: MediaTakeOut.com just got some terrible news. It turn out that as of right now, the CW network is not planning to renew their hit series The Game. But the decision is not yet final - and one of the show's actors reached out to MediaTakeOut.com and asked for help.
The castmember, who asked to remain anonymous, said the following:
The word is that we're not getting renewed - despite being one of the [top] rated Black shows on television ... I can tell you for a fact that we're not the lowest rated show on the network. We have a loyal following and we hit a key [demographic] that the CW would miss if they get rid of both [The Game] and Girlfriends.We here at MediaTakeOut.com are big fans of The Game and we think it would be a terrible loss if it were cancelled. So - if any of you two-million-or-so readers want to do something about it, you should call the following people:I know that your site mostly likes to tear down celebrities, but how about you do something good for once and get your readers to write the CW and ask them to keep us on the air. It really would be a shame to lose a show like ours.
President Of Entertainment (CW) Dawn Ostroff 818-977-2525And let this be a lesson to all the celebs out there that are always talkin' sideways about MediaTakeOut.com .... you never know when you may need our helpDirector Of Current Programming (CW) Traci Blackwell 818-977-2537
President of CBS Paramount Network TV Nancy Tellem 323-575-2380
EDITOR'S UPDATE - Wow the article has been up for less than an hour and already all the voicemail boxes are full. So .... here's an email address to send your complaints -
President of CBS Paramount Network TV Nancy Tellem nancy.tellem@tvc.cbs.com
Welcome to the world of new media .....
The struggling CW Network, hit hard by the Hollywood writers strike and an underwhelming crop of new shows, laid off 25-30 employees Monday as part of a restructuring that included the elimination of its comedy department.
They are only trying to keep Ameica`s Next top model, Smallville and Everybody hates Chris! Forget it.
VISIT www.Keminications.Com for more media news
The same black women that wrote Girlfriends wasn't worried about that show being canceled because she had The Game. Now they may cancel this show they need our help. They should have never canceled Girlfriends - we should have fought to keep that one on also.
Please provide a EMAIL address to contact the executives, its easier.
And let this be a lesson to all the celebs out there that are always talkin' sideways about MediaTakeOut.com .... you never know when you may need our help ------------------------------------------------- hahaha you guys crack me up, seriously, lol..anywas i could careless for this show, i dont watch it..so maybe if it gets cancelled they can replace it w/a more worthy show
I'll make the call. I'll also tell the CW to try harder to get Toni Childs back on the show. Girlfriends has done a good job recuping from that lost but its still not the same.
Also, for those of you that dont watch, The Game is a pretty good show. Its been better than Girlfriends for the past season.
Please dont cancel this show!! I love it!!! I dont get to watch much TV but I record The Game when it comes on. I was just looking for it last night and I was mad it didn't come on last night. It's getting too good to cancel the show now. I need to know what's going the happen to every body. They are always getting rid of the black shows!! Im a Mad Black Woman from the Bronx,NY!
ITS LIKE WE ONLY HAVE ONE NIGHT OF TV AND THATS MONDAYS, AND THEY PICKIN OFF EVERYTHING ONE BY ONE. IM SURPRISED EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS IS STILL ON, THAT WILL BE NEXT TO GO IM SURE. I HATE THIS MAINSTREAM WORLD. ALL WHITE ALL THE TIME. ALL THE GOOD SHOWS GET CANCELLED BUT SOMETHING LIKE "MY NAME IS EARL" STAYS ON 10 PHUCKIN YRS
Never heard of it so not fighting for it. But I have heard of starving children in Ethiopia.
MTO, instead of fighting CW's war, why not line the stomachs of hungry children in 3rd world countries by writing an article and raising money, rather than line the pockets of the already rich and famous who only care about themselves?
Lol, Antidumb. Once again, you said it. (I'm only sorta mad you said it first...)
Honestly, "despite being one of the [top] rated Black shows on television" as was quoted earlier, I don't feel the show was aiming any higher than that which is what they needed to do. It wasn't even the greatest "Black shows" out there, never mind being a good show to watch in the first place (my opinion). While it wasn't really aimed at my demographic, "Girlfriends" was a great show (for a while at least) and seemingly aimed a little higher. Still a "Black" show, the quality of the writing and acting was better, IMO, than a lot of the other ("White")shows out there.
The "Black comedy" is getting phased out, definitely. This is mostly because people try to say there's more integration in other shows (which I'm not seeing) and we're somehow "beyond" the need for those shows. It also doesn't help that the Sit-com itself is a dying genre.
Regardless, more than ever, we need MORE representation in society. As Antidumb stated, we're being heralded by the "Coons", "Toms", "Mammies", and "Vixens" out there. We can't afford to keep supporting stuff like that (and y'all know what I'm talking about). Nor can we afford to settle for mediocre programming either. Demand more.
