The Oval Is OVER?! After 7 Seasons, Tyler Perry Really Left Us With THAT Ending?

Chile, somebody check the White House, check the bunker, check the pharmacy, check the security cameras, and while you're at it, CHECK ON THE VIEWERS!

Because Tyler Perry’s The Oval has officially reached the end of the road after seven seasons, and I have questions.

Actually, forget questions.

I need ANSWERS.

BET announced that Season 7 would be the final season of The Oval, meaning there is currently no Season 8 coming to clean up the mess.

And after watching how this show went out?

Tyler Perry...

Sir.

YOU CANNOT JUST LEAVE THE HOUSE LIKE THIS!

You can't invite us into this fictional White House for seven seasons, have everybody lying, cheating, plotting, poisoning, shooting, kidnapping, fighting and carrying on like security clearance came free with a Happy Meal—and then turn the lights off while we're still looking for answers.

So Was The Oval Canceled?

Technically, there's an important distinction here.

BET presented Season 7 as the seventh and final season rather than announcing a sudden midseason cancellation. So the show was given a final run and reached its series finale with Episode 22, “The Filthy Rat,” on September 30, 2026.

But for the average viewer?

Baby, the result feels the same.

NO SEASON 8.

That's the part that hurts.

And what makes it even messier is that The Oval didn't exactly walk quietly into television retirement.

Oh no.

This show flipped the table, knocked over the chairs, set the curtains on fire and walked out the front door without telling us whether everybody made it out alive.

Seven Seasons of Absolute Foolishness

Let's give The Oval its flowers for a minute.

This show understood its assignment.

Was it realistic?

Please.

Half the things happening inside this White House would've had CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, TMZ, TikTok, YouTube and somebody's auntie on Facebook Live outside the gates within fifteen minutes.

But that's why we watched!

We weren't tuning into The Oval for a lesson in American government.

We wanted DRAMA.

We wanted Victoria walking into rooms like she owned the building, the government and everybody's Social Security number.

We wanted Hunter behaving like somebody who had never heard the words "consequences for your actions."

We wanted secret conversations.

We wanted betrayals.

We wanted somebody standing behind a door listening to something they had absolutely no business hearing.

And The Oval delivered that type of foolishness for SEVEN SEASONS.

Every time you thought things couldn't get crazier, Tyler Perry said:

"Hold my script."

And Then Came That Finale...

Now this is where I'm giving the television the side-eye.

Because if you're going to tell me this is the SERIES FINALE, I expect some closure.

I'm not saying everybody needs to ride into the sunset holding hands while inspirational music plays.

This is The Oval.

Somebody probably needs to get arrested.

Somebody probably needs to get exposed.

Somebody probably needs to get shot.

Somebody definitely needs to be dragged.

That's the world we've been living in.

But I need to know what happened!

Instead, the finale left several major situations hanging.

Kareem's Situation Was BRUTAL

Kareem's storyline took an especially dark turn.

After everything happening around him, his kidnappers turned against him, and he was shot repeatedly before his body was dumped.

GOOD LORD.

Tyler!

We said give us a finale.

We didn't say turn the television into a crime scene.

Kareem's fate was among the clearest of the episode, while several other characters were left in much murkier territory.

Jason and Victoria Were Still Giving Us Pure Chaos

Then we have Jason.

Now if you've watched this show from the beginning, you already know Jason has been involved in enough madness to fill an entire separate series.

And Victoria?

Victoria has spent seven seasons making me wonder whether this woman has ever had a relaxing afternoon.

Has Victoria ever sat down with a cup of tea?

Taken a bubble bath?

Watched The Price Is Right?

Anything?!

Because every time we see this woman, she's plotting something.

In the finale, Jason ends up at Victoria's mercy, and she begins injecting him.

But instead of giving viewers a clean, definitive answer about his fate, the episode leaves room for uncertainty.

Excuse me?

THIS IS THE SERIES FINALE!

Why am I still guessing?

I'm not supposed to be doing homework after the graduation ceremony!

Priscilla and Simone Had Me YELLING

Then there's the explosion involving Priscilla and Simone.

Jason plants a bomb at Priscilla's house.

The explosion happens.

And then?

We're left wondering whether they survived.

TYLER!

Sir!

Come back into the room!

You forgot to finish the story!

This would make perfect sense if BET announced:

"Season 8 premieres next summer."

Fine.

Give me the cliffhanger.

I'll complain for ten months and then come right back like I always do.

But when you're telling me this is the SERIES FINALE?

I need receipts.

Who survived?

Who didn't?

Who's going to prison?

Who's leaving town?

Who gets away with everything?

WHO IS STILL BREATHING?!

Don't make me create my own ending in Microsoft Word.

And What About Eli?!

Eli's situation didn't exactly give us peace either.

He's poisoned and shown in serious distress, leaving yet another character's fate uncertain.

At this point I needed BET to put a disclaimer across the screen:

"Please make up your own ending."

Because that's basically what we're doing.

Everybody grab a notebook.

We're finishing Season 8 ourselves.

Maybe That's the Point?

Now let me be fair.

Sometimes writers intentionally leave endings ambiguous.

Not every television series needs to wrap every storyline in a perfect little bow.

Real life doesn't work that way either.

Sometimes we don't know what happens next.

Sometimes endings are messy.

Sometimes questions remain unanswered.

And maybe Tyler Perry wanted viewers debating these characters long after the credits rolled.

If that's the goal?

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Because people are definitely going to talk about this ending.

But there's a difference between an ending that makes you think and an ending that makes you check Google to make sure you didn't accidentally miss another episode.

And The Oval finale definitely had some viewers feeling like:

"Wait...THAT was it?!"

Could The Oval Ever Come Back?

Never say never in television.

Shows get revived.

Characters get spin-offs.

Networks change plans.

Streaming platforms pick up programs.

Reunions happen.

Movies happen.

We've seen television shows return years after everyone thought they were finished.

But as things currently stand, Season 7 was announced as the final season, and there is no announced Season 8.

So unless Tyler Perry or BET decides to revisit this universe later, this is where we're leaving these characters.

And THAT is wild.

I'm Going to Miss This Crazy Show

I can drag The Oval all day, but here's the truth:

I'm going to miss it.

Sometimes you need television that doesn't require a dissertation.

Sometimes you want to sit down, grab something to eat and watch fictional people make decisions that make you scream:

"WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"

That's entertainment.

And The Oval gave us plenty of it.

Seven seasons is also nothing to sneeze at.

