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 LOVE THE GAME. This is one of the only shows my husband will actually watch with me. Anyway, I even set my watch for the show when I was on vacation. I thought the WB or CW was supposed to be for “black/colored” people. Where are our shows? We used to have a lot of them. Everything else is already gone. Don’t take this from us too.
this show can not be cancelled, because of the time that it is on it is difficult for people to watch, it can not be cancelled i love this show, please people keep watching.
NO NO NO NO!!!! The Game CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT BE CANCELLED!! What the heck?! Mara Brock, the writer for the Game and Girlfriends is TOO talented!! And the cast?! I love seeing beautiful Tia and Tasha Mack and Kelly!! They crack me up.. and yes Pooch is amazing! Might have to leave my family for a brotha OKAY?! JP but yes..keep the show and YES like someone said, please start advertising more for The Game on other shows like they do for every other show on the Game! Good grief I can barely watch the show without seeing an ad… Read more »
This show is my favorite and I LOVE IT! Where ever they move it I make time to watch it. I set my Friday nights around this show. My co-workers and I can’t wait until Monday to discuss the show. I watch the reruns on BET even though I have already seen them. Why is it everytime there is a sitcom with a GREAT cast these TV execs want to cancel it. I truly love the whole cast . PLEASE FIND A WAY TO KEEP IT ON! DO WE NEED TO GET A PETITION GOING? Whatever it takes sign me… Read more »
please do not drop this show I love It
please do not cancel the game are everybody hates chris they are great shows
i hope this show stay on cuz im goin though some things and this is helpin me out
I agree with Mike. No one is home to watch The Game on a Friday night. I happen to Tivo it and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE SHOW! And I always see commercials for ANTM, Gossip Girl, 90210, and all these other shows that cater to other races, but I don’t see any promotion for The Game. Last episode was the 1st time I actually saw that there was a “on the next episode of The Game”…. and that was only once, AFTER THE SHOW WAS OVER. There is no commercials while Gossip Girl is on, or any of those other… Read more »
the game is a great show. but the time slot that its on makes it hard not just for me but alot of other people to watch it, im sure. Its at the point that I opt to watch the show online so that I can keep up with the episodes.
this show cant be cancelled i love this show. this is the best and first show i have ever seen and was in love with. SO DONT CANCELL THE SHOW I WANT A MOVIE TO COME OUT 5 HOURS LONG. I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Game is great Show. Its needs to on a time slot where people will actually watch it. Not on a Friday night when noone is home!!! I love Gossip Girl but wheres the love for The Game.
Personally, I hope that “The Game” does not get cancelled. I rush home most times on a Friday nights to see it. I wish that whomever is in charge, could change the night that the show comes on to a different night. In all nationality, who actually stays home on a Friday night. I think that it is wrong how they put that show on a Friday night. It is actually “SHOW SUICIDE”.
I love u Pooch Hall!! Will u marry me? I love the game so much! I’m mad dat cw wanna take away all the black shows that r actually good. I have been a fan since day one and I’m gonna pray dat the show goes on for 3 more seasons. I love da whole cast, especially Pooch sexy a$$!!
I did not start watching this show until the 2nd season and I have only now caught up since it reruns on BET. This is truly a wonderful show and I was especially looking forward to the Kelly/Jason storyline to see if Jason would finally start to appreciate his wife and loosen his controlling grip and of course, I want to see Melanie & Derwin wed. Please do not take this show off the air. It is quality and the writing and acting is stellar. As much as I love Tyler Perry House of Payne (which can be a bit… Read more »
I love this show!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think it’s a shame when there are few quality shows even if comedys and the network acts like they don’t know what to do. Funny, how CBS knows how to promote “Two and half men” and “How I met your mother”. If the CW is part of the CBS network, why not merge this series on Mondays with these others??? We’re living in a new world of reality TV the networks would rather spend little money to have this absurd shows on all networks rather shows people can relate and relax to. This is the… Read more »