I don't really think its will be all that possible to use the sitcom to represent Black people. A good show is when you feel like you're laughing with the characters. Lately, Blacks in television have been set up to be laughed AT...
Not a good look. We need to aim and reach higher than having the best rated Black programming. The numbers just won't add up.
I think the petition that being passed around should be demanding the cancellation of the likes of "Flavor of Love" and whatnot. I know the show's entertaining, but without the proper balance, we can't afford to have that stuff out there right now.
I wish we had a good Drama that features Black people who aren't just cops or thugs. Where we're in positions and social spheres normally not opened for Blacks on television, though we certainly know we fill them in real life. Something that shows us breaking stereotypes, instead of just following the same ones again and again...
@ Antidumb.
MTO doesnt realize what a powerful tool it has as a media giant. It can mobilize action with a few clicks of the mouse and keyboard yet reserves this power for the tearing down of its own black stars on a daily basis. Manypositive stories get sent to MTO but if its not gossip worthy or requires responsibility or championing a cause, forget it.
FROM ZAP2it.com: New shows and yes, even a new lawsuit come with the territory of launching a new network.
Author Staci Robinson is suing The CW, its owners and some producers for $40 million for allegedly stealing the concept of her unpublished novel to create the sitcom "The Game," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The writer claims that in 2001, she had interviewed for a job as a writers assistant at Kelsey Grammer's Gramnet Prods. when she gave a manuscript of her novel to "Game" executive producer Mara Brock Akil. The suit, filed Sept. 14, alleges that the series copies her premise and the characters in the book.
She names the CW and its owners, CBS and Warner Bros., Akil and Gramnet as defendants.
Both the written and filmed versions center on a woman who is devoted to an NFL player, but wants to pursue her professional schooling. The show stars Tia Mowry as Melanie Barnett, who gives up Johns Hopkins Medical School in favor of a local school when her boyfriend Derwin Davis (Pooch Hall) is chosen as the new third-string wide receiver for the San Diego Sabers. Soon, however, she gets embroiled in the complicated life of being a player's significant other. Brittany Daniel, Coby Bell, Hosea Chanchez and Wendy Raquel Robinson also star.
@ igotareason, it is on Sunday evening now at the same time it came on Monday night. Once they cancel "The Game" I hope not, there is going to be one black show which is "Everybody Hate Chris" Lets see what is going to happen next season. That show is going to be cancel too. Our damn tv is going to be white 24/7.
It seems like the CW cancels all the "black shows". I'm not even surprised. They could at least let the show have a proper series finale instead of just ending the [EXPLETIVE]. Why don't the writers of these shows try to negotiate with other networks...BET perhaps. Also, they have to take into consideration the competition. If the ratings are low, try airing it on another night. Flavor of Love, I Love NY, and Monday Night Football was also aired on Monday Nights at 9:00 so that could be why the ratings were low. I liked both shows but I'm not surprised Girlfriends got cancelled though. It just wasn't the same without Toni Child
Those vociemail boxes been full lol people lost their jobs the network is struggling. If you have two million or so readers why are there less than 100 comments on this post stop frontin. I'm not writing [EXPLETIVE] unless it benefits me tv is not that important why don't you save darfur with your two million readers
DONE! I CALLED AND LEFT MY MESSAGE. PEOPLE THINK BLACK FOLK SIT LAZY AND DON'T MAKE STRIDES. PROVE THEM WRONG. WE NOW HAVE A SHOW THAT SPEAKS TO US YOUNG BLACK AMERICA. WE NEED MORE MORE MORE SHOWS LIKE THIS. DON'T COMPLAIN IF THIS GETS CANCELED AND YOU ARE STUCK WITH ANOTHER SEINFIELD THAT YOU CAN'T RELATE TO OR HAS JOKES SO CORNY NO ONE CAN PAY YOU TO LAUGH AT THEM. CALL. WRITE. NOT ONLY IS THE SHOW REALLY GOOD BUT IT KEEPS OUR PEOPLE EMPLOYED. AND WE ALL CAN RELATE TO THAT CAN'T WE.
yo real talk.... We as black folk need to come together and tell the CW if they dont support our shows then we wont support them. we need to take back control of where our money is spent...this has happen for too long.... FIRST...the took away the Waynes Bros with no ending...Now this....let CW now...we're not takin it anymore....[EXPLETIVE] all we got now is Meet the Paynes and that needs a lot a work...
NOOOOOOO!!! That's the only GOOD black show we have to watch. Don't nobody want to watch corny ass reality shows all the damn time. They are so predictable that they are no longer fun to watch. Blacks shows lasted longer when they were on UPN. Black people can never have or keep anything, because people are always selling out. They have not idea, what they are doing to our culture in the process. That's the reason why hip hop is so f'd up, but I won't go into that topic. That's another story.
