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The Game (US TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Game is an American comedy-drama
television series created by Mara Brock Akil
and produced by Kelsey Grammer
. Premiering on October 1, 2006, the series debuted as the only new comedy series chosen for The CW
's primetime schedule. Along with Runaway, it was one of only two series on the new network not to be inherited from either of its predecessor networks, The WB
and UPN
, during the network's first season. The series is a spinoff
of the long-running UPN/CW sitcom, Girlfriends
.
After three seasons, the series was canceled by the CW in May 2009. BET
struck a deal with The Games parent company CBS
to develop new episodes of the series, relocating taping of the show from Los Angeles to Atlanta, and announcing its renewal at the April 2010 upfront
s. The Game returned to the air for a fourth season on January 11, 2011, with a record breaking 7.7 million viewers. The series was recently renewed for a fifth season (to consist of 22 episodes), and is slated to premiere in January 10, 2012.
The episode performed well and gained enough interest for The CW network to pick up the backdoor pilot as a new series for its fall 2006-07 primetime line-up. Originally, actress Renee Bruce was cast for the role of Melanie but was later replaced with Tia Mowry
(of CBS Television Distribution's own Sister, Sister
fame). Before debuting on The CW, more cast changes occurred. Aldis Hodge
and Jennifer Baxter
, both of whom appeared in the pilot episode, were replaced by Pooch Hall
and Brittany Daniel
respectively. Coby Bell
, Hosea Chanchez
and Wendy Raquel Robinson
were the remaining cast members.
) is a first-year medical school student who has given up an offer of admission to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore to follow her boyfriend Derwin Davis (Pooch Hall
), a professional football
player, to San Diego
, against the advice of her parents. Derwin Davis is a first-year rookie with a fictional team called the "San Diego Sabers". As Melanie settles into her new life, she meets Tasha Mack (Wendy Raquel Robinson
), the mother of Sabers' starting quarterback Malik Wright (Hosea Chanchez
), and Kelly Pitts (Brittany Daniel
), the then wife of Sabers' captain Jason Pitts (Coby Bell
). As she learns to balance her new roles as both med student and the partner of a professional football player, Tasha and Kelly immediately warn her to keep a close eye on her boyfriend because of the numerous "gold diggers" who approach the professional football players.
When the show transferred from The CW to BET it scored a record breaking rating of 7.7 million viewers in its 4th season premiere making it the #1 Ad-Supported Sitcom Telecast In Television Cable History Ever and as of currently the highest rated ad-supported sitcom in Television Cable History.
, Warner Brothers, and Grammnet Productions for copyright infringement
. Robinson alleged that after she applied for a job as writer's assistant to series creator and executive producer, Mara Brock Akil in 2001, she sent her novel, Interceptions, to Akil. After receiving the novel,
Robinson was interviewed for the job but later declined the position. Robinson further alleged that Akil and a CW screenwriter stole the idea from her novel to create the series. The suit was settled out of court under a non-disclosure agreement
in September 2007.
attempted to convince the network to air the series as an hour-long, single-camera series like the other shows on CW. The principal cast on the show launched a big viral campaign called "Change the Game Campaign" on YouTube
, asking all fans to sign the CW message board. Despite the campaign, on May 20, 2009, Entertainment Weekly
announced that the series was officially cancelled, due to budget cut issues.
On April 4, 2010, The Hollywood Reporter
reported that BET
, which airs the series in syndication, was close to finalizing a deal to produce new episodes of the series. BET announced the deal during its upfront
s in April 2010. Series creator and executive producer Mara Brock Akil is expected to return, along with all of the principal cast members. New episodes began airing on BET on January 11, 2011. The premiere drew 7.7 million viewers, making it the biggest ad-supported sitcom telecast in the history of cable.
Stacey Mattocks is credited with creating the Facebook
fan page for The Game. Upon finding her, BET hired Stacey to run the fan page which at last count was 5.4 million fans.
Hosea Chanchez officially announced at the 2011 BET Awards that the show will begin its fifth season in 2012.
on February 16, 2009.
Seasons 2 and 3 are also available in the United States and Canada.
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
television series created by Mara Brock Akil
Mara Brock Akil
Mara Brock Akil is an American television writer and producer.-Early life:Muslim American born in Los Angeles, California, Brock Akil was raised primarily in Kansas City. She is a graduate of Raytown South High School in 1988...
and produced by Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer is an American actor and comedian. He is most widely known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier...