Most television shows don't make it anywhere near that long.

So whether you loved The Oval, hated it, hate-watched it, complained about it every week or threatened to stop watching 47 times before returning the following Tuesday...

You were watching.

And that's why saying goodbye feels strange.

My Final Thoughts

The Oval ending after seven seasons feels like the end of one of television's messiest fictional administrations.

There were murders.

Affairs.

Secrets.

Kidnappings.

Threats.

Power struggles.

Family drama.

Political drama.

And enough criminal activity to keep an entire law firm employed until 2057.

Was the finale satisfying?

That's going to depend heavily on how you feel about cliffhangers and ambiguous endings.

Personally, I wanted more closure.

If you're calling something a series finale, I want to finish the episode knowing where the major characters landed.

Instead, The Oval practically shut the door while we were still standing in the hallway.

And maybe that's why we're going to keep talking about it.

Seven seasons later, Tyler Perry left us with one final gift:

MESS.

Beautiful, ridiculous, frustrating television MESS.

And somehow...

That's very The Oval.

NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Were you satisfied with The Oval series finale?

Do you think Season 7 was the right time to end the show?

Which character deserved a better ending?

And most importantly:

DO YOU WANT A SEASON 8?!

Drop your thoughts in the comments because I KNOW some of y'all have something to say about this one!

And if you're a fellow reality-TV and television addict who loves reviews, recaps, gossip, drama and a little shade with your entertainment news, follow the blog, share this post and come back for more.

Because one show might be ending...

BUT THE MESS NEVER STOPS! 😂☕🔥

#TheOval #TheOvalBET #TylerPerry #TheOvalSeason7 #TheOvalFinale #BET #TVReview #SeriesFinale #TVDrama

Dorothy Wang Is Pregnant! From Bling Empire to “I Do” to Baby — Honey, Life Is Moving FAST!

Okay, everybody, pull up a chair, grab your coffee, wine, tea, or whatever you sip when celebrity news starts getting GOOD, because Dorothy Wang has entered a whole new era.

Yes, THAT Dorothy Wang.

The fabulous, fashionable, outspoken Dorothy we watched serve money, personality, friendship drama, dating conversations, luxury vacations, designer everything, and plenty of opinions on reality television is officially preparing for motherhood.

Dorothy Wang and her husband, Brandon Yankowitz, are expecting their first child.

BABY WANG-YANKOWITZ IS ON THE WAY!

And baby, when I tell you Dorothy has been moving through these life chapters like somebody hit the fast-forward button, I mean it.

One minute we're watching Dorothy navigate single life, friendships and drama on Bling Empire. Then she's getting married. Then she's giving us a whole wedding series with Dorothy's I Do. And now?

A BABY!

Dorothy said, "Why give y'all one storyline when I can give you an entire season?"

Let's talk about it.

Dorothy Wang Is Going to Be a Mom!

Dorothy and Brandon announced that they are expecting their first child, and this is definitely a major new chapter for the couple.

For longtime Dorothy fans, it's especially interesting because we've watched different versions of her life play out publicly over the years.

Dorothy first became widely known through Rich Kids of Beverly Hills, where the entire concept was basically:

"We have money. You know we have money. We know you know we have money. Now watch us spend the money."

And I watched!

Don't judge me.

Dorothy eventually became more than just somebody from a show about wealthy young people. She built a personality and following that kept people interested long after the original series ended.

Then came Bling Empire: New York, where Dorothy brought exactly what I expected Dorothy to bring.

Opinions.

Fashion.

Facial expressions.

Drama.

And that special reality-TV ability to communicate an entire paragraph without saying one word.

You know the look.

Somebody says something ridiculous and Dorothy's face basically says:

"Do you hear yourself?"

That's why I enjoyed watching her.

Then Brandon Entered the Picture

Eventually, Dorothy found love with Brandon Yankowitz, and their relationship moved into marriage.

The two married in Florence, Italy, in October 2025.

Because naturally Dorothy Wang wasn't going down to the courthouse on Tuesday afternoon and then taking everybody to Applebee's.

No.

This is DOROTHY WANG.

We're going to Florence!

We're getting the clothes!

We're getting the scenery!

We're getting the wedding!

We're getting the content!

We're getting enough footage to turn this thing into a series!

And that's exactly what happened.

Her wedding journey became Dorothy's I Do, giving fans another opportunity to follow Dorothy as she prepared to marry Brandon.

I have already been enjoying Dorothy's I Do, because wedding shows are naturally messy even when nobody is technically fighting.

Weddings bring drama all by themselves.

Who is invited?

Who isn't invited?

Who's sitting where?

Who doesn't like somebody at Table 7?

Who ordered the wrong flowers?

Who's late?

Who's crying?

Who's pretending not to be irritated?

Who spent WHAT?!

Wedding planning can turn the calmest person alive into a Real Housewife.

Add Dorothy Wang to the equation and I'm watching.

Now We're Getting a Baby?!

This is where things get really interesting.

Dorothy and Brandon have barely given us time to process the wedding before announcing they're entering parenthood.

And I'm happy for them.

But I'm also a reality television blogger, so naturally my second thought was:

WHERE ARE THE CAMERAS?

I'm sorry!

Somebody had to ask!

You cannot give me Dorothy's I Do, announce a pregnancy, and expect me not to wonder whether we're about to get Dorothy's Having a Baby.

Because I would watch.

Don't act like you wouldn't.

Episode One: Dorothy finds out she's pregnant.

Episode Two: Dorothy goes shopping for the baby.

Episode Three: Dorothy discovers that a designer stroller costs more than somebody's monthly rent.

Actually, Dorothy probably already knows that.

Episode Four: Baby shower drama.

Episode Five: Somebody gets removed from the guest list.

Episode Six: Brandon asks how much everything cost.

Dorothy looks at him.

END SCENE.

Netflix, YouTube, Peacock, Bravo — somebody pick up the phone!

I'm only halfway joking.

The Timing Makes This Even More Interesting

What makes this pregnancy announcement particularly fun for fans is that we're currently getting another glimpse into Dorothy's personal life through her wedding content.

So we're watching the wedding chapter while already knowing the next chapter is beginning.

It's like reading a book when somebody already whispered the sequel in your ear.

We know Dorothy gets married.

Now we know Dorothy and Brandon are expecting their first baby.

That changes how you watch the wedding journey.

You're no longer simply watching two people prepare for marriage. You're watching the beginning of a family.

Okay, that sounded sweet.