Cancel CW, period! "The Game" and "Girlfriends" both suck. The jokes are especially dry. And why must every black show have either trashy characters, single people in their 30's, Women and men whining about each other and black men rapping or playing sports. Lets not forget every sucessful black you do see are either gay, married to another person of another race and/or disgusted about being black in general. Lets turn off the T.V while we can, and save a few brain cells.......
The show is going, going, you get the picture. It because black people don't have rating boxes, or participate in television surveys. See a show like that depends on advetising money, and if Johnson hair products, KFC, and Popeyes the only ads, they lose. TV production is about the money, not how you love Joan, Tony, Derwin, Malik, Med School. Each main character bringing down $20,000 an episode, small show, small network, small audience. And let's say they charge a company $40,000 to air a commercial twice on Sunday night. The CW looses. And since the black community don't have Nielsen boxes, ratings reviews are low. Those black shows are dependent on white audiences. And not too many white audiences are up for seeing some football player and his girl. Joan on the other hand had appeal, so did Tony, and Lynn. Mya, not so much...too much black attitude. That's why it lasted 8 years. Advertising , ie commercials and ratings are joined at the hip. High ratings, the high the price to advertise, the more viewers are watching. This has been your straight up moment.
Well, if this actor has any real expectations that MTO really cares and can really help his show as much dissing as it does against it's own, then his show deserves to get cancelled. That's why he wants to remain anonymous. As much ragging as MTO does, why do you all even act like you care? Next thing you'll be dogging out the actor saying that he can't find work and hat he is falling off. Quit fronting.
In response to the message posted this morning about The Game being cancelled. Perhaps the decision to cancel The Game is not about the ratings, but about the fact that the concept for the show, was allegedly stolen from Staci Robinson, who was being interviewed by Mara Brock Akil, (creator of The Game) in 2000. This is according to an article in The Hollywood Reporter. In the interview process, Mara asked Staci for some writing samples and Staci gave her an autobiographical book she had written in 1996. The book is called Interceptions. Not only did nobody reach out to Staci and ask her to participate in turning Interceptions into a TV series, but whomever stole the idea, didn’t even have the decency to change the names of some of the characters, Jason and Malik, talk about arrogance! Since the show’s release, they have been sued by the actual writer, Staci Robinson, (Hollywood Reporter) and by the way, they settled. (Marin IJ Newspaper/ September 2, 2007) Once they settled, Staci wasn’t able to discuss anything about the case.
They also, began lifting story lines straight from the pages of Staci’s book. I believe the most watched episode this season was the one with the turkey baster…you can find that on page 131 of Interceptions. That’s right, you can buy her book and compare for yourselves the similarities of the series and the book. You can’t stop the truth from coming out, CW itself can’t stop the fans, smart enough to see through the undeniable parallels in the book and the show from knowing the truth. People talk about it all day long on the CW message boards...go look. If you like the show, you will love the book, do yourselves a favor and read it. Then tell a couple of your friends to do the same. They will thank you. I would think Karma is the real reason the show is getting cancelled. But who am I to say…I am just someone who happened to be with Staci throughout the entire “real life” story, someone who remembers Staci giving Mara her the book, when Mara asked Staci for a sample of her writing. Because Staci was so excited to share with her friends that someone in Mara’s position liked the book, Staci actually forwarded me an email she received from Mara saying so…I guess she reeeeeeally liked it. I just happened to be there when Staci discovered the story, based on her own life experiences, had been turned into a TV show without so much as a thank you letter for such good material. I’m here now, appreciating the fact that universal law seems to be taking care of this wrong done. Let me fill you in on Mara’s new project, I saw this the other day posted on Movieweb.com, it’s a movie, about a woman who gets left at the altar, I wonder if Mara ever got left at the altar, Staci did…I wonder where Mara got her inspiration for this story…hmmmmmm…I’m sure she pulled from her own real life experiences. After all, that’s where our best ideas come from. Who ever the actor is who did not want to be identified, I am truly sorry for the show getting cancelled, seriously, you can not read the tone I am using, it’s sincere, not sarcastic. You had nothing to do with this blatant back stabbing…and I think the entire cast of the show is great, so don’t give up, this just means there is something better for you waiting out there…maybe if you tell someone in the right position something about your life, they can make claim to it and cast you in the movie they write using YOUR story…or better yet, write it yourself, then all they will have to do is cut and paste your name out, and their name in, and get it sold…that would speed the process up. Who knows, maybe The Game will get picked up for a second season, it’s obviously a good idea for a show! I’ve thought so since I first read Staci’s book in 1996. But if not, and if you need something to do while you are waiting for your next gig to begin, read Interceptions, it will inspire you and help you get through any difficult time in your life, at least that’s what everyone who reads it says it does for them.