. Premiering on October 1, 2006, the series debuted as the only new comedy series chosen for The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
's primetime schedule. Along with Runaway, it was one of only two series on the new network not to be inherited from either of its predecessor networks, The WB
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
and UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
, during the network's first season. The series is a spinoff
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
of the long-running UPN/CW sitcom, Girlfriends
Girlfriends
Girlfriends is an American comedy-drama sitcom that premiered on September 11, 2000, on UPN and aired on UPN's successor network, The CW, before being cancelled in 2008...
.
After three seasons, the series was canceled by the CW in May 2009. BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
struck a deal with The Games parent company CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
to develop new episodes of the series, relocating taping of the show from Los Angeles to Atlanta, and announcing its renewal at the April 2010 upfront
Upfront
In the North American television industry, an upfront is a meeting hosted at the start of important advertising sales periods by television network executives, attended by the press and major advertisers...
s. The Game returned to the air for a fourth season on January 11, 2011, with a record breaking 7.7 million viewers. The series was recently renewed for a fifth season (to consist of 22 episodes), and is slated to premiere in January 10, 2012.
Origin
With the growing success of Girlfriends, the series' creator and producers decided to capitalize on their success and create a second series that would serve as a spinoff. On April 17, 2006, an episode called The Game focused on a young woman who decides to put her pending career plans on hold for the rising success of her star athlete boyfriend. The character, Melanie Barnett, was introduced in the episode as the first cousin of Joan Clayton, Girlfriends principalThe episode performed well and gained enough interest for The CW network to pick up the backdoor pilot as a new series for its fall 2006-07 primetime line-up. Originally, actress Renee Bruce was cast for the role of Melanie but was later replaced with Tia Mowry
Tia Mowry
Tia Dashon Mowry-Hardrict is an American actress. She first gained fame for her teen role as Tia Landry on the ABC/WB sitcom Sister, Sister...
(of CBS Television Distribution's own Sister, Sister
Sister, Sister (TV series)
Sister, Sister is an American television sitcom about identical twin girls Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell , who were separated and adopted at birth, when one day they come face-to-face after 14 years apart....
fame). Before debuting on The CW, more cast changes occurred. Aldis Hodge
Aldis Hodge
Aldis Hodge is an American actor currently starring as Alec Hardison on the TNT series Leverage.-Life and career:Aldis Alexander Basil Hodge was born in Onslow County, North Carolina on September 20, 1986. While both of his parents served in the U.S...
and Jennifer Baxter
Jennifer Baxter
Jennifer Baxter is a Canadian actress and comedian formerly based out of Toronto and currently living in Los Angeles with her husband Mike Beaver....
, both of whom appeared in the pilot episode, were replaced by Pooch Hall
Pooch Hall
Marion H. "Pooch" Hall, Jr. is an American television and film actor from Taunton, Massachusetts. He is perhaps best known for his role as professional football player Derwin Davis on the BET comedy-drama series The Game....
and Brittany Daniel
Brittany Daniel
Brittany Ann Daniel is an American television and film actress. She is the twin sister of actress and photographer Cynthia Daniel...
respectively. Coby Bell
Coby Bell
Coby Scott Bell is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his roles as NYPD officer Tyrone Davis, Jr. on the NBC drama Third Watch, and professional football player Jason Pitts on the CW/BET comedy-drama The Game...
, Hosea Chanchez
Hosea Chanchez
Hosea Chanchez , also credited as Hosea, is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as professional football player Malik Wright on the CW/BET comedy-drama TV series The Game.-Early life and career:...
and Wendy Raquel Robinson
Wendy Raquel Robinson
Wendy Raquel Robinson is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as high school principal Regina Grier on the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as sports agent Tasha Mack on the CW/BET comedy-drama The Game....
were the remaining cast members.
Backdoor pilot
| # | Airdate | Title | Overview |
|---|---|---|---|
| 133* | April 17, 2006 | The Game | Joan Clayton tries to persuade her cousin, Melanie Barnett, to pursue her career in medical school instead of putting her life on hold for her boyfriend, waiting for his career to kick off. Joan is the primary character of the now-canceled Girlfriends. Joan sometimes comes on the show to make an appearance. |
Synopsis
As the series premieres, Melanie Barnett (Tia MowryTia Mowry
Tia Dashon Mowry-Hardrict is an American actress. She first gained fame for her teen role as Tia Landry on the ABC/WB sitcom Sister, Sister...