Let me get messy again before y'all think I've changed.

Because there is something else we need to discuss.

Dorothy Has Mastered Turning Her Life Into Content

And I don't mean that negatively.

People love to criticize reality personalities for sharing their lives online, but Dorothy has been doing this for YEARS.

She understands the assignment.

Dorothy came into the entertainment world through reality television, where your personality and personal life ARE the product.

And unlike some reality stars who disappear after their show gets canceled, Dorothy has figured out how to keep people interested.

That matters.

She doesn't necessarily need a traditional network reality show anymore.

YouTube exists.

Instagram exists.

TikTok exists.

You can build your own audience.

You can tell your own story.

You can produce your own series.

You don't necessarily need to sit around waiting for some network executive to decide you're interesting enough.

Dorothy already knows people want to know what's happening in her life.

So why not give them the content herself?

That's actually smart.

From Reality-TV Socialite to Wife and Mother

Dorothy's evolution has been interesting to watch because her public image started out heavily connected to wealth and socialite culture.

Let's call it what it was.

The whole appeal of Rich Kids of Beverly Hills was watching rich people live rich.

Period.

Nobody turned that show on because they wanted financial advice.

We wanted to see somebody casually spend the amount of money that would make the rest of us call our bank and ask:

"Are you SURE this transaction went through?"

Dorothy's lifestyle was part of the entertainment.

But as she's gotten older, we've seen different sides of her.

Friendships.

Relationships.

Business.

Marriage.

And now motherhood.

That's actually what can make a longtime reality personality interesting.

People evolve.

If we watched Dorothy doing the exact same thing forever, eventually we'd get bored.

How many brunch arguments can one person have?

Actually...

Don't answer that.

Bravo has built an entire network around proving the limit does not exist.

Will Motherhood Change Dorothy?

Probably.

Motherhood changes people's priorities, schedules, relationships and sometimes even friendships.

But I hope she doesn't lose the personality that made people enjoy watching her in the first place.

I don't want Dorothy to suddenly become:

"Hello everyone. Today we're discussing organic baby wipes."

No!

Give me motherhood Dorothy with a little flavor.

I need Dorothy walking into a baby boutique and asking:

"Why is this

The Oval Season 7 Episode 22 Finale Review: Tyler Perry Really Left Us Like THAT?!

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

Baby, somebody please call Tyler Perry and tell him I have QUESTIONS! Because The Oval Season 7, Episode 22 really rolled the credits like we were supposed to be satisfied.

Sir.

SIR!

You cannot throw explosions, shootings, attempted murder, secret identities, betrayal, poisoning and Victoria Franklin carrying on like the First Lady of Hell—and then tell us that's the end!

After seven seasons of madness inside and outside the White House, The Oval gave us one final helping of foolishness. And trust me, this finale had enough drama to keep the group chat busy.

Kareem's Story Takes a Dark Turn

Let's start with Kareem because his situation went from bad to OH LORD real quick.

After getting caught up with the kidnappers, Kareem's usefulness apparently ran out. And these people didn't hand him a severance package and wish him luck.

They shot him.

Multiple times.

Then dumped him in the street.

Kareem spent all that time trying to survive the madness surrounding Sharon, Richard, Nancy and everybody else, only for his story to apparently end like this.

Tyler Perry said, "No retirement plan for YOU!"

Cold.

Jason Is Still Jason

Meanwhile, Jason apparently learned absolutely NOTHING during seven seasons.

Hunter gives him an opportunity to escape to Cuba, but Jason isn't interested.

Why?

Because revenge is apparently more important than getting out alive.

Jason decides to plant a bomb at Priscilla's house.

A BOMB!

Whatever happened to blocking somebody?

Whatever happened to writing an angry Facebook post?

Jason skipped all of that and went straight to explosives.

Priscilla manages to send Abrielle's exposé before the explosion, but then we're left wondering what happened to Priscilla and Simone.

Are they alive?

Are they injured?

Did they escape?

HELLO?!

The credits didn't answer my questions.

Victoria vs. Jason Is Pure Franklin Family Dysfunction

Eventually Jason gets captured by the Secret Service, and you would think his mother might finally have a motherly moment.

You clearly haven't been watching Victoria Franklin.

Victoria basically wants Jason DEAD.

When the agents won't do what she wants, Victoria takes matters into her own hands and grabs the syringe herself.

Now we're watching a mother apparently preparing to kill her own son.

And before we can even process what is happening, the show leaves Jason's fate unresolved.

Tyler!

Come back here!

You cannot spend seven seasons showing us the most dysfunctional presidential family on television and then leave us staring at the screen wondering whether Victoria actually finished Jason off.

The Franklin family needed family therapy around Season 1, Episode 2.

By Season 7, they needed an exorcist.

Eli Drinks the WRONG Shake

Then we have Eli.

Eli is trying to get information about Hunter's crimes out into the world and speaks with Senator Harding.

Okay.

Progress!

Maybe somebody is finally going to expose this administration.

Then Cross gives Eli a pre-workout shake.

And shortly afterward, Eli is on the White House floor seizing and foaming at the mouth.

BABY!

I'm never drinking anything anybody hands me on a Tyler Perry show.

Water?

No.

Coffee?

No.

Protein shake?

Absolutely not.

I'll bring my own sealed bottle from home.

Because apparently even refreshments have storylines on The Oval.

And once again, we don't get complete closure about Eli's fate.

Another question mark!

Lilly and Bobby Said BYE!

Now somebody finally used common sense.

Lilly and Bobby got out!

They obtain fake identities and leave together to start new lives.

GOOD FOR THEM.

At this point, if somebody handed me a fake passport on The Oval, I'd already be at the airport before they finished explaining the plan.

Lilly has been through enough.

Donald.

Kyle.

The White House.

The lies.

The manipulation.

The foolishness.

Sis needed to disappear.

I hope Lilly's new identity comes with a beachfront condo, good credit and absolutely ZERO politicians.

Donald and Kyle Are Still a Mess

Speaking of Donald…

Chile.

Donald prepares divorce papers for Lilly while continuing his relationship with Kyle.

After EVERYTHING these people have done, they're still sitting around discussing relationships.

People are being shot.

People are getting blown up.

People are foaming at the mouth.

And Donald basically has relationship paperwork to finish.

Priorities!

Donald still isn't completely comfortable making his relationship with Kyle public, either.

Seven seasons later and we're still doing this dance?

Kyle deserves frequent-flier miles for the number of trips he's taken through Donald's confusion.

