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.
I only started watching The Game in March because of its marathon on BET. I never even knew it existed on CW11 however once I started watching it I was hooked. The script is amazing and the actors/actresses plus their high end guest star appearances are quite extrordinary for such a young show. THIS SHOW SHOULDN’T BE CANCELLED!!!!! Once I found that I could watch them on YOU TUBE-ha, I haven’t stopped. I was so intrigued that I caught up with all of the episodes since back in 2006. Cancelling this show is sending out the WRONG MESSAGE, especially for… Read more »
OMFG this is one of my favorite shows, i love it and its the best. It would be incrediblely stupid to cancel such a positive and creative show. The CW would be losing a great show and if they dont pick someone else might.
The Game is an excellent show and should not be cancelled. They pick the good shows that are fun to watch for young people then take them off the air! Just because some people don’t watch the game there are others who do. Let them return another season or we wil petition!!!!!
I AM AN ASPIRING ACTRESS MYSELF AND I FEEL THAT AS A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN, WE ARE NOT PORTRAYED IN A POSITIVE MANNER AS MUCH AS WE SHOULD. I ENJOY THIS SHOW AS A MATTER OF FACT I AM WATCHING RERUNS ON BET RIGHT NOW. I AM INSPIRED BY THESE CHARACTERS AND THE ACTORS WHO PORTRAY THEM. THEY GIVE ME HOPE THAT I CAN MAKE IT AS AN ACTOR WITH OUT BEINGG TRASHY OR A VIDEO VIXIN. IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY I WOULD LOVE TO BECOME THE NEWEST CHARACTER ON THE GAME. SERIOUSLY, GIVE THE GAME A CHANCE, I… Read more »
It’s really sad that every time African American men and women are portrayed in a positive manner in a night time television series they are set up up for failure. The Game was doing just fine until they changed the day & time slot. People especially young adults are usually out and about on Friday nights so they miss the show. By the time they are able to catch it again it’s a rerun. I really hate that all the networks seem to be interested in lately are reality shows that are most times degrading. I Luv the show &… Read more »
please do not cancel the show!! this is my favorite show!!! its wonderful and i love all the cast members!! [[pretty please!!!]]
The game is awesome, I don’t know where they would put it but it needs to be put somewhere season 3 finale was great but some things were left unansweres
I love The Game, don’t take it off the air. Its sad to see that all the black shows always get cut off the air. Why can’t we survive. “You know it’s hard out there for a pimp.” {or for a black show. , The show is funny, dramatic, real and down to earth. Its not like other shows. This is a show that many inner city residents and the life portrayed can relate to. I love Pooch Hall(Derwin) and Tia Mowry(Melanie). Please don’t take the show off the air, I mean what else would I watch!
please don’t cancel this show, I look forward to seeing what will happen next the lives these sabers and their fans
PLEASE, do not cancel the show.
I LOVE THE GAME DO NOT CANCEL
Just started wathcing first season on BET and loved the show. I now tivo it from both BET and CW and would love for it to not be cancelled.
DO NOT CANEL THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love it i watch it all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if the show moves to BET I will still watch it no matter what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE THE SHOW THE GAME, IS IT VERY FUNNY AND I ALSO FEEL I CAN RELATE TO LADIES IN THERE SO PLEASE DON’T CANCEL THE SHOW AND COME BACK WITH A FOURTH SEASON
please dont cancel my fav show