) is a first-year medical school student who has given up an offer of admission to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore to follow her boyfriend Derwin Davis (Pooch Hall
Pooch Hall
Marion H. "Pooch" Hall, Jr. is an American television and film actor from Taunton, Massachusetts. He is perhaps best known for his role as professional football player Derwin Davis on the BET comedy-drama series The Game....
), a professional football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, to San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, against the advice of her parents. Derwin Davis is a first-year rookie with a fictional team called the "San Diego Sabers". As Melanie settles into her new life, she meets Tasha Mack (Wendy Raquel Robinson
Wendy Raquel Robinson
Wendy Raquel Robinson is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as high school principal Regina Grier on the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as sports agent Tasha Mack on the CW/BET comedy-drama The Game....
), the mother of Sabers' starting quarterback Malik Wright (Hosea Chanchez
Hosea Chanchez
Hosea Chanchez , also credited as Hosea, is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as professional football player Malik Wright on the CW/BET comedy-drama TV series The Game.-Early life and career:...
), and Kelly Pitts (Brittany Daniel
Brittany Daniel
Brittany Ann Daniel is an American television and film actress. She is the twin sister of actress and photographer Cynthia Daniel...
), the then wife of Sabers' captain Jason Pitts (Coby Bell
Coby Bell
Coby Scott Bell is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his roles as NYPD officer Tyrone Davis, Jr. on the NBC drama Third Watch, and professional football player Jason Pitts on the CW/BET comedy-drama The Game...
). As she learns to balance her new roles as both med student and the partner of a professional football player, Tasha and Kelly immediately warn her to keep a close eye on her boyfriend because of the numerous "gold diggers" who approach the professional football players.
Main Cast
- Tia Mowry HardrictTia MowryTia Dashon Mowry-Hardrict is an American actress. She first gained fame for her teen role as Tia Landry on the ABC/WB sitcom Sister, Sister...
as Dr. Melanie Barnett-Davis, MD - Melanie Barnett-Davis is the show's main protagonistProtagonistA protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
. In season one, Melanie is a medical student who gave up the chance to attend Johns Hopkins School of MedicineJohns Hopkins School of MedicineThe Johns Hopkins School of Medicine , located in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., is the academic medical teaching and research arm of Johns Hopkins University. Hopkins has consistently been the nation's number one medical school in the amount of competitive research grants awarded by the National...
to move to San Diego with her boyfriend Derwin Davis. Melanie is the cousin of Los Angeles attorney-turned-restaurateur Joan Clayton. In season 1, Melanie and Derwin break up due to Derwin's infidelityInfidelityIn many intimate relationships in many cultures there is usually an express or implied expectation of exclusivity, especially in sexual matters. Infidelity most commonly refers to a breach of the expectation of sexual exclusivity.Infidelity can occur in relation to physical intimacy and/or...
, which starts a series of ups-and-downs between the two. In the season three finale, Melanie finally marries Derwin during a private ceremony. Melanie eventually finishes medical schoolMedical schoolA medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
, but puts off doing her residency program to be a football wife.
- Pooch HallPooch HallMarion H. "Pooch" Hall, Jr. is an American television and film actor from Taunton, Massachusetts. He is perhaps best known for his role as professional football player Derwin Davis on the BET comedy-drama series The Game....
as Derwin Davis - Derwin Davis is a wide receiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the San Diego Sabers and husband of Melanie Barnett. In the season one finale, Derwin has an affair with Drew SidoraDrew SidoraDrew Sidora Jordan , better known by her stage name Drew Sidora, is an American actress and singer known for her recurring role as Chantel in the Disney Channel Original Series That's So Raven, and as Lucy Avila in the 2006 movie Step Up...
, and Melanie breaks off the relationship. In the season two finale, he finds out his ex-girlfriend Janay is pregnant with his baby. In the season three finale, Derwin's son is born and he finally marries Melanie in a private ceremony. In the fourth season premiere, there are some questions regarding the true paternity of Derwin's son. Derwin also emerges as a superstar player in season 4, getting numerous endorsement deals, including NikeNike, Inc.Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, and becoming the new face of the Sabers organization. - Coby BellCoby BellCoby Scott Bell is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his roles as NYPD officer Tyrone Davis, Jr. on the NBC drama Third Watch, and professional football player Jason Pitts on the CW/BET comedy-drama The Game...
as Jason Pitts - Jason Pitts is the San Diego Sabers team captain and superstar wide receiver. He is the ex-husband of Kelly Pitts, whom he divorced in season 3. Jason and Kelly have one child, Brittany Pitts. Jason had a girlfriend briefly in season 3 (guest star Stacey DashStacey DashStacey Lauretta Dash is an American film and television actress.-Career:She made her first TV appearance in Farrell for the People starring Valerie Harper and a virtually unknown Ed O'Neill in 1982, which did not make it past its pilot episode...