Sharon and Max?!

Now let's discuss another development I wasn't necessarily expecting.

Sharon and Max hook up.

Yes.

That happened.

Because apparently when your world is falling apart, romance still finds time to clock in for its shift.

But they barely get time to enjoy themselves before gang members shoot up the house.

Nancy, Sharon and Max survive the attack, although Nancy injures her leg.

Can anybody on this show have ONE peaceful evening?

Imagine trying to relax and suddenly somebody is shooting at the house.

I'd be moving to another country before sunrise.

But What About Priscilla and Simone?!

This is where the finale frustrated me.

There were simply too many unanswered questions.

What happened to Priscilla?

What happened to Simone?

What ultimately happened to Jason?

What happened to Eli?

What happens after the exposé gets sent?

What happens to Hunter?

What happens to Victoria?

We spent SEVEN SEASONS with these people!

I need receipts.

I need consequences.

I need somebody being escorted out of the White House in handcuffs while CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, TMZ and somebody's auntie on Facebook Live cover the situation.

Give me closure!

Was This Really Supposed to Be the Ending?

That's what makes Episode 22 so crazy.

This finale feels like an episode designed to make you immediately ask:

"Okay, when does Season 8 start?"

Except there isn't currently a Season 8 coming.

And that's the problem.

A cliffhanger works when viewers know another chapter is coming.

But when this could be the END?

Baby, tie up some loose ends!

Don't leave the entire yarn ball sitting on the floor.

I understand wanting viewers to imagine what happens next, but there is a difference between an open-ended conclusion and leaving half the cast somewhere between life and death.

My Final Thoughts

The Oval has NEVER been a quiet television show.

This series gave us murder, corruption, cheating, kidnapping, political conspiracies, dysfunctional relationships and enough questionable decisions to fill seven seasons.

That's exactly why many of us kept watching.

You didn't turn on The Oval expecting a calm evening at the White House.

You turned it on because somebody could be having breakfast at 8:02 and running for their life by 8:07.

Episode 22 definitely delivered the chaos.

There were shocking moments.

There were funny moments.

There were moments that had me wondering whether anybody in Washington had considered simply MOVING.

But as a finale?

I wanted more closure.

After investing seven seasons into these characters, I wanted to see exactly where everybody landed.

Instead, Tyler Perry basically turned off the lights and said:

"Y'all figure out the rest."

MESSY!

And somehow that's also the most Oval way possible to end The Oval.

Now It's Your Turn!

What did YOU think about The Oval Season 7 Episode 22?

Were you satisfied with the finale?

Do you think Priscilla and Simone survived?

What do you think happened to Jason?

Do you think Eli survived?

And most importantly:

Did Tyler Perry give us enough closure after seven seasons—or did he leave us with one cliffhanger too many?

Drop your thoughts in the comments because I KNOW The Oval fans have something to say about this one!

And if you've been following my The Oval reviews, thank you for watching, reading, laughing and being messy with me all season long.

Share this post with another Oval fan and come back for more TV reviews, recaps, gossip and entertainment commentary.

Because the show may be over…

but we're STILL going to talk about it!

Nobody Is Coming to Save You: 10 Ways to Start Changing Your Life Today

Okay, friend, come sit down because we need to have a conversation.

Nobody is coming to save you.

Whew! I know. That's not exactly the inspirational quote you expected to see while drinking your morning coffee.

But somebody needed to say it.

Your dream job isn't going to knock on your door and say, “Excuse me, we've been looking everywhere for you!”

Your bank account isn't going to wake up tomorrow with an extra $10,000 because you've been a good person.

And that business you've been talking about starting since forever? It's probably sitting somewhere tapping its imaginary foot like, “So…are we doing this or not?”

Sometimes the biggest thing standing between us and a different life is the person staring back at us in the mirror.

And before anybody gets offended, I'm including myself in the conversation.

Life can be HARD. Things happen that we didn't ask for, couldn't predict, and couldn't control.

But eventually, we have to ask:

What am I going to do next?

Let's get into 10 ways you can start changing your life TODAY.

1. Admit What's Not Working

Oh, we're starting messy.

Before you can change your life, you've got to stop lying to yourself about what's working.

That job you hate?

That relationship that has been on life support since three Christmases ago?

That business idea you've been “researching” for two years without actually selling anything?

Friend.

At some point, research becomes procrastination wearing glasses.

Take inventory of your life.

What's working?

What's draining you?

What's costing you money?

What's wasting your time?

What's making you miserable?

You can't fix something you're determined to pretend isn't broken.

2. Stop Waiting for January

Why do we act like January 1 has magical powers?

December 31: “I can't do anything.”

January 1: “NEW YEAR! NEW ME!”

Baby, you're the same person who went to sleep eight hours ago.

You don't need January.

You don't need Monday.

You don't need your birthday.

You don't need Mercury to leave retrograde.

Start Thursday at 3:17 p.m. if that's when you finally get tired of your own nonsense.

The calendar doesn't change your life.

Your decisions do.

3. Pick ONE Thing

Here's where we mess up.

We decide we're changing our lives and suddenly we have 47 goals.

We're going to lose weight, start a podcast, write three books, learn Spanish, save $10,000, start dating, become an influencer, buy a house and move to Paris.

By Tuesday we're exhausted.

Pick one major thing.

What would make the biggest difference in your life right now?

Start there.

Once you've built some momentum, move to the next goal.

You don't have to rebuild the whole house in one afternoon.

4. Stop Comparing Yourself to Social Media

Social media will have you thinking everybody is rich except you.

Somebody is in Dubai.

Somebody bought a Mercedes.

Somebody is showing you their “morning routine” from a kitchen the size of your entire apartment.

Meanwhile you're sitting there wondering why your life isn't together.

Please remember:

You're comparing your entire life to somebody else's selected content.

You don't know what's happening when that camera turns off.

Some people are genuinely successful.

Good for them.

Learn from them.

But don't use somebody else's success as a weapon against yourself.

5. Work With What You've Got

“I can't start because I don't have enough money.”

Okay.

What DO you have?

A smartphone?

Internet?

A library card?

Experience?

A skill?

A few free hours every week?

A story?

An idea?

Start there.

We spend so much time staring at what we don't have that we overlook what's already sitting in our hands.

You might not be able to start the $50,000 version of your dream today.

But can you start the $5 version?

Do that.

6. Get Serious About Your Money

Oh, Lord.

Here comes the part nobody wants to discuss.

Money.

