Taraji P. Henson's initial reaction to 'Empire': 'This is stupid ... dumb dumb dumb dumb'

Empire was the hottest show of the new TV season, but even star Taraji P. Henson wasn't convinced it would be a hit when co-creator Lee Daniels pitched it to her.

She recalls her less-than-enthusiastic reaction for W magazine:
“I was like, This is stupid. Hip-hop -- dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb. But then I started to think, Cookie is going to piss so many people off! She hits her son with a broom; she talks back. Clearly, this was a challenge.”
Clearly, it's paid off. Empire is Fox's biggest (non-American Idol) hit in years and Taraji seems to be a shoo-in for an Emmy. And, like the rest of us, she's thinks Cookie is EVERYTHING.
“Cookie is bold and crazy, and she loves the struggle. She started from nothing, and now she’s at the top. In that way, we’re alike: Cookie is the American Dream.”