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.
This station would be dumb to get rid of THE GAME. If you change the time and day to something more reasonable then you would have more viewers. All the black shows have ridiculous times and days. At least sell the damn show to BET so they can have a 4th and even a 5th season. KEEP THE GAME.
I’m very upset that theres talk about cancelling the Hit TV Show THE GAME. This show is one of the best shows out there that I , along with most people can relate too. I followed this show since season one and I had hopes that The Game would run for many years and seek great success. This show has it all Drama, Humor, Romance and Determation. (Just like Girlfriends) its based on real life sitiuations and I believed this show impowered us as African Americans. All I can ask is why? If CW dont want to continue to run… Read more »
I really like this show….. this was one the only black TV show on the CW……. What a shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope that someone picks up the show. I was not satisfied w/ the last episode at all.
I am so sad that the CW has cancelled one of my favorite shows. This show was exciting and kept you coming back for more. I am hoping that someone will pick this up and we can continue to support what ever network that does. CW you have lost as large fan base.
I cant believe the show has been cancelled especially after the season 3 finale. There are too many loose ends: Kelly & Jason, Kelly & Tasha….. I am upset with the decision the CW made. I am praying another station will pick u this show.
This is insane. I don’t usually watch the CW except on Fridays. That’s when the Game and Everybody Hates Chris. Now that they are both being cancelled I have no reason to watch. The Game is the best show the CW has. Great cast and great story lines. Everyone could relate to this show, and it breaks the color barrier. The CW gets 2 thumbs down for canceling this show. TV one, TBS, or BET. Somebody need to pick this show up.
Keep The Game Alive I want Jason and Kelly to get back together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
how come all the good black show series have to get cancelled. that is the best show that showed on cw. maybe if they changed the time from friday to a monday or wednesday they would have more views and change the time to 8. i love the game and how it ended can’t be it i have to see more, it needs 4 or 5 more series
Granted, there is probably a lot of truth to the statistics of viewers. I can only attest to myself, I love the show and hadn’t realized that new episodes were being aired. I literally lost a night a sleep catching up on YouTube (excessive, but I love the show). CW does not appear to allot as much effort to advertising “The Game” as it does it’s other series, which could be one reason for any unpleasing numbers. For a lot of people that I know, they are/were unfamiliar with the series, but once they checked it out they were addicted,… Read more »
I wish another network will pick up THE Game. Its the best show on TV. Please pick this show up!
I agree with U Debra the hell with CW. – will boycott the show as well. I have 4 tv’s and none of them will ever be on CW
The game is an insprational realistic show young african americans can identify with. Taking the shows audience a step futher I believe most young americans can. I would hate to see this show go. Please BET pick the show up. We need this!
The Game is such a good show. The actors and actresses are phenomenal. I’ve been watching it since the first episode which appeared on Girlfriends with a different cast they totally hit the nail on the head by replacing its characters with Pooch Hall and Britney Daniel. I’ve seen Tia Mowry really grow in this role and would love to see her as a footballers wife and holding her own as a doctor. This show is so inspiring. I think of my own episodes and how I think things should turnout. Please bring the show back! I really enjoy it… Read more »
I think that this is one of the best Black shows that have been on televison for a while. It is geared towards a younger audience, thus, making it more relatable and interesting. I do not think that “The Game” should be cancelled. In fact I think that BET should try to take over the show if CW doesnt want it anymore. To be honest this has been one of the only shows that I have steadily watched in a long time. I just dont think that it ended on the right foot. There needs to be a season 4.