You can't improve what you refuse to look at.

How much money comes in every month?

How much goes out?

What are you spending it on?

Where could you cut back?

Could you create additional income?

Could you sell a service?

Could you pick up occasional work?

Could you create something digital?

Don't fall for “make $10,000 by Friday” foolishness.

We're talking about realistic money.

Even an extra $25 or $50 consistently can be the beginning of something.

7. Stop Telling Everybody Your Plans

Everybody does not deserve backstage access to your dreams.

Sometimes you tell somebody:

“I'm thinking about starting a business.”

And before you've finished the sentence:

“That ain't gonna work.”

Who asked you, Deborah?

Protect your plans.

Constructive criticism can be valuable.

But constant negativity?

No.

Sometimes you've got to work quietly.

Let people discover what you're doing when it's already done.

8. Do Something That Scares You

Apply for the job you think you might not get.

Post the video.

Submit the application.

Take the class.

Send the email.

Introduce yourself.

Publish the book.

You're waiting for fear to disappear.

It might not.

Sometimes you have to do it scared.

And if it doesn't work?

Congratulations.

You survived.

Now adjust your strategy and try something else.

9. Give Yourself 30 Days

Don't worry about transforming your entire life this year.

Give yourself 30 days.

Pick three realistic goals.

Maybe:

Walk four days a week.

Save $50.

Apply for ten jobs.

Write 500 words a day.

Post three videos a week.

Spend one hour learning a new skill.

Then track your progress.

Thirty days of consistent effort can teach you more than six months of saying, “I'm thinking about doing something.”

10. Become the Person You've Been Waiting For

This is the big one.

Maybe you've been waiting for someone to encourage you.

Encourage yourself.

Waiting for somebody to believe in your idea?

Believe in it enough to test it.

Waiting for someone to open a door?

Start knocking.

Waiting for somebody to tell you you're good enough?

Friend, you might be waiting a LONG time.

Sometimes the validation comes after you've already done the work.

Your life doesn't change because everybody suddenly believes in you.

It changes because you start behaving differently.

Your Comeback Can Start Today

Listen.

You may have made mistakes.

Welcome to humanity.

You may have wasted time.

Okay.

You may have trusted the wrong people.

Join the club.

You may have started something that completely flopped.

Been there.

None of that means your story is finished.

You can be 25 and start over.

You can be 45 and start over.

You can be 58 and say, “You know what? I want something different.”

You can be 65 and start something you've dreamed about for 30 years.

Stop acting like life has an expiration date.

As long as you're here, there is still something you can do.

Maybe today's action is tiny.

That's fine.

Write one page.

Save $5.

Apply for one job.

Take a 15-minute walk.

Research one business idea.

Make one phone call.

Small moves count.

Because here's the real tea:

Nobody is coming to magically save you—and that doesn't mean you're powerless.

You can participate in your own comeback.

Let's Talk!

Now I want to hear from YOU.

If you could change ONE thing about your life starting today, what would it be?

Money? Career? Confidence? Relationships? Health? Starting a business? Finally chasing that dream you've been talking about forever?

Drop your answer in the comments.

And if this post made you say, “Okay, I needed that!”, share it with somebody who needs a little motivation—and maybe a tiny bit of loving shade.

Most importantly, don't just read this and go right back to doing the same thing.

Pick ONE thing from this list and start TODAY.

Your comeback needs a starting date.

Why not today?

My Sister Is 53, Has No Job and No Side Hustle — We Need to Talk!

Okay, family meeting! Because I love my sister, but sometimes love comes with a little side-eye.

My sister is 53 years old. She currently doesn’t have a job. She doesn’t have a side hustle. And from where I’m sitting, I'm thinking: Baby, what is the PLAN?

Because 53 is not dead.

Fifty-three isn't even close to being finished. You can start a job, business, YouTube channel, online store, cleaning service, catering business, book, podcast, or whatever else you have the skills and energy to do.

But you have to START somewhere.

And before anybody gets upset, this isn't about embarrassing somebody because they're unemployed. People lose jobs. People get discouraged. Life happens. Sometimes you can send out application after application and hear absolutely nothing.

That can mess with your confidence.

But eventually, you have to decide what your next move is going to be.

Sister, We Need a Plan!

If my sister came to me and said, "What should I do?" my first question would be:

What can you already do?

People overlook their everyday skills because nobody handed them a certificate for them.

Can you cook?

Can you clean?

Can you organize?

Can you babysit?

Can you take care of pets?

Can you do hair?

Can you sew?

Can you decorate?

Can you work with customers?

Can you sell?

Can you type?

Can you use social media?

Can you answer phones?

Can you help seniors?

Somebody somewhere is paying for almost every one of those skills.

You don't necessarily need to invent the next billion-dollar company. We are trying to get some money coming through the door!

First: Get Some Income Coming In

I would tell my sister not to get caught up worrying about finding the "perfect" job.

Find something you can reasonably do now while working toward something better.

Retail.

Customer service.

Reception.

Hotel work.

Grocery stores.

Restaurants.

Schools.

Hospitals.

Call centers.

Event staffing.

Security, if qualified.

Administrative work.

Part-time work.

Temporary agencies.

At 53, she has decades of life experience. That's something she should be using to her advantage.

And please don't tell me, "I'm too old."

Too old for what?

A paycheck?

Child, these bills don't discriminate based on age. The electric company is not going to say, "Oh, she's 53. Never mind."

NEXT!

Then Get a Little Side Hustle

Here's where things can get interesting.

A side hustle doesn't have to mean becoming an influencer and dancing on social media at 7:00 in the morning.

Please spare us.

It simply means finding another legitimate way to earn money.

She could consider things like pet sitting, house cleaning, babysitting, selling unwanted items, freelance services, delivery work if transportation makes sense, helping people organize their homes, doing laundry, tutoring in something she knows well, or providing administrative help to a small business.

Start with one thing.

That's where people mess up.

Monday they're starting a cleaning business.

Tuesday they're opening an online boutique.

Wednesday they're becoming a YouTuber.

Thursday they're writing a book.

Friday they're exhausted and haven't made $2.

Pick one lane and give it a real chance.

Stop Waiting Until Everything Is Perfect

This is another trap.

"I need a computer."

"I need a website."

"I need business cards."

"I need a logo."

"I need 10,000 followers."

No, you need a CUSTOMER.

A fancy logo with zero customers is just a pretty picture.

If she wants to clean houses, start telling people she cleans houses.

If she wants to babysit, start looking for legitimate opportunities.

