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 AM SO MAD THAT THEY ARE EVEN THINKING ABOUT CANCELING THE GAME EVERY FRIDAY I MAKE SURE THAT I AM HOME AND SETTELD THEN TOOK MY BATH AND EVERYTHING JUST TO WATCH THE GAME.. I HOPE THAT THEY RECONSIDER THIS THING.. I THINK THAT THEY HAVE NO REASON TO CANCEL THIS TV SHOW.. I THINK WE NEED TO START A PROTEST.. MAYBE THAT WILL SAVE THIS TV SHOW
Please save The Game from cancellation… This was a great show, with great storylines, real life situations. There are not any good African American shows on tv, please bring the show back for a 4th season.
Please do not cancel The Game……..This is the best show ever!
Everyone has said what I was thinking, now how do we put all of this into action to make sure The Game stays on the air for more seasons. Who do we have to talk to, or what Blog or Offical Television websites need to be notified in order to make this show’s return a reality. I am ready to take action in whatever way that means. So how do I and others do our part.
Every friday I would make sure I’m at home ready for the Game. Every week I would show emotion. The season finale brought tears to my eyes. There is so much room for more seasons, we need to know. I really hope BET or TBS will pick we need to keep fighting for it, this is the last great african american show.
They should definately not cancel The Game it has potential and lots of questions that were left unanswered. The way shows with people of color are treated is horrible. They ended Girlfriends without a proper finale show. I hope they won’t do this again. It was the only show I watch on CW since they coombined station and they cancelled all the show with people of color. This just proves we come a long way but still have a long way to go.
I was delighted that Derwin and Melanie got married, but there still seems to be a lot hanging. Will Jason go back to his wife? Will Tasha Mack and Rick Fox be an item again? I have thoroughly enjoyed catching up on some previous episodes that now run in syndication on BET. I hope CBS, BET, and whoever else is involved in this production process can revive the series on the BET cable network. Since far too much of BET’s original programming are reality shows (and God knows I am weary of them), it might be nice if the network… Read more »
I LOVE this show!! I looked forward to watching the Game every Friday night, even though it was not promoted nearly as much as the other CW shows. I never understood how the station would view a new episode, show reruns, and then air a new episode. The CW really should have done a better job at promoting this show. It was a great blend of comedy, drama, and pure entertainment. I would love to see the entire original cast and new episodes…hopefully next season on BET! That would be a real treat.
O.J. Remark: LOL. Someone thinks like me. Anyway, the network has the nerve to have Hair Show scheduled for this Friday at 8pm, thinking that will make us run and watch and forget what they did (cancelling The Game, Girlfriends). Let’s see, they rarely showed any commercials for The Game, put it in the worst possible time slot with the lowest ratings, would not have the show air for weeks, then come back with a repeat episode, during the show they constantly put up photos with reminders to watch Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, etc. Yea, they really tried to… Read more »
I am not surprised. Having worked in power positions amidst white people for 27 years I knew that once Obama became President that white people would flood the
airwaves and magazine issues with the First Family and then they would feel that would be enough black faces in the media. It is just like OJ – they will figure a way to get you even when you win.
i am so upset with this news. the game is my favorite show on the CW. i just love how they cancel the only two black shows on the network. what A_ _ holes.
i just finished watching the 3rd season on youtube! i hope someone picks up the sitcom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at least, give it a proper ending!!!!!!!
I am soo disppointed that this show has been cancelled. It was obvious that the CW network had no desire to get this show back up and running. The ratings went down dramatically because it was on a terrible time slot. And lets not get on how they didn’t even promote the show. I dont really watch the CW that much but when I did, I always saw the same commercials for Gossip girl and 90210. Never much marketing for The Game. Not once did I see a billboard with the cast on it. And lets not even get on… Read more »
I never really liked CW series. The Game was the only thing I watched. I hope other networks pick it up. I will keep signing petitions for the GAME.. you guys should too..
(there is one on this website)
I DO NOT wont that show to end its my fav TV show I would to see what would happen if they have an next season i would like to see if that baby is really he’s if jason an kelly will get back together or if malik would finally sittle down with the right women PLEASE BET bring back the showw