‘Star’ Pilot Recap & Review
STAR (newcomer Jude Demorest), a tough-as-nails young woman who came up in the foster care system, tracks down her sister, SIMONE (newcomer Brittany O’Grady), and her Instagram bestie, ALEXANDRA (newcomer Ryan Destiny), and together, the trio journeys to Atlanta with the hope of becoming music superstars. Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award, Grammy Award and Golden Globe Award winner Queen Latifah (“Bessie,” “Bringing Down The House”) stars as CARLOTTA, a surrogate mother to the young crew, that also includes COTTON (newcomer Amiyah Scott). Emmy Award nominee Benjamin Bratt (“24: Live Another Day,” “Law & Order”) plays JAHIL, a down-on-his-luck talent agent looking to revitalize his career in the all-new “Pilot” special premiere episode of STAR airing Wednesday, Dec. 14 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
I didn’t know what to expect when I checked out the pilot episode of the new Fox series Star. Comparisons to the Fox hit, Empire, are inevitable, especially since both are created by Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Lee Daniels. You can see his fingerprints throughout Star‘s first episode.
Star and Simone are sisters who grew up in the foster care system after their mother, Mary, passed away. Star has aspirations of being a musical superstar and has teamed up with a friend on Instagram named Alexandra to make the dream come true. While Star and Simone had rough upbringings, Alexandra is the daughter of a veteran musician and is living the good life. She wants to make a name for herself in the music business and to do that she has to be successful on her own. Alexandra even offers to use her trust fund to bankroll the operation.
After ditching her foster family, Star goes to social services to track down her Simone. We learn she’s been in six foster families in five years. My guess is they don’t share her dream of being a pop star. One social worker is nice enough to give Star her sister’s address. If you thought Star had it rough, check out Simone’s living situation. When Star arrives, she walks in on Simone’s foster father raping her! Sisters gotta stick together, so Star proceeds to grab a kitchen knife and drive it into the father’s back, killing him. They steal his car and head to Atlanta, where stars are born.
Alexandra meets them in Atlanta and they head to a local salon to look for a woman named Carlotta. It seems Carlotta grew up with Mary, the kids’ mother. Enter Queen Latifah singing in a gospel choir at church. We see a flashback to when Mary died and Carlotta consoling Star and Simone. Alexandra lets us know she’s an atheist, just in case Carlotta had plans of converting her to the church life. Simone has self-esteem issues (can you blame her?) and is quick to ask if Carlotta is their new mother.
Carlotta tells the girls that she was in a girl group with Mary, just like them. She allows the girls to stay with her, but they have to contribute. Her shampoo girl got pregnant and quit, so it looks like they’re on salon duty. This blue collar work comes with some drama, and Alexandra is ready to hit up some talent shows. Carlotta’s daughter, Cotton, peeks in on their audition at the talent show and recommends they go where all the managers are in Atlanta — the strip club. The iconic Magic City guest-stars, as Cotton and Star scope out Jahil Rivera, a down-on-his-luck talent agent who so happens to be receiving a lap dance from Love & Hip Hop Atlanta‘s Joseline. Good for Star to utilize some of Atlanta’s local talent.
As Star is leaving, she finds Cotton being assaulted by a guy claiming she isn’t what she claims to be. One of the episode’s big reveals is Cotton is transgender. I didn’t see that one coming. Jahil invites Star and the girls over to his house for a party. They excitedly tell Carlotta, but she is skeptical. So skeptical that she pays Jahil a visit. He tried to make Carlotta and Mary into stars, but Mary had drug problems and Carlotta gained weight. Before leaving, Carlotta gives one last warning while holding a pistol in her hand.
We end with the three girls performing at Jahil’s party and Star flirting with Jahil’s stepson.
Sike! There’s one last revelation before we hit the end credits — Simone’s foster father is still alive! If you’re into unpredictable hip-hop dramedies and subpar acting, then Star is the show for you.
Timdogg
#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE
