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 have been watching the game for a while i dont care wat channel it is on as long as its on. I live for the game.if you cut that show i wont need a tv. so if cw is dumb enough to cut it bet needs to pick it up or it will be their loss. Cw is wack who even watches that channel expect for the game. CW is for losers who have no life and are fat and depressed eatin on the couch because nobody wants them.CW fans two best freinds are ben and jerry.so get a… Read more »
please dont cancell i love that show it seems 2 me that there always so quick 2 cancell black shows. I love Tia she is a great actress n i want 2 know whats going 2 happen with her aand Derwin. Please don do this
I will absolutely apauled if The Game was cancelled. There are no shows with A background story like this one. I think its A original show and me and my Aunt Dawn watch it every saturday after we record it on Friday. I hope that the show is picked up and is recognized for what it is. Which is A well written comedy.
I love the game. I would really like for the show to continue, especially on bet. It would get all the ratings it deserves on that channel.
ive been following this show for a while, and i record all the episodes on my dvr… i would loooove to see the game pick back up on the CW but if not BET should pick it up, im sure they would get better viewings. i miss the game so much 🙁
itz really akward though cuz it seemz like thw cw is juz cancelling all the showz that have african amercanz in them i mean first Girlfriend then The Game nd then Everybody Hates Chris im not sayn that there racis or nothing but it sure seemz lyk they juz want shows that have caucasian people in them i mean there about to start 90210 again for another season y dont they cancle that show it would really sick if they cancle the game cuz that show it is very intertaining SOOOOOOOOO PLEASE DONT CANCLE IT PLEASE
I love the game i watch the same episodes over and over every weekday. Its really a show that i can relate to and look forward to watching all the time. Me and all my freinds are just now finding out about the show and we all love it, if i new it was on i would of watched it from the beggining. So please dont cancelled the show its the only show that we have that acually relates to real life issues!
I am just asking about The Game,If the new season will air,when and where will it air.I cant believe it was considering cancelation.I love that show.I never saw past the episode where Melainie and Derwin were about to get back together.So this reaaly sux for me.
The game should stay on. My son just moved back home from florida and he loves it as do I. He’s 19 and I’m forty. I always thought it should be an hour. It’s a show I can relate to.
the game should remain on t.v because alot of the situations that the game has as far as relationships between the african american community it gives insight on how to go about handling them, and it lets you know that there are other people dealing with these situations. the characters on the game you can really relate to them. this is the first t.v show i’ve seen that comes close to real life situations for young african americans it’s fresh and people are just catching on to the show so please give it another chance before cutting it.
this was my favorite show please put it back on!!!!
I lovis this tv series, and must say im quit dissapointed with the cancellation. This was one show that had me hooked, and i would watch it every single time even if i’ve already seen it 2 or 3 times.
I love to watch the show… I record each new episode and my favorite couple is Melanie and Derwin. I would hate it if the show was cancelled. There are still unfinished story lines that would make a huge impact on the show. I hope my opinion counts for something and that the creators or station think twice and decide to keep the show on the air.
Thanks
Omg!!! Noooooo! I love The Game It is so real I really wish that this show could stayt on the air somehow someway BET should pick it up. Man Im soo disapointed this is my favorite show! (tear)!!!
I am soooooooooooooooooooooo disappointed. My favorite part of Friday nights was watching the game. The only show I watched. THANKS!!!!!!