If she wants a job, make a simple résumé and start applying consistently.

If she wants to sell something, figure out what people are actually willing to buy before spending hundreds of dollars buying inventory.

Start small.

And Don't Sleep on What You Already Know

At 53, my sister has lived some LIFE.

There may be skills, stories and knowledge she's taking for granted.

Maybe she knows how to stretch a grocery budget.

Maybe she knows how to cook.

Maybe she's great at helping people.

Maybe she knows something about beauty, fashion, relationships, parenting, music, entertainment, organization or customer service.

Those skills can sometimes become content, services, products or employment opportunities.

But nothing happens until you move.

Here's the Part Nobody Likes Hearing

You can't spend six months talking about what you're going to do.

Eventually, "I'm thinking about it" needs to become "I started."

And yes, I'm being a little shady because she's my sister.

That's my job.

But underneath the shade is a serious point.

I don't want to see somebody I love reach 54, 55 or 56 still sitting in the exact same position because they believed it was too late to start over.

It isn't.

What I Would Tell My Sister to Do This Week

Keep it simple.

Make or update your résumé.

Apply for a few realistic jobs every day.

Write down five things you're genuinely good at.

Choose one of those skills that could potentially make extra money.

Tell people you're available for that service.

And keep track of every application, interview, customer lead and dollar earned.

Don't try to transform your entire life by Friday.

Just get moving.

Because once that first paycheck or first $20 from a side hustle comes in, something changes.

You realize:

Wait a minute. I can actually do this.

53 Is Not Too Late for a Comeback

That's really the message I want my sister—and anybody else reading this—to understand.

Your life isn't over because you're unemployed at 53.

You might have to start smaller than you expected.

You might have to learn something new.

You might have to take a job that isn't your dream job.

You might even have to admit that your old plan isn't working.

So what?

Change the plan.

Don't give up on yourself.

And sister, if you're reading this…

I love you.

But I'm going to need you to put that phone down for a minute and figure out where the money is coming from.

Because we're not entering the next chapter with no job, no side hustle, no plan and a whole lot of explanations.

We're getting something started.

CTA: Let's Talk!

Have you ever had to start over financially in your 40s, 50s or even 60s?

What job or side hustle helped you get back on your feet?

Drop your advice in the comments because somebody reading this may need that one idea that gets them moving.

And share this post with somebody who keeps saying they're "too old" to start over.

The comeback doesn't have an age limit.

Soul Train Is Coming Home to Chicago — And Anthony Anderson Has the Mic!

Baby, somebody polish that Soul Train sign because the train is pulling back into Chicago!

The 2026 Soul Train Awards are headed to the Windy City, and according to the announcement, Anthony Anderson is taking over hosting duties. The celebration is set to air November 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS.

And all I can say is: Chicago, you better show OUT!

Because bringing Soul Train back to Chicago isn't just another awards-show location change. This is a full-circle moment for a franchise whose roots are tied to the city.

Soul Train Coming Back to Chicago Just Feels Right

Before Soul Train became a nationally recognized celebration of Black music, dancing, fashion and culture, its story started in Chicago with Don Cornelius.

That's why having the awards connected to Chicago again feels different.

This isn't just:

"Okay, where are we holding the show this year?"

No, baby.

This feels like Soul Train packing its luggage, looking around and saying:

"I've been gone long enough. Take me HOME!"

And Chicago said:

"Your room is still upstairs."

That's the kind of homecoming I want to see.

Anthony Anderson Hosting? Oh, This Could Get Messy!

Now let's talk about Anthony Anderson.

Anthony knows comedy. He knows television. He knows how to work a crowd.

And most importantly for an awards show, he has PERSONALITY.

Please don't give me three hours of somebody walking onto the stage, reading a teleprompter like they're announcing the lunch specials and disappearing backstage.

We need jokes.

We need crowd interaction.

We need Anthony looking into the audience after something crazy happens and making THAT FACE.

You already know the face.

I want the camera catching celebrities who weren't prepared for the joke.

I want somebody laughing too hard.

I want somebody else sitting there looking like:

"Was that supposed to be funny?"

THAT is awards-show television!

But Let's Talk About What Really Matters: THE MUSIC

Anthony Anderson hosting is cute.

Chicago is fabulous.

But don't forget why we're here.

THE MUSIC!

The Soul Train Awards should feel like a celebration of R&B, soul and Black music culture.

I don't want the performances feeling like somebody just picked whatever artist happened to be available that weekend.

Give us vocals.

Give us musicians.

Give us harmonies.

Give us a tribute that makes somebody's auntie stand up in the living room and scream:

"THAT'S MY SONG!"

I want younger artists.

I want established stars.

And PLEASE give the legends their flowers while they're still here to receive them.

Soul Train has decades of musical history to pull from. There is absolutely no reason for the show to feel boring.

And Can We Get a REAL Soul Train Tribute?

Since we're talking about Chicago, I hope the producers really acknowledge the history of Soul Train.

Don't give us a 45-second video package and call it a day.

Absolutely not.

Tell the story.

Show some vintage footage.

Talk about Don Cornelius.

Celebrate the dancers.

Celebrate the fashion.

Celebrate those Soul Train lines that had everybody at home trying to learn moves they had NO BUSINESS attempting.

Some of y'all almost tore up the living-room carpet trying to do those dances.

Don't lie!

Soul Train wasn't simply a television show. It helped create a national platform where Black artists, dancers, fashion and culture could be celebrated week after week.

That's worth more than a quick montage.

Chicago Better Be Part of the Show

And here's another thing.

If you're bringing Soul Train back to Chicago, then USE CHICAGO!

Don't put everybody inside some generic venue where we could be in Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York or somebody's convention center in Ohio.

I want Chicago represented.

Give us Chicago musicians.

Give us Chicago dancers.

Give us Chicago history.

Give us shots of the city.

Let the audience watching at home KNOW where we are.

If you're going to make a big deal about Soul Train returning to the city where its journey began, Chicago shouldn't just be an address on the production paperwork.

Chicago should be part of the personality of the entire show.

Now About Those Performers...

This is where I'm waiting for the real tea.

WHO IS PERFORMING?

Because that's going to determine whether I'm sitting in front of the television early with my snacks ready or checking social media the next morning for the two performances everybody is talking about.

The lineup matters.

And Soul Train has a unique opportunity because R&B audiences have been begging for spaces where the genre can truly be celebrated.

Don't chase every trend.

Don't try to turn Soul Train into another awards show.

