came in response to a report from our sister site Variety that "Empire" writers were planning to bring Smollett’s character Jamal back in the latter half of the upcoming sixth (and final) season.

Replying to a tweet, Daniels fired back: “This is not factual. Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire. LD”

https://tvline.com/2019/06/04/jussie...6-lee-daniels/

JamesG · 08-07-2019, 02:09 PM

Fox Confirms Jussie Smollett will not Return to "Empire" for Final Season
by Michael Ausiello
August 7, 2019

Why did Fox extend embattled "Empire" star Jussie Smollett‘s contract through the sixth and final season if producers never intended to bring him back? Fox’s top exec clarified the seemingly counter-intuitive move on Wednesday at the Television Critics Assoc. summer press tour.

“As much as anything in cases like this, and they’re all so unique, you try gather all the information,” Charlie Collier, CEO Fox Entertainment, explained. “You try to make a good decision at the time. Lee [Daniels] is right. There’s no plans for Jussie to return to Empire.”

https://tvline.com/2019/08/07/jussie...-spoilers-fox/

06-04-2019, 07:40 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,587	Jussie Smollett is poised to return to Empire https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/jus...-6-1203232805/ Variety reports the "road is being cleared" for Smollett to return to the Fox drama for the latter half of the sixth and final season after he was removed from the show following assault case controversy. "According to multiple production sources, Empire’s writers are currently breaking ideas for the Fox show’s sixth and final season with the expectation that Smollett will appear in the back half of the 18-episode season," reports Variety's Joe Otterson. "Smollett was written out of the final episodes of the show’s fifth season following severe backlash stemming from accusations the actor and musician faked a hate crime against himself earlier this year in Chicago. The same sources also note tensions were ratcheted up on set between the show’s primarily black cast members, who still believe Smollett is innocent, and the mostly white below-the-line crew, many of whom believe Smollett is guilty. The hope is that those tensions will have eased in the break between seasons should Smollett come back, but no final decisions on his return have yet been made." During Fox's upfronts week last month, Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Colliers said "we have no plans" to bring back Smollett. Fox Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television declined to comment to Variety.

06-04-2019, 08:03 PM	#2
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	Hypocrites. How anyone can take Hollywood serious I'll never know.
	__________________ Sonny

06-04-2019, 08:14 PM	#3
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,966	*"Empire" Creator Lee Daniels Confirms that Jussie Smollett is not Returning* by Dave Nemetz June 4, 2019 Jamal Lyon’s "Empire" reign has officially ended: Embattled cast member Jussie Smollett will not be returning to the Fox drama, creator Lee Daniels stated emphatically on Tuesday. Daniels’ declaration came in response to a report from our sister site Variety that "Empire" writers were planning to bring Smollett’s character Jamal back in the latter half of the upcoming sixth (and final) season. Replying to a tweet, Daniels fired back: “This is not factual. Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire. LD” https://tvline.com/2019/06/04/jussie...6-lee-daniels/

08-07-2019, 02:09 PM	#4
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,966	*Fox Confirms Jussie Smollett will not Return to "Empire" for Final Season* by Michael Ausiello August 7, 2019 Why did Fox extend embattled "Empire" star Jussie Smollett‘s contract through the sixth and final season if producers never intended to bring him back? Fox’s top exec clarified the seemingly counter-intuitive move on Wednesday at the Television Critics Assoc. summer press tour. “As much as anything in cases like this, and they’re all so unique, you try gather all the information,” Charlie Collier, CEO Fox Entertainment, explained. “You try to make a good decision at the time. Lee [Daniels] is right. There’s no plans for Jussie to return to Empire.” https://tvline.com/2019/08/07/jussie...-spoilers-fox/