Yes, The Game is canceled but there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel and they're headed to television this fall.
Earlier this week you might have read about the state of 'black sitcoms' in relation to reality television. While there is still a lack of diversity on television overall, particularly in leading roles, a few familiar faces are gearing up for the fall season. These new faces come with a reported 20 new scripted shows on five broadcast networks including Fox, NBC and TBS.
So before you cut your TIVO, DVR or cable off in protest, you might want to watch premieres of "Brothers," "Trauma," "NCIS: Los Angeles," and "The Cleveland Show" -- all set for fall 2009 debuts.
The first of the scripted shows is 'Brothers,' which features a primarily African American cast, including former NFL star Michael Strahan, Darryl "Chill" Mitchell and CCH Pounder. Centered around a recently retired NFL player living in New York City, who gets sidelined when his mom orders him home to Houston, 'Brothers' ends up highlighting the value of family. (more on the 'Brothers' here)
Hollywood talents Derek Luke, LL Cool J and Jada Pinkett Smith are also lined up for leading roles in NBC's Trauma, NCIS: Los Angeles and TNT's 'Hawthorne' respectively. Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long are also lined up with 'voice roles' in the 'Family Guy'esque' spinoff of sorts, 'The Cleveland Show' (Fox).
Now, it's clear that there should be a bit more diversity in leading roles but that appears to be it for the fall. Yes, there are stars like Tristan Wilds on 90210 and Vanessa Williams on 'Ugly Betty' as well. However, in terms of overall black casts on major network television, we're back to year 2000 numbers, reports TV writer Rick Porter.
Porter, taking a close look at the numbers, says "The 20 new scripted shows on the five broadcast networks this fall have, by my count, 135 regulars (including the voice cast of "The Cleveland Show" on FOX). Of those 135 people, 30 are African-American, Latino, Asian-American or multiracial -- about 22 percent, or not that much different than 2000 census figures that show just under 25 percent of the population as non-white."
With Porter's analysis in mind pickings are slim in scripted television.
In unscripted television things are heating up though. BET has confirmed new reality series that will follow everyone from R&B singer Monica to 'Everybody Hates Chris' actor Terry Crews.
So there you have it... a quick look at the fall 2009 line up. Hopefully we'll see a few changes in the Spring 2010 line up. Perhaps something from 'The Game' creator Mara Brock Akil !
* Update: 'Hawthorne,' featuring Jada Pinkett Smith, premieres June 16 on TNT.
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What show is Derek Luke gonna be on? I'll give that show a try. Is that Aimee Garcia he is standing w? I'll also try Jada's nurse show on TNT but that football show look s uninteresting.
@AmJay: TGame was cancelled. It wont be a 1hr drama.
BET shoulda picked up TGame & stop all their trash shows. I like Monica & I understand the show is all about promoting her cd since her 4th cd didnt sell well. But y the hell do rapper lil wayne's exWife Toya & TI's gf Tameka need a show?
The Game actually hasnt offically been canceld they are considering putting it on as a 1 hour drama and not a comedy seeing the that commedies havent done so well (refering to all the other cancelled black sitcoms) If you really want the Game to return go to cwtv.com and blog about it email them and so on.
i luv The Game......it suks dat it got cancelled..not dat im suprised..a lot of gud shows ends up getting cancelled.....C.W. suks ass now....
i am as well as my aunt are huge fans of "the game?. i love all the characters on there as well. derwin and melanie actually remind me alot of my boyfriend and i. the one thing i am really starting to dislike about the "c.w?, is that you get into the programs and they cut you off without you finding out what happen later or leave you hanging on like with the programs such as "girlfriends, cuts, half and half,and one on one?. i want them to bring the game back. thats what up
yea i was and still am a the game fan i love that show to death and they canceled it i think BET should pick them up do they know how many people would be on BET when the game comes on. but as a black person in my point of view they are canceling all black shows and leaving white shows they canceled the P.J.'s but keep on the simpson's and king of the hill WTF.
Ok, that is all well and good for the new shows however, how long before they are cancelled as well? The Game had a lot of fans that watched the show like clock work ( I was one, I never, ever missed a show) but it was cancelled anyways! I personally feel like these networks are forcing us to watch what they want.
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