); however, he is single at the beginning of season 4. Jason is officially cut from the Sabers in season 4, and he becomes a correspondent on Benched, a sports news television series hosted by former NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
basketball player Chris WebberChris WebberMayce Edward Christopher "Chris" Webber, III , nicknamed C-Webb, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, a former All-NBA First Teamer, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and a former #1 overall NBA Draftee...
.
- Brittany DanielBrittany DanielBrittany Ann Daniel is an American television and film actress. She is the twin sister of actress and photographer Cynthia Daniel...
as Kelly Pitts - Kelly Pitts is the ex-wife of Jason Pitts, mother of Brittany Pitts, and former President of the Sunbeams. Kelly and Jason divorced at the end of season three. At the start of season 4, it is revealed that Kelly is now a reality TV star, with her own show centered around the ex-wives of professional athletes. Her character was bumped down to recurring in season 4.
- Hosea ChanchezHosea ChanchezHosea Chanchez , also credited as Hosea, is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his role as professional football player Malik Wright on the CW/BET comedy-drama TV series The Game.-Early life and career:...
as Malik Wright- Malik Wright is the San Diego Sabers superstar quarterback and the son of Tasha Mack. He considers himself a playboy and is quite cocky about it. He falls in love with actress Robin GivensRobin GivensRobin Simone Givens is an American model and film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for her role as Darlene Merriman on the television series Head of the Class.-Early life:...
and convinces her to marry him as a publicity stunt. In the beginning, he lived with his mom but eventually gets his own place for the purpose of being able to party every night. He also fired his mom in season 2. In the third season, he finally meets his father and his half sister, Pucci, whom he tries to help with her singing career. In season 4, Malik is still a cocky, spoiled playboy who is sleeping with the wife of the Sabers' new owner (guest star Meagan GoodMeagan GoodMeagan Monique Good is an American film and television actress and occasional film producer. Beginning her career at the age of four, Good has appeared in numerous commercials, television shows, feature films, and music videos....
). Malik gets incarcerated for assaulting a cop and DUIDUIDUI is a three letter acronym that may stand for:* Driving under the influence * Democratic Union for Integration — the largest ethnic Albanian party in the Republic of Macedonia* Data Use Identifier...
, and goes to rehabDrug rehabilitationDrug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
to solve his newfound problems.
- Wendy Raquel RobinsonWendy Raquel RobinsonWendy Raquel Robinson is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as high school principal Regina Grier on the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as sports agent Tasha Mack on the CW/BET comedy-drama The Game....
as Latasha "Tasha" Mack - Tasha Mack is the mother of Malik Wright and starts off as his manager. Malik eventually fires Tasha. She eventually starts her own management company but dissolves it to join Irv Smiff Management (ISM). In season three, she falls in love with former NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
basketball player Rick FoxRick FoxUlrich Alexander "Rick" Fox is a Canadian television actor and retired professional basketball player who last played for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers in 2004.-Early life:...
, who also works for ISM. Tasha gets fired from ISM, and dumps Rick, assuming that he knew all about Irv Smith's plans to fire her. In the season three finale, Kelly Pitts punches Tasha when she finds out that Tasha set her ex-husband, Jason, up with his new girlfriend, Camille. Season 4 started with Tasha as Derwin's agent. She was also dating a much younger man named Donté (played by 106 & Park106 & Park106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
host Terrence JTerrence JTerrence Jenkins , better known as Terrence J, is an actor and television personality most famous for being the host of BET's popular music video countdown show 106 & Park, which is BET's number-one-rated show for African Americans.-Early life:Originally from Queens, New York, Terrence J grew up...
).
Recurring
- Katlynn Smith as Brittany Pitts - daughter of Jason and Kelly Pitts (Season 4).
