Taryn Manning Can't Stop Praising 'Empire' Stars Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard

We aren't the only ones itching for Empire to return. Orange Is the New Black's Taryn Manning stopped by Big Morning Buzz Live and reminisced about working with the show's stars Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard back in the day on Hustle & Flow.

"Those are two of my favorite people on the planet," Manning tells Nick Lachey. The actress, promoting her Lifetime Original Movie Cleveland Abduction, recently posted this photo of her Hustle character Nola, praising Henson and Howard's work on Empire: "Pumped for my homies #terrencehoward & #tarajiphenson for their super hit show @empirefox Those two get along like a house on fire and it couldn't be a better pairing of two actors with those two minds! Brilliance! Of course all of the other talent on the show are slaying it too! #empire #hustleandflow"

Manning also revealed she wasn't the first choice to play the role in the 2005 flick. But after an actress who will not be named dropped out and got married, the offer came around to her. "I got the old hand-me-down," she said. "But I say one man's trash is another man's treasure."

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So much love. If you're anxiously awaiting the season 3 premiere of OITNB (51 days, but who's counting?) watch the video below to see what advice Manning gave co-star Laverne Cox.