Golden Globes: 'Empire' Producer Brian Grazer on Enduring Success, Taraji P. Henson's Magic

Thursday’s Golden Globe nominations gave Fox’s “Empire” another layer of defense against the cliche sophomore slump, by nominating the hip hop phenomenon for Best TV Series Drama and Best Actress Drama for star Taraji P. Henson.

The broadcast phenomenon, which bowed out for its midseason break last week to the tune of 11.5 million viewers, continues to deliver big ratings and social media impressions with its mix of soapy drama and original music.

TheWrap caught up with executive producer and co-creator Brian Grazer to discuss the nominations, the show’s enduring success and if and when Henson might pick up a microphone.

Also Read: Golden Globes Snubs and Surprises: From Johnny Depp to Lady Gaga (Photos)

Were you awake and watching this morning?

No! Even on Oscar stuff, when I think I’m going to get nominated, I sleep in. I can’t take the anxiety of waiting.

As a show creator, is Best Series always the nomination you’re looking for?

Yes, I feel that way. You know, the way the show came together orignally was magical, and this moment is magical. A nomination for “Empire” helps make the show a global event.

There’s a lot of discussion about what makes ‘Empire’ special, and now that conversation is about what helps it endure. What’s that formula?

First, we have a really good group of actors that are family themselves. And I also think the unpredictability of what is going to happen keeps us relevant. When we transition from acting scenes to singing moments, it becomes kind of mind blowing in a way. You don’t know when they’re going to sing or perform or how good they can be.

You get the hook — we know that, “Oh! Taraji is going to do something big! Someone might get shot! Are they killing this person this week?” That’s what makes it a social event, too.

Self-awareness has always been a strong suit for the show. Does embracing the campy elements and the attempts at high drama always mean success?

I think it does. It gives life to empathy, and when that exists in movies or television shows or in any given scene, it produces the highest level of audience engagement.

And Taraji is still lightning in a bottle.

I think it’s just her! We have great writers with Ilene [Chaiken] and Danny [Strong]. And they create the architcture for her, but she’s a brilliant actress and very in the moemnt. If you were to go to set, you’d see her cooperate with everyone but then really come alive on her own.

Will we ever see her pick up a microphone to sing or rap?

I don’t know! That’s a really good question.

Henson goes up for a Golden Globe live, coast-to-coast Jan. 10 on NBC.

Golden Globes 2016: The Nominees (Photos)