Let Soul Train be SOUL TRAIN.

That's the brand!

That's the history!

That's what makes it special.

We Need One Big Tribute

You already know I love a good tribute.

But if you're going to do one, DO IT RIGHT.

Don't bring out 14 people who sing seven seconds apiece until nobody knows what's happening.

Pick the right singers.

Rehearse.

Get the arrangements together.

Get those background singers working.

Get a LIVE BAND.

And somebody better be able to SANG.

Yes, I said SANG.

There's singing.

And then there's SANGING.

Soul Train deserves SANGING.

Anthony, Don't Be Scared to Get a Little Shady

Anthony Anderson has the perfect opportunity to bring some comedy into the night.

Nothing cruel.

Nothing disrespectful.

But a little shade?

Absolutely.

It's an awards show!

If somebody shows up three hours late, joke about it.

If somebody's outfit looks like they fought a curtain and the curtain won, give us a little facial expression.

If somebody gives a 14-minute acceptance speech when they were supposed to have 45 seconds, Anthony better walk back onto that stage holding a pillow.

We need FUN again.

Awards shows have gotten so serious sometimes that everybody looks terrified to move.

Soul Train should feel like a celebration.

This Could Be a Big Moment for Soul Train

The nostalgia is already there.

People remember the music.

They remember the dancers.

They remember the fashion.

They remember Don Cornelius.

They remember that famous Soul Train energy.

Now the challenge is taking that history and creating a 2026 show that doesn't feel like it's simply trying to recreate the past.

Honor the legacy while showcasing today's artists.

That's the sweet spot.

And bringing the celebration back to Chicago gives producers the perfect storyline.

Soul Train is coming home.

Now make the homecoming worth watching.

I'll Be Watching — But I'm Bringing My Shady Notebook!

November 27.

8 p.m. ET/PT.

BET and CBS.

Anthony Anderson hosting.

Soul Train back in Chicago.

Oh, I'm watching.

But I'm watching with QUESTIONS.

Who's performing?

Who's getting honored?

Who's doing the tribute?

Who's giving us the best vocals?

Who's showing up wearing something ridiculous?

Who's going viral the next morning?

And most importantly...

WHO IS GETTING IN THAT SOUL TRAIN LINE?!

Because if we're going back to Chicago, somebody better start dancing.

Your Turn!

What do YOU think about Anthony Anderson hosting the 2026 Soul Train Awards?

Are you excited about Soul Train returning to Chicago?

And here's the big question: Who should perform, and which music legend deserves a tribute this year?

Drop your picks in the comments because I already know we're not all going to agree — and that's where the fun begins!

#SoulTrainAwards #AnthonyAnderson #SoulTrain #Chicago #BET #RBMusic #SoulMusic #BlackMusic #EntertainmentNews #TheTrade

Empire Season 1: Richard and His Girlfriend Needed to GO — Is THAT Why We Never Got Season 2?

Okay, I have a question.

And I need somebody to answer it without getting mad.

Was Richard and his girlfriend part of the reason Empire couldn't make it to Season 2?

Because BABY...

I was watching Season 1 and thinking, “How long are we going to keep doing this?”

Now before somebody comes running into the comments ready to fight me, understand something: I'm talking about the CHARACTERS and the storyline. I'm not coming for the actors personally.

But Richard and that girlfriend?

They needed to pack a duffel bag, call an Uber, and exit stage left.

Immediately.

Richard, Baby... What Are We Doing?

Every show needs drama.

Every show needs somebody who's going to irritate us.

Every show needs that character who walks into the room and makes you say:

“Oh Lord, here HE come.”

That's television.

But there's a difference between a character creating entertaining drama and a character making me wonder why we're still spending screen time on them.

Richard started giving me the second one.

Every time we went back into that situation, I was sitting there like:

“Didn't we already discuss this?”

I needed movement.

I needed escalation.

I needed something that made me care.

Instead, sometimes it felt like Richard's storyline was driving around Chicago looking for parking.

Round and round.

And round.

And ROUND.

Sir, PARK THE CAR.

And Then Here Comes the Girlfriend

Chile.

Richard's girlfriend wasn't helping matters either.

Because when BOTH people in a storyline start getting on your nerves, we have a problem.

Usually one person is supposed to save the situation.

If Richard is doing too much, maybe the girlfriend gives us something interesting.

If the girlfriend is doing too much, maybe Richard pulls the storyline together.

But when I'm watching BOTH of y'all thinking:

“Can we get back to everybody else?”

That's dangerous.

Because television viewers are shady.

We don't have patience anymore.

People have streaming services, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, podcasts, reality television and about 47 shows sitting in their watchlist.

You have to KEEP US.

And whenever a storyline makes somebody reach for their phone?

Uh-oh.

That's when the relationship between the audience and the show starts getting shaky.

Were They Really the Reason There Was No Season 2?

Now let's be fair.

I cannot sit here and declare that Richard and his girlfriend were THE reason Empire didn't receive another season without actual evidence from the network or producers saying that.

That would be gossip dressed up like journalism.

And although I LOVE some gossip...

We still need facts.

Television shows can end for all kinds of reasons: ratings, budgets, contracts, scheduling, network strategy, production costs or simply executives deciding they want to move in another direction.

So I'm not saying:

“Richard canceled the show!”

LOL.

Imagine having that much power.

Richard walks into a scene and somewhere an executive screams:

“CANCEL SEASON TWO!”

No.

But I AM asking whether storylines like Richard's could have contributed to viewers losing interest.

That's a completely different conversation.

Because if enough viewers aren't invested in enough of the characters, you've got a problem.

Season 1 Needed Some Trimming

Sometimes the problem isn't that a show is terrible.

The problem is that nobody knows what to CUT.

That's where I think Empire could have benefited.

You don't have to fire everybody.

You don't have to blow up the entire cast.

You just have to know when a storyline has served its purpose.

Richard and his girlfriend could have had their moment.

Give us the drama.

Give us the relationship mess.

Give us the arguments.

Give us the confusion.

Then wrap it UP.

Put a bow on it.

Send them to Atlanta.

Have somebody get a job in Houston.

Tell us they moved to Charlotte.

I don't care!

Just move the story FORWARD.

Because once the audience starts feeling like they're watching the same emotional conversation over and over, the drama stops being drama.

It becomes homework.

And I did not turn on my television to complete an assignment.

Where Was the JUICE?

That's what I kept wanting.

JUICE.

Give me somebody with a secret.

