While it’s looking less and less likely that the CW will renew The Game sitcom for a fourth year, series creator Mara Brock Akil is apparently interesting in changing the show in order to score a renewal. Is it a winning strategy?
The Game is a spin-off of the Girlfriends, the once successful sitcom that ended abruptly last season. Premiering in 2006, The Game revolves around Melanie Barnett (Tia Mowry), a first year medical student who gives up her school plans to follow her professional football playing boyfriend Derwin Davis (Pooch Hall). Others in the cast include Brittany Daniel, Coby Bell, Hosea Chanchez and Wendy Raquel Robinson.
In its first season, The Game averaged 2.3 million viewers each week. For season two, the ratings dropped to 2.07 million and a .96 rating in the 18-49 demographic. This season, CW execs have stranded the series in a little-watched Friday night timeslot. It’s fallen to an average of 1.68 million viewers and a tiny 0.7 rating in the demo.
Along with fellow sitcom Everybody Hates Chris, The Game hasn’t exactly been a ratings powerhouse. It looks very likely that Chris will be cancelled in May but will have 88 episodes, enough for a syndication run that’s scheduled to start on Nick at Nite this Fall. In contrast, The Game will only have 64 episodes.
A renewal for The Game would create a programming conundrum for the CW. With no other half-hour programs in development, they’d have an orphan half-hour in their timeslot to fill.
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The Hollywood Reporter says that one possible solution would be to turn The Game into an hour-long dramedy. The change wouldn’t be a big stretch since the sitcom doesn’t use a studio audience and already mixes comedy with drama. Akil is expected to pitch the idea to the network sometime this week.
The plan is considered a longshot at best considering The Game’s weak ratings and the fact that it doesn’t mesh well with the network’s upcoming slate of dramas. Switching time formats could also cause a problem in syndication, unless each of the hour episodes could be cut into two 30 minute installments.
If the CW network ultimately passes on renewing The Game, the show could still continue. In February, the BET cable channel signed a syndication deal to air the first three seasons. At the time, Barbara Zaneri, BET’s Executive VP of Acquisitions, told Variety, “This [show] is something I went after the minute I got to BET. Not only does it have really fresh African-American stars, but it has a great lineup of guest stars. People like Robin Givens and Vivica Fox — these are people who are regularly on our network.”
It’s been reported (and Mowry recently confirmed) that BET execs have discussed with CBS the possibility of funding a fourth year. The deal would likely entail some cost-cutting to make the deal affordable for the cable channel but it’s in CBS’ best interests to make it work.
Will the show get some “extra innings” or is The Game over? We’ll likely have to wait until May 21st to find out for sure.
Image courtesy CW.
Please!!! don’t cancel the show. The game is the only show i watch on tv. I love it so much I continue to watch reruns. I even recorded the old shows because I’m so afraid CW will cancel show.
this show is fresh, exciting,funny and has a very good story line and u never know what to expect, love love love tia mowry!! I hope it wont get cancelled, it’s the best show on t.v…I just think moving it from monday, to sunday, to friday…is what decreases the ratings…pick a day when everybody is home chilling, the best day I think for the show to air would be on a monday…a lot people stay home on mondays,lol….please dont cancel!!
The game is a great show 2 watch. Please dont get rid of the show. Am in the front tv every friday too see the show. if i cant watch it i recored it. All the actors and actress are great! The plot is wonderful it relates two everyday life. Two make it an hour will create something differnt cause every time i see it i wish it was longer! I want more i need more. I think its the best aferican american show on air as of the momment. we need more show like this!
and by “watch” I mean cancel.
Me and my BROTHER this show , we even have episodes recorded if we cant see it that day ! We were heartbroken when we found out the show may be cancelled. Please do not watch it
this is BS the game is the only black tv show that is worth something it is fresh and wity they better bring it back and why did they move it to friday they nned to put it back to sunday
Please don’t cancel the show, it is one of the realist sitcom ive watch beside Girlfriends, One on One and All Of Us, alot of people can relate to the show, because so many people in the everyday world in going through the same thing that the sitcom brings to the table. For the most part alot of people enjoy watching The Game, every Friday night at 8:30 pm me and my girl sit and watch The Game. The show brings tears and laughter so many cultures can related to the show please don’t cancel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…………………….
the game is the only t.v show that i loved to watch and if it goes of air i would literly cry because thats the only show that i could actully sit down and watch and want to watch more and could not get enough of. so please move all of the new shows to B.E.T and me plus a holelot more other people will watch it every day you have my word and you can trust my word and usually i would not go out my way for a t.v show but this is not just a t.v show… Read more »
I love this show 2 death. Its a great show with a great cast. I do agree that changing their time slot might have lost viewers but even though I work nights I still catch it online!!! Please don’t cancel this show. Why do all of the good African American shows get cancelled??? Make it an hour I will watch it…Change the time or day of the week and i will STILL watch it…….
I think we should all go on a hunger strike it they cancel the game. Hey it worked for the green power ranger maybe it could work for Melanie and Derwin. All jokes aside the show is finally getting back on the right track and I would at least like to find out if that baby is really Derwin’s. I will never watch another cw original if they cancel this show.
pleaseeeeeee don’t canc the game that’s the only urban sitcom that airs on TV and i always look forward to watching it after all they always canc the black sitcoms fast and keep the other ones running for years whys that
Please Please dont cancel!!!!!!!!!! i want this show to be on for a long time and be played for ever like fresh prince this show is the best since i love watching the game because they have great lineups of actors and every episode surprises me i watch every marathon they ever have please keep it if it moves to BET then i hope they keep it for long time because their shows never last that long i want this show for ever
Please dont cancel this show! its one of my favorite ones that i look forward to watchin every friday. i dont care what channel it comes on just as long as it doesnt get canceled
the cw is very stupid to cancel The Game, everybody I know watch this show, its the one of the best shows on TV. I hope that they just move to another station because this show is very good and every time it go off it leave you wanting more, so PLEASE just move to another channel station PLEASE don’t just give up and cancel the show.
Please don’t cancel this show. This would be the four show cancel from CW. 1. One on One went off 2006, All of US, 2007, Girlfriends 2008 now you want to cancel The Game 2009 ( Whatever happen to the other network). If the rating drop that because you moved it from Sundat to Friday- knowing that most family have things to do and Sunday is family day and night. This is just so wrong. Finally get a show were everyone enjoy the laugh as well as the drama. Come on CW what’s the real problem. Please don’t cancel this… Read more »