- Erica GluckErica GluckErica Gluck , is an American child actress known for the role of Brittany Pitts on The Game. At the start of season 4, she was replaced. She attended Linwood E. Howe Elementary School in Culver City, California.-Filmography:-External links:...
as Brittany Pitts - daughter of Jason and Kelly Pitts (Seasons 1-3). - Shanti LowryShanti LowryShanti Lowry is an African American actress and dancer. She is perhaps best known for her role as the recurring image consultant Dionne on the hit spinoff television series The Game...
as Dionne Marie Taylor - Derwin's publicist and Melanie's eventual roommate. - Barry Floyd as Terrence "Tee-Tee" Carter - Malik's childhood friend,former assistant, and owner of Tee Tee's Cluck Truck.
- Rick FoxRick FoxUlrich Alexander "Rick" Fox is a Canadian television actor and retired professional basketball player who last played for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers in 2004.-Early life:...
as himself - former NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
basketball player; Tasha's co-worker and eventual love interest. - P.J. Byrne as Irv Smiff - Owner of Irv Smiff Management (ISM).
- Robin GivensRobin GivensRobin Simone Givens is an American model and film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for her role as Darlene Merriman on the television series Head of the Class.-Early life:...
as herself - actress; Malik's ex-wife. - Drew SidoraDrew SidoraDrew Sidora Jordan , better known by her stage name Drew Sidora, is an American actress and singer known for her recurring role as Chantel in the Disney Channel Original Series That's So Raven, and as Lucy Avila in the 2006 movie Step Up...
as herself - singer; Derwin's brief love interest. - Gabrielle DennisGabrielle DennisGabrielle Dennis is an American television and film actress and television host. Since 2008, she has had a recurring role on BET series The Game. -Career:...
as Janay Brice - Derwin's ex-girlfriend and mother of his son. - Lee MajorsLee MajorsLee Majors is an American television, film and voice actor, best known for his starring role as Colonel Steve Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man and as Colt Seavers in The Fall Guy ....
as Coach Ross - coach of the San Diego Sabers. - Mehcad BrooksMehcad BrooksMehcad Jason McKinley Brooks is an American actor and former fashion model.-Early life:Brooks was born and raised in Austin, Texas, where he attended L.C. Anderson High School...
as Jerome - Melanie's ex-boyfriend. - Kendra C. Johnson as Renee Royce - TV personality and one of Malik's love interests.
- Chaz Lamar ShepherdChaz Lamar ShepherdChaz Lamar Shepard is an American actor and singer-songwriter. Shepard is known for his regular role as John Hamilton on 7th Heaven and his recurring role as Trey Wiggs on The Game. In addition, he starred as Curtis Taylor, Jr...
as Trey Wiggs - Melanie's college friend. - Michael BoatmanMichael BoatmanMichael Patrick Boatman is an Image Award-nominated American actor and writer. He is best known for his roles as U.S. Army Specialist Samuel Beckett in the ABC drama series China Beach, as New York City mayoral aide Carter Heywood in the ABC sitcom Spin City, and as sports agent Stanley Babson in...
as Lawrence Chauncey Wright - Malik's father. - Lisa TuckerLisa Tucker (singer)Lisa Gabrielle Tucker is an American singer, musical theater and television actress who was the tenth-place finalist on the fifth season of American Idol.-Early life and career beginnings:...
as Pucci Wright - Malik's half-sister. - Stacey DashStacey DashStacey Lauretta Dash is an American film and television actress.-Career:She made her first TV appearance in Farrell for the People starring Valerie Harper and a virtually unknown Ed O'Neill in 1982, which did not make it past its pilot episode...
as Camille Rose - Jason's ex-girlfriend. - Terrence JenkinsTerrence JTerrence Jenkins , better known as Terrence J, is an actor and television personality most famous for being the host of BET's popular music video countdown show 106 & Park, which is BET's number-one-rated show for African Americans.-Early life:Originally from Queens, New York, Terrence J grew up...
as Donté - the younger ex-boyfriend of Tasha. - Chris WebberChris WebberMayce Edward Christopher "Chris" Webber, III , nicknamed C-Webb, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, a former All-NBA First Teamer, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and a former #1 overall NBA Draftee...
as himself - former NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
basketball player; Jason's co-host on the sports news television series Benched. - Bumper RobinsonBumper RobinsonBumper Robinson is an American actor and voice artist. Robinson got his nickname because he repeatedly bumped into things while running through his home as a young child.- Life and career :...