How come Media Takeout didn't make this kinda plea when the CW networks didn't renew the Longest Running & Second higest rated show on the network WWE Smackdown. I only watch CW because of GirlFriends & Smackdown, now there both be gone, But Smackdown will be on MYTVNetwork. MYNetworkTV should just pick up Girlfriends & The Game since they already have a build in audience.
------------ I Was 4 Real
March 04, 2008. I dont know Staci but I too read the book and then watched the show. Mara is an idiot to think that she could just steal someones material and use it to benefit herself. As a writer and an artist myself that completely pisses me off. where did she grow up and who raised someone who has the values Mara has????She should go down for that. As the other post said, KARMA will get her.
WELL, FIRST "GIRLFRIENDS" NOW THAT SHOW!... AND, I JUST WANNA KNOW... WHO THE HELL CARES?! HONESTLY! IF YOU ASK ME BOTH OF THOSE SHOWS SUCK! AND, I THINK THAT THE CW IS KINDA MORE ON THE RITE TRACK NOW!!! I'M SURE THAT THEY CAN CREATE SOME BETTER QULITY BLACK SHOWS THEN THOSE 2!
OH YEAH! AND, ON A SIDE NOTE... THAT TRACI BLACKWELL CHICK HAS MY LAST NAME... I WONDER ARE WE RELATED, I MEAN I DO HAVE PEOPLE OUT IN CALI!!! I NEEDA CALL HER ASS AND SEE IF I CAN HOLD A COUPLE DOLLAS!!! HAHAHAHA! :)
What's crazy is Black shows started this whole CW thing. Remember back when no one watched channels 11 wb and 9 upn after 7:30? Then The Ellen Cleghorn show aired followed by the Wayans Brothers on WB and UPN aired Homboys in Outerspace and Malcom and Eddie. So as we and everyone else started watching those channels at 8pm they drop kicked them and aired white shows like 7th Heaven and Gilmore girls. As usual WE make something popular then THEY swoop in and take over. Just enjoy the last few episodes of the Game and do like I plan to do when I have a kid buy DVD's of your favorite Black shows (my wife bought me the entire season of A Man Called Hawk) and show them that.
@Antidumb
I agree that is seems the shows are being phased out. but look at other shows. sitcoms in general are being phased out for this reality t.v. crap.
look at the amount of "reality" show out now compared to ten or fifteen years ago. It is not just black shows. it is all of prime time.
years ago Primetime (8-10 p.m.) was sitcoms. in the ninety's many were replaced with these... teen dramas like Dawson's Creek and Everwood and Seventh Heaven.
in the late ninety's came the reality boom. every mutha fukkin thing on tv is reality. I dont even watch it anymore.
I do have to say that there were not alot of good black show in the last few years.
I did enjoy My wife and kids and Steve Harvey and the Hughley's was funny. and all of these show showed the more positive side of our culture. dont forget the Fresh Prince back in the mid 90's. most of the newer black show just were not very funny, like every thing on the CW.
I dont want a black sitom for the sake of having one. I want a black comedy that is funny. I watch about 10 minutes of "The Game" one time (I had to look up the show last night to even remember it) and I didnt laugh one time.
I love Girlfriends and The Game. We have to admit that they needed to bring Toni Childs back. But alot of you have good points. Networks like BET and TVone need to pick up these black shows. BET is starting to change it's flavor a little bit by bringing back the old shows like Different Strokes,Thea, & Malcom and Eddie all I can say is about time.
Getting back on topic Desafinado you have made an excellent point, we show more support to shows like Flavor, and less to shows like the Game. I also heard about disputes about the Game that it was originally someone elses idea. None the less I don't want to see it go
As long as they don't cancel Supernatural and Reaper, I'm fine. I like to support the black shows, but I just couldn't get into The Game (except when there wasn't anything else to watch during that timeslot.)
This is how the fledgling networks do it. When they first start out, they create shows that cater to the black demographic and then dump them when they start drawing in respectable numbers. They're whitewashing the airwaves. But, I'm more disappointed that channels like TV1 haven't come up with more original programming to fill in the gap. (But I cut them some slack because they are just starting and probably don't have the finances needed to front new sitcoms and drama or to pick-up cancelled shows from major networks.)
I think iwasthere is Staci Robinson, just by the way you write. If Mara did steal the show concept that's really messed up and it should be pulled of the air, even though I really love the show. Why not just pay up? Why don't networks realize that they can't just steal people ideas and not pay up eventually?
If the show is based on a book, then I'll just read the book.
