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.
no i was not satisfied i was looking foward to the new episoides that is the only show i care to watch on cw11 they should have left it on the sunday time slot i was so waiting for season four it was all i look foward to watching this fall while i go back to school i got everyone i know to start watching it we were all waiting with antispation to the new seasion this is such bad news for us i pray some how we do get a season four
I am so sorry the show was canceled, it seems like every time a really good show is broadcast on the CW it get’s canned. I enjoyed the show very much from the beginning. The story lines on the show were great, and the acting on everyone’s part was great. I would have loved to see what would have happened after Melanie and Derwin got married, and what would have happened with the rest of the characters on the show. I thoroughly enjoyed this show and I wish they would have considered giving it a chance. It’s just sad that… Read more »
OMG wrds can’t express how much I luv this show! I’m so upset that it has been canceled and I don’t understand Y. I really think all channel networks do not like that back ppl can *** up with a great tv series and be a success @ it I just really hope sum way sum how they get another deal and put the show on another station hopefully BET will pick it up….. I mean how could they end the show that way I want to see how did they marriage wrk out and did kelly and jason ever… Read more »
I cannot get enough of watching this show ( The Game). I cannot wait until BET starts playing the 3rd Season this fall. This show represents clean comedy with an exciting story line. I hope BET will strongly consider airing not only past episodes but will allow this show a chance to air new episodes. This is the type of sitcom that has given substance and positive messages to viewers and I belive if given a chance it will continue to do just that. Thank you Mara Brock Akil for creating THE GAME.
the cw are some white racist people who mostly cancel the black people’s shows!
And the cw don’t even let the black shows have A series finale.black people should
stop watching the cw because they keep canceling the black shows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I haven’t enjoyed watching any shows on TV lately. The Game was my favorite. Too bad it’s gone. I hope for a new season. I hate reality shows… It’s like peeping into your neighbors window and having pop corn because it’s the only thing going on. Instead of canceling good shows like “The Game”, Gay ass executives need to put a stop to stupid shows like Chance at love or Chick wants a millionaire and crap like that. Our entertainment’s turned into stepping on dog ****.
1
PLEASE BRING THIS T.V. SHOW BACK. I ONLY PURCHASED A DVR TO MAKE SURE I WATCH EVERY EPISODE. SO PLEASE LET SEASON 4 PREMIER!!
What is required from us as viewers, to plead the case for quality shows that feature people of color? Were the Nielsen ratings low? Was there not enough sponsorship? It is irritating and dissapointing to see shows that are popular to our demographics constantly being cancelled, and a crop of intellectually offensive shows constantly appearing. I would much rather see”The Game,” than a show that features teenage vampires, young rich kids from 90210 sleeping around with each other’s boyfriends, or someof the numerous insulting sitcoms that plague the ariwaves these days. We are not that starved for entertainment that we… Read more »
The Game should come back and finish telling it’s story. I would be disappointed if it doesn’t return. Keep trying Ms. Brockakil, your work is appreciated!
This was a beautiful idea for a sitcom. I’ve fallen in love with all the characters, I can not imagine the show coming back without the same cast. The Game is “the truth!” lol Darwin. BET should definitely consider buying the rights, I mean come on “Friends” stayed around for a while. And you guys know “The Game” has way more flavor and keeps you watching through the commercials. Besides, it’d be nice to see a show filled with beautiful sistas and brothas gettin some major chedda and breaking more barriers. BRING DA GAME BACK! These last couple days my… Read more »
As a foreigner, I find the blatant racism continuously being demonstrated by the US media mindboggling. Are there not enought people of colour who can get together and demonstrate against. I am so disappointed that the series has been discontinued. I flip through the channels looking for black faces and have now resorted to the Africa channel sitcoms.
One more thing The Game should not be shown Fridays but instead on Wednesday were there is nothing else on worth watching. Bring The Game Back!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Game is one of the best shows I’ve watched in a long time. And everytime you start enjoying and relating to a show (of color) someone cancels it. I don’t think its fair that all these other shows (not of color) continue to run when they are no way as good, interesting, or relateful.as The Game. I think BET should buy the rights and continue to play it with new episode. We in Virginia Beach LOVE The Game. Bring it back please!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why don’t black show ever get a final episode? I network is saying its viewer ratings dropped, but when you put a show on on a Friday night, expect that to happen. Just as many people watched the show, but with the invention of DVR we watch it later. I’m watching the reruns on BET right now getting angry that a Fourth Season isn’t promised. PLEASE CBS, BET, SOMEONE BRING BACK THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can the CW be any more racist?? We need positive shows of color like The Game on television. I hope BET buys the series so we can still enjoy the show because there is so much more that can be told since the lasts episode. BET PLEASE BACK THE GAME!!!!!!!!!