The New York Post wrote an article recently on what they think could be causing the show’s sophomore slump, and the writer shaded Bryshere’s acting skills in the process.
Here’s an excerpt:
The show’s success has also resulted in some weird stunt casting, like putting comic Chris Rock in the role of hardened criminal Frank Gathers. No way does Rock give off even a whiff of homicidal tendencies. When a series such as “Empire” makes it big, everyone comes crawling out of the woodwork trying to get a guest spot (for bragging rights). So far we’ve seen Marisa Tomei as a billionaire who invests in Empire records and Ludacris as a prison guard. Thematically, the show is about making stars — not bringing on those who’ve seen better days. Having Courtney Love on last season as an aging star worked — but we didn’t need to see Naomi Campbell as Hakeem’s old girlfriend. Stop the madness.
Going forward, “Empire” just has to do better. The episodes play like a broken record. In any given scene, the two younger Lyon brothers, pouty Jamal and Hakeem (Bryshere Y. Gray, who could use a few acting lessons), bicker over status and power. Their divorced parents bicker in a more sophisticated game of one-upmanship. And on the really pathetic front, eldest son Andre (Trai Byers) offers to go to jail for a murder his wife (Kaitlin Doubleday) committed — just so he can get back into the family business. This guy has an MBA. He can’t get another job? That “Empire” seems stalled is a surprise, considering executive producer Danny Strong’s Emmy-winning track record at HBO (“Game Change,” “Recount”). Maybe he can get the show on track again.
He does need to take some classes tho.
They better stop shading my boyfriend.
I don’t think he’s the worst on the show.
He got hired because he’s eye candy. The Post needs to stop hating. *giggles*
Well he said Will Smith is mentoring him now so he probably will take some lessons eventually.
This is his first acting job and he’s never done it before. I’m sure he will take classes to improve. Most do.
Sh-t he can’t act. There’s no need to pretend he can.
Jussie can’t act (or sing) either.
You need to stop lying.
He’s not the best but he isn’t the worst. Isn’t this like his first acting job? What do people expect from him to turn into Denzel after 15 episodes. This isn’t season 5 it’s barely season 2 people need to lighten up.
LOL
He’s fine as hell so he can get away with bad acting. Jussie too. Even though he’s not even into women. :-/
He can’t act but he looks good on camera and he has swag.