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 should have know that the Game would not last on the CW from the way the station treated Girlfriends (which was on the air for 8 seasons and cancelled without a proper series finale). I hope BET or TBS picks it up. I now have no reason to watch the CW. I agree with Mr. Salinas. I was satisfied with the finale, only because I was afraid they would pull it without any sort of closure. But there is so much more they can do with the show for at least another season or two.
I agree with you Edgar Salinas you are soo right. I hope the show comes back on because that’s my favorite show even though I do not watch it on Fridays I still record it and watch it when I can.
They should work out a deal with BET because everyone watches the network.
I think a great time to announce BET picking up the game should be around the BET Awards so fans can have a clue as of where the show stands.
i’m so angry about this… thats my favorite show and its cancelled me and all my friends are so angry this has been the talk of the week. the only reasons rates dropped was because they kept moving to different days i think friday was a terrible day to have this on air monday were the best thats when you know everyone is home but on a friday…. i hope BET picks it up somebody has to this can’t be the end… thanks
Correct me if I’m wrong, but most CW shows(not including reality shows) have a 0 to 1 ratio of a main characters not being Caucasian. Could it be they only want to have shows aimed at teenage white girls?? 90210, Melrose Place, its been done so why piggy back from the success of those shows??? How about creating new and original shows? And whats up with One Tree Hill, I don’t watch it but heard that two of the main characters left and they are still going forward with another season. This usually ends in disaster for a show(remember that… Read more »
I hate the fact that they are cancelling the show. I liked The Game, it is very entertaining and relatable to what people go through in everyday life. I hope that BET will pick it up because there is so much more I want to know about, it seemed very unfinished and I was looking forward to seeing more episodes. I am very hooked on the show I watch the same shows over and over again. Please do something about this.
I think these people are losing their minds, why is it that why there is something on TV showing black people doing the right thing and making the right choices in life, TV tops want to remove it? I love this show and all that it represents we need to keep this on the air! Why don’t they take off something life BIG BROTHER, HELLS KITCHEN or some other BS they play every night! I love the game bring it back!
DO NOT CANCEL THIS SHOW….I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS….I WATCHED THE ENTIRE MARATHON ON YESTERDAY….THEY ARE FUNNY AND REALISTIC!!!
I think the show is “HOT” it would be crazy to cancel it. I like the reality and comedy aspect of the show. The person I really like is, Tasha! She reminds me so much of myself, straight forward. CW…don’t make the mistake of cancelling…find a way, you wont regret it…the best thing is to change the day from Friday!
This is an outrage!! I have watched The Game since it first aired and I can’t believe that CW pulled something like this by canceling it. They took my favorite show off the air but meanwhile they kept shows on the air that serve no purpose like Gossip Girl and 90210. 90210 was already done with Brenda, Brandon, Dylan, Kelly and the rest. That show was good, but they are trying to draw viewers because of the past 90210. Well I have news for you CW, you didn’t get me to watch the new 90210. I want to see shows… Read more »
Why is it when a series starts to get good CW cancels it, no wonder they cannot make any money, I hope to God BET picks up The Game I just started watching the show and fell in love it with, just like I fell in love with Girlfriends..
Whaaaat???? R u crazy….I think one of the best things about the show is the realism wit the characters. The reason y it had such bad ratings is because it aired on a Friday. Who is home on Friday…..Everyone can’t tivo. Just when the storyline was getting so good CW wants to take it off. I hope and pray that someone sees the potential in this show and picks it back up?
There has to be a way…… “The Game” is a sitcom that I and plenty of my friends have fell in love with. We have been involved with the petitioning and anything that can avoid the cancellation of this sitcom. It has some profound actors and a sense of reality. This show has to continue!
I’m sad to hear The Game has been cancelled. I’ve been watching the show on BET and was looking forward to season 4. Black people are pissed
I am confused as to why the CW would take off the ONLY African American show on TV. The greatest things about this show are: 1) the cast is multiracial (unlike the other CW shows) 2) the cast had different age groups (from Tasha/Rick to Derwin/Melanie) and 3) each character had a great storyline. It was crazy to cancel this show.