Courtney Kemp Agboh, Woman of POWER

The glossy and gritty show has one foot on the red carpet and the other in the gutter.  The main character on POWER is James St. Patrick, a top man in Manhattan.  He went from rags to riches.  He lives well with his lovely wife, Tasha.  James owns a successful New York City nightclub that he's determined to turn into a Fortune 500 business.

But, this family man has a hidden identity.  He's also a ruthless drug lord called "Ghost."

Power corrupts.  Power is seductive.  Does he have the personal power to leave his throne as a drug kingpin?  Will the power in his girlfriend's hidden identity take him down?  What does his wife know?  How will his loyal longtime friend help him handle the situation?  Power was created by one of the show's executive producers.  She is Courtney Kemp Agboh.  Here's Courtney with a show cast member who also happens to be the other executive producer -- Curtis Jackson, the rapper known as 50 Cent.

The first season of Power boasted a very racially diverse cast that reflects the real New York.  The show got a good reception from critics and viewers.

Courtney previously added her talents to the hit sitcom, The Bernie Mac Show...

...and the acclaimed popular drama on CBS, The Good Wife.

She and I talked about strong female images on the screen and about women having power behind the camera in executive positions.  We also touched on issues of diversity.

I absolutely loved meeting and listening to her.  One element I appreciate about Power is that it reflects a multi-cultural Manhattan.  As one who lived there for 20 years, it looks like the New York I know.  Shows like Seinfeld, Friends and Will & Grace were sitcoms set in New York City, but their New York City lacked color in the cast of lead and supporting actors seen as regulars.  Sometimes you didn't even see many people of color in background scenes as extras.  That was not the case with the first season of Power.

Catch the premiere of the second season on Saturday, June 6th, at 9p ET/PT on Starz.