To very little surprise, the CW has cancelled one of its few remaining sitcoms, The Game. Is this the end for the series or could it still return?
Created by Mara Brock Akil, The Game began as a spin-off of Akil’s long-running comedy, Girlfriends. The series centers around a first year medical student (Tia Mowry) who chooses to follow her pro-football boyfriend (Pooch Hall) to San Diego. Others in the cast include Brittany Daniel, Coby Bell, Hosea Chanchez and Wendy Raquel Robinson.
The first sitcom to debut on the CW network, The Game averaged 2.3 million viewers in season one. For season two, the ratings dropped to 2.07 million and a .96 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This season, it’s fallen to an average of 1.68 million viewers and a tiny 0.7 rating in the demo, in part because it was given a Friday night timeslot.
The CW is essentially getting out of the sitcom business and has cancelled The Game after 64 episodes. There had been talks about changing the show’s format to an hour-long dramady, to make it more compatible with the network’s other programming. That was seen as a long-shot at best and actually would have created its own set of challenges for syndication.
Though The Game only has 64 episodes, BET recently signed a syndication deal to air the first two seasons and season three will be added this Fall. To increase the show’s number of episodes, there have been discussions between the cable channel and CBS (the show’s studio) about co-funding original episodes. The deal would likely come with some cost-cutting measures.
There’s been no further word on the potential deal with BET so, as of right now, “The Wedding Episode” is the series’ last.
If The Game isn’t rescued from cancellation, are you satisfied with the way the sitcom ended — with Melanie and Derwin finally getting married?
Image courtesy CW.
I can not honestly believe that The CW could bring back a show like One Tree Hill which has never had high ratings but could cancel 3 of their highest rated shows(Girlfriends, The Game & Half & Half). But as most people aren’t aware The CW is a baby version of CBS, and how many shows on CBS have large minority cast or audiences? So honestly this should have been expected, I just hope another network is smart enough to pick up The Game because it was a great show. And personally I hope The CW goes the way of… Read more »
I think we need to first look at the way The CW has formatted their programming from the beginning. All of their show with large minority cast/audiences were continually shuffled around into different time slots until they “failed” in ratings and audiences. Girlfriends was the highest rated show on the network and they cut it midseason with no series finale. Half & Half was one of their highest rated shows and they moved it around to different days until they could cancel it. Now they move the only 2 shows they have left to attract minorities to Friday night when… Read more »
I hope that something can be done to save The Game. If a deal with BET can be worked out,please do something. There are so few quality shows on that show case minority actors. I really enjoy the show.
@lilkunta: Thanks for the correction.
the game was one of the best shows on tv. i’m very upset to hear that it was cancelled. I hope BET can see the potential in this great show and pick it with the help of CBS. Also the hour long format would work great. The show ended good but it also left it open to continue on with more great episodes. The cast is briliant. If this is the end I will definatley miss the show.
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@admin
Yes NOW it has been confirmed. U posted premature IMO.
Also her name his Mara Brock AKIL not Ari .
Please correct this info.
There is a claim that we watch more television than any other group. If that’s true, then how is the game cancelled. They must really think we are jack behinds to believe the show is cancelled because of low ratings when they PURPOSELY moved the show until different time slots until they found the one that would have the least audience (Friday night aka Party night) and then we are supposed to believe the show failed. If we have the power, use the power. The problem is that we FORGET. By the fall all will be forgotten and everyone will… Read more »
BIG MISTAKE!!!!! I am so dissapointed. I just hope and pray another network will buy the show and make the CW look like fools. Slow down the reality shows and stay in THE GAME!!!!!
I AM SHOCKED AND VERY VERY UPSET. I LOVE THIS SHOW AND I CRIED AND CRIED LIKE A BABY WHEN I FOUND OUT THE SHOW COULD POTENTIALLY BE CANCELLED. WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS CANCELLED, I WAS SO MAD I COULD GO SHOOT CW NETWORK MYSELF. WHY DO THESE NETWORKS DO THIS TO OUR BLACK SHOWS? ALL THE WHITE SHOWS ALL OVER TV AND NONE FOR US. I BELIEVE THE REASON WHY THE SHOW WAS CANCELLED WAS BECAUSE IT AIRS ON FRIDAYS. MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT AT HOME ON FRIDAY NIGHTS. I DO NOT THINK THIS IS FAIR, AND… Read more »
I just recently started watching this show. I have to say I really like it, and wish it would continue further. I think the show could have a lot of potential and if it could get carried on by the right network it can be more popular.
its great the Melanie and Derwin got married but it seems as though there is much more that could happen following this episode. I looked forward to sitting down and having The Game night on fridays and if I had to work I would faithfully tune in on the CW website to see what I missed. The show reflected realistic issues people face everyday and was a great aspect to watching television. IM SAD PLEASE BRING IT BACK.
@lilkunta: The cancellation has been confirmed by the network.
The CW upfront hasnt happened so per who/what is TG cancelled?
Also, check your facts.
BET has already been rerunning season1 & 2.
The show already is taped on a closed set, has bad lighting, what else do they want to cut from the show? How expensive is the show?
I am very happy that Derwin and Melanie got married. However my heart is crused, this is my favorite show. I can’t believe that CW cancelled it. They’ve got some nerve.