Best Motion Picture -- Drama:
"Carol" was nominated alongside "Mad Max: Fury Road," "The Revenant," "Room" and "Spotlight."
TWC
Best Director -- Motion Picture:
Ridley Scott was nominated for "The Martian." Other nominees include George Miller ("Mad Max"), Tom McCarthy ("Spotlight"), Alejandro G. Inarritu ("The Revenant"), and Todd Haynes for "Carol."
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Best Screenplay -- Motion Picture:
"Room," "Spotlight," "The Big Short," "Steve Jobs" and "The Hateful Eight" received nominations on Thursday.
A24
Best Performances by an Actor in a Motion Picture -- Drama:
Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for his role in "The Revenant," alongside Bryan Cranston ("Trumbo"), Michael Fassbender ("Steve Jobs"), Eddie Redmayne ("The Danish Girl") and Will Smith ("Concussion").
20th Century Fox
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama:
Brie Larson received a nomination for "Room," alongside Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara for "Carol," Saoirse Ronan ("Brooklyn") and Alicia Vikander ("The Danish Girl").
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Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:
Jennifer Jason Leigh ("The Hateful Eight"), Jane Fonda ("Youth"), Helen Mirren ("Trumbo"), Alicia Vikander ("Ex Machina") and Kate Winslet ("Steve Jobs").
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Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture:
Mark Rylance was nominated for "Bridge of Spies," alongside Paul Dano for "Love & Mercy," Idris Elba for "Beasts of No Nation," Michael Shannon for "99 Homes" and Sylvester Stallone for "Creed."
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Best Motion Picture -- Comedy or Musical:
"The Big Short," "Joy," "The Martian," "Spy" and "Trainwreck" received nominations.
20th Century Fox
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical:
Christian Bale and Steve Carell received nominations for "The Big Short," Matt Damon received one for "The Martian," Al Pacino ("Danny Collins") and Mark Ruffalo ("Infinitely Polar Bear") received one too.
Paramount PIctures
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture -- Comedy or Musical:
Jennifer Lawrence received a nomination for "Joy," alongside Amy Schumer ("Trainwreck"), Melissa McCarthy ("Spy"), Maggie Smith ("The Lady in the Van") and Lily Tomlin ("Grandma").
20th Century Fox
Best Animated Feature:
"Anomalisa" joins "The Good Dinosaur," "Inside Out," "The Peanuts Movie" and "Shaun The Sheep" with nominations.
Paramount Pictures
Best Foreign Language Film:
"Son of Saul" (Hungary) "The Club" (Chile), "The Fencer" (Finland/Germany/Estonia), "Mustang" (France) and "The Brand New Testament" (Belgium/France/Luxembourg) received nominations in this category.
Sony Pictures Classics
Best Original Song – Motion Picture:
"See You Again" ("Furious 7"), "Love Me Like You Do" (Fifty Shades of Grey"), "One Kind of Love" ("Love & Mercy"), "Simple Sound #3" ("Youth") and "Writing's on the Wall" ("Spectre") were nominated for this year's Golden Globes.
Focus Features
Best Original Score – Motion Picture:
Ennio Morricone ("The Hateful Eight"), Alexandre Desplat ("The Danish Girl"), Carter Burwell ("Carol"), Daniel Pemberton ("Steve Jobs") and Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto ("The Revenant") were nominated.
TWC
Best Television Series -- Drama:
"Empire" was nominated along with "Game of Thrones," "Mr. Robot," "Narcos" and "Outlander."
FOX
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series -- Drama:
Viola Davis received a nomination for "How to Get Away With Murder," alongside Eva Green ("Penny Dreadful"), Taraji P. Henson ("Empire"), Robin Wright ("House of Cards") and Caitriona Balfe ("Outlander").
ABC
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series -- Drama:
Jon Hamm was nominated for "Mad Men." Other nominations included Rami Malek ("Mr. Robot"), Wagner Moura ("Narcos"), Bob Odenkirk ("Better Call Saul") and Liev Schreiber ("Ray Donovan").
AMC
Best Television Series -- Comedy or Musical:
"Orange is the New Black," "Silicon Valley," "Veep," "Transparent," "Mozart in the Jungle," "Casual" all received nominations.
Netflix
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series -- Comedy or Musical:
Jamie Lee Curtis received a nomination for "Scream Queens," alongside Julia Louis Dreyfus ("Veep"), Gina Rodriguez ("Jane the Virgin"), Lily Tomlin ("Grace & Frankie") and Rachel Bloom ("Crazy Ex Girlfriend").
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Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series -- Comedy or Musical:
Jeffrey Tambor was nominated for "Transparent," alongside Aziz Ansari ("Master of None"), Gael Garcia Bernal ("Mozart in the Jungle"), Rob Lowe ("The Grinder") and Patrick Stewart ("Blunt Talk").
TheWrap
Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Lady Gaga was nominated for her role on "American Horror Story: Hotel," alongside Kirsten Dunst ("Fargo"), Sarah Hay ("Flesh & Bone"), Felicity Huffman ("American Crime") and Queen Latifah ("Bessie").
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Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Idris Elba ("Luther"), Oscar Isaac ("Show me a Hero"), David Oyelowo ("Nightingale"), Mark Rylance ("Wolf Hall") and Patrick Wilson ("Fargo") were nominated.
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Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Uzo Aduba received a nomination for her role on "Orange is the New Black," alongside Joanne Froggatt ("Downton Abbey"), Regina King ("American Crime"), Judith Light ("Transparent") and Maura Tierney ("The Affair").
TheWrap
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Alan Cumming ("The Good Wife") was nominated alongside Damian Lewis ("Wolf Hall"), Ben Mendelson ("Bloodline"), Tobias Menzies ("Outlander") and Christian Slater ("Mr. Robot").
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TV Limited Series/Motion Picture
"American Horror Story: Hotel" received a nomination, alongside "American Crime," "Flesh & Bone," "Fargo" and "Wolf Hall."
FX