Give me somebody cheating.

Give me somebody lying.

Give me somebody stealing.

Give me somebody's mama showing up unannounced.

Give me a cousin who everybody thought was in prison walking through the front door at Thanksgiving.

SOMETHING!

This is Empire.

I want mess.

I want ambition.

I want people fighting over power.

I want somebody walking into a room wearing an outfit they cannot afford while owing everybody money.

That's ENTERTAINMENT.

Richard and his girlfriend sometimes felt like they were in a completely different show.

Everybody else could be serving prime-time drama and then suddenly here comes this relationship situation again.

Me:

“Oh...we're back over here?”

The Girlfriend Needed More

And here's another thing.

If you're going to keep Richard's girlfriend around, then DEVELOP HER.

Don't just make her somebody's girlfriend.

Give her a storyline.

Give her motives.

Give her secrets.

Give her something SHE wants.

Maybe she's using Richard.

Maybe Richard is using her.

Maybe she secretly wants something connected to the Empire.

Maybe she's playing everybody.

Maybe she's smarter than everybody realizes.

THAT would have gotten my attention.

I want to look at a character in Episode 2 and think one thing, then get to Episode 8 and realize:

“WAIT A DAMN MINUTE. SHE WAS PLAYING EVERYBODY?!”

Now we're cooking.

That's the kind of mess that makes people binge.

But if somebody is simply standing beside a man while I'm already tired of HIS storyline?

Baby, we're sinking together.

Richard Could Have Been Better Too

And I'm not even saying Richard had to disappear completely.

Maybe the character just needed a stronger direction.

Give Richard a transformation.

Make us hate him.

Then make us understand him.

Then make us hate him AGAIN.

That's good television.

I don't need every character to be likable.

Actually, sometimes the characters I can't stand are my favorites because they make the show interesting.

But give me a REASON to keep watching them.

Make Richard dangerous.

Make him funny.

Make him manipulative.

Make him ambitious.

Make him secretly broke.

Make him secretly rich.

Make him somebody's secret cousin.

I DON'T KNOW.

Do something!

Because television characters need layers.

Maybe Season 2 Could Have Fixed Everything

That's actually the frustrating part.

A second season could have given the writers an opportunity to clean things up.

Season 1 establishes the world.

Season 2 is when you start figuring out what works.

Keep the characters audiences respond to.

Reduce the storylines people don't care about.

Introduce new blood.

Raise the stakes.

And PLEASE bring in somebody who enters the room already causing trouble.

Season 2 Richard?

Maybe I would have loved him.

Season 2 girlfriend?

Maybe she would have become the villain we didn't know we needed.

That's why cancellations can be frustrating.

Sometimes you can see the potential even when the first season isn't perfect.

But Let's Talk About Chemistry

This is another major issue television producers sometimes underestimate.

CHEMISTRY.

You can hire talented actors.

You can write beautiful dialogue.

You can spend money on wardrobe.

You can build gorgeous sets.

But if the audience doesn't feel chemistry between the characters, something is missing.

And chemistry doesn't only mean romantic chemistry.

Friendships need chemistry.

Enemies need chemistry.

Families need chemistry.

Two people who absolutely HATE each other can have incredible chemistry.

Sometimes better than the couples!

I needed Richard's relationship to make me emotionally invested.

I needed to either want them together or desperately want them apart.

Instead, there were moments where my biggest emotional reaction was:

“Can we go to the next scene?”

OUCH.

Somebody in That Writers' Room Needed to Be Shady

Because if I had been sitting in that writers' room...

Honey.

I would have raised my hand.

“Excuse me. Can we talk about Richard?”

Everybody would have gotten quiet.

I'd say:

“Okay. What exactly are we doing with him?”

Because sometimes you need that one shady person in the writers' room willing to say what everybody else is thinking.

THIS AIN'T WORKING.

Not the actor.

Not necessarily the character.

The STORY.

Fix it.

Television doesn't have unlimited time.

Every minute you give one storyline is a minute you're taking away from somebody else.

So every storyline has to earn its place.

Could Richard and His Girlfriend Have Been Written Out?

I would've done it.

SORRY.

Not necessarily forever.

I would've sent them away toward the end of Season 1.

Then, if Season 2 happened, Richard could unexpectedly return around Episode 5.

But here's the catch:

He comes back DIFFERENT.

New attitude.

New money.

New clothes.

New girlfriend.

WAIT!

Now his old girlfriend sees him with the new girlfriend.

She comes back too.

Now we have a triangle.

Then we find out the new girlfriend knows the old girlfriend.

OH!

See?!

MESS.

Now I'm watching.

Now I'm making popcorn.

Now I'm canceling plans.

Now I'm yelling at the TV.

That's how you bring somebody back.

Don't bring Richard back doing the exact same thing.

Give that man a PURPOSE.

Don't Blame Everything on One Storyline

Still, we can't put an entire show's fate on Richard and his girlfriend.

That's too easy.

A television series is a machine.

Writing matters.

Casting matters.

Ratings matter.

Marketing matters.

Budget matters.

Network support matters.

Scheduling matters.

Audience buzz matters.

Streaming performance can matter.

There are many moving pieces behind whether another season happens.

So I'm not blaming Richard.

I'm just looking at him suspiciously.

LOL.

Richard, I'm watching you.

Final Thoughts

I wanted MORE from Empire Season 1.

And Richard and his girlfriend were two characters I would've seriously reconsidered if the show had continued.

Either write them out...

OR TURN THE MESS ALL THE WAY UP.

No middle ground.

I don't want lukewarm drama.

If we're going to argue, ARGUE.

If we're going to cheat, let somebody find the hotel receipt.

If we're going to lie, make it a BIG lie.

If we're going to break up, somebody better throw clothes out the window.

And if we're getting back together?

Somebody's mama better object.

That's television!

Would changing Richard's storyline have guaranteed a Season 2?

Of course not.

But could tighter storytelling and stronger character development have made the show more addictive?

That's the conversation worth having.

Now I need to hear from YOU.

Did you like Richard and his girlfriend in Season 1, or were you ready for both of them to GO?

Would you have written Richard out completely, given him a new girlfriend, or turned him into a full-blown villain for Season 2?

And most importantly:

What do YOU think kept Empire from getting another season?

Drop your opinion in the comments because I already know somebody is about to defend Richard like that's their cousin.

😂

SHARE this post with another Empire viewer and tell them to come argue with us in the comments.

Because around here, we don't just watch television.

We investigate the MESS.