56. "The oldest (Trai Byer) has a good list of acting credits." In response to In response to 44 Tue Mar-10-15 06:00 PM by b.Touch
We've given Jussie's resume here.
The youngest (Yazz) is new to acting.
The issue of contention is that they were looking for actor/musicians without record deals, and hundreds of dudes wanted those parts (as evidenced by the din of "I was supposed to be on Empire!" cries). That generally restricts them to unknowns or former child stars who ain't worked in a minute. They got one of each.
They also had to look like they could be Terrence and Taraji's children. Which means anyone who doesn't pass the paper-bag test automatically flunks. Lance Gross had advanced through some of the early rounds of auditioning for Andre (oldest son) before Terrence Howard was cast as Lucious. Corbin Bleu was up for Jamal's part, and Quincy Brown (Combs?) for Hakeem.
Plus damn near every other young brother in Hollywood and beyond. Even if you don't think Jussie's doing a good job (I do), apparently there were a few hundred other dudes who were worse.
I think Jussie's acting is just fine; it's that the show, itself, is designed to be so melodramatic and over-the-top, and so much of Jamal's dialogue in particular is so on-the-nose as far as discussing homophobia that Jussie may as well be turning to the camera and addressing the viewers at home. In that stagey sort of obviousness, however, it matches the tone of its spirit animal, "Dynasty".
That's not his fault. It's the format of the program.