Why Do We Keep Comparing 'Empire's Female Characters To Real Housewives?

Why Do We Keep Comparing 'Empire's Female Characters To Real Housewives?
EMPIRE: Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) visits an old friend in the 'Devil Quotes Scripture' episode airing Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (Photo by FOX via Getty Images)
EMPIRE: Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) visits an old friend in the 'Devil Quotes Scripture' episode airing Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (Photo by FOX via Getty Images)

Since its premiere, Empire has drawn many comparisons to female-centric, deliberately trashy reality soaps in the vein of the Real Housewives franchise. Some critics have deemed this a good thing, as when Dave Schilling, in Grantland, wrote about Cookie’s inspirational debt to reality TV: “Bravo reality shows offer a view of femininity (especially black femininity) that was rarely expressed in the popular culture.” Others have dismissed Cookie as little more than a “nicely wrapped up” stereotype of the loud, abrasive black woman.

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