as Juvon - teammate of Malik, Jason and Derwin, San Diego Sabers Running BackRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
. - Tika SumpterTika SumpterEuphemia "Tika" Sumpter is an American actress.Sumpter is known for her role as Layla Williamson on One Life to Live.-Private Life:...
as Jenna Rice - Super Model; Malik met Jenna in RehabDrug rehabilitationDrug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
; later Malik's love interest. - Meagan GoodMeagan GoodMeagan Monique Good is an American film and television actress and occasional film producer. Beginning her career at the age of four, Good has appeared in numerous commercials, television shows, feature films, and music videos....
as Parker - The wife of the owner of the Sabers; had an affair with Malik. - Isley Anderson as D.J. - Derwin and Janay's son
- Gary W Shaw as G-Big. - Latasha "Tasha" Mack Boyfriend 2 episodes
Special guest appearances
- Jared AllenJared Allen-Kansas City Chiefs:Allen was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and signed for a one-year, $100,000 contract. On May 21, 2007, Allen, as a restricted free agent, signed the Chiefs' one-year tender offer of $2.35 million for the 2007 season. Allen credited his early...
- Nnamdi AsomughaNnamdi AsomughaNnamdi Asomugha is an American cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and played college football for the Golden Bears at the University of California, Berkeley...
- Rob Base
- Chico BenymonChico BenymonChico Benymon, is an American actor, singer, musician, and fashion designer best known for his role as Andre "Spencer" Williams on the UPN comedy Half & Half.-Upcoming Projects:...
- Tisha Campbell-MartinTisha Campbell-MartinTisha Michelle Campbell-Martin is an American actress and singer, known for her starring roles in television series Martin and My Wife and Kids and now is starring in the new television series The Protector...
- Rocky CarrollRocky CarrollRoscoe "Rocky" Carroll is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Joey Emerson on the FOX comedy-drama Roc, as Dr. Keith Wilkes on the medical drama Chicago Hope, and as Leon Vance on the CBS drama NCIS and its spinoff NCIS: Los Angeles.-Early life:Carroll was born Roscoe Fulton Carroll...
- ChamillionaireChamillionaireHakeem Seriki , better known by his stage name Chamillionaire, is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is the CEO of Chamillitary Entertainment. Chamillionaire is also the founder and an original member of The Color Changin' Click...
- Rockmond DunbarRockmond DunbarRockmond Dunbar is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Kenny Chadway on the Showtime television drama series Soul Food, and as Benjamin Miles "C-Note" Franklin on the FOX television drama series Prison Break...
- FabolousFabolousJohn David Jackson , better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper of African American and Dominican descent. He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Part of his early popularity arose from his hit single "Can't Deny It" in 2001, from his debut...
- Melyssa FordMelyssa FordMelyssa Savannah Ford is a Canadian model and actress. She attended York University and studied in the field of forensic psychology. Ford's father is Afro-Barbadian and her mother is Russian and Norwegian...
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U.S. ratings
Seasonal ratings based on average total viewers per episode of The Game on The CW and BET:| Season | Network | Timeslot (ET) | Season Premiere | Season Finale | TV Season | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CW | Sunday 8:30 P.M. (2006) Monday 9:30 P.M. (2006–2007) |
October 1, 2006 | May 14, 2007 | 2006–2007 | #141 | 4.35 |
| 2 | Monday 9:30 P.M. (2007–2008) Sunday 9:00 P.M. (2008) |
October 1, 2007 | May 18, 2008 | 2007–2008 | #196 | 2.35 | |
| 3 | Friday 8:30 P.M. (2008–2009) | October 3, 2008 | May 15, 2009 | 2008–2009 | #174 | 1.75 | |
| 4 | BET | Tuesday 10:00 P.M. (2011) | January 11, 2011 | March 29, 2011 | 2011 | N/A | 4.2 |
When the show transferred from The CW to BET it scored a record breaking rating of 7.7 million viewers in its 4th season premiere making it the #1 Ad-Supported Sitcom Telecast In Television Cable History Ever and as of currently the highest rated ad-supported sitcom in Television Cable History.
Lawsuit
In September 2006, writer Staci Robinson filed a $40 million lawsuit against the CW, CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, Warner Brothers, and Grammnet Productions for copyright infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
. Robinson alleged that after she applied for a job as writer's assistant to series creator and executive producer, Mara Brock Akil in 2001, she sent her novel, Interceptions, to Akil. After receiving the novel,
Robinson was interviewed for the job but later declined the position. Robinson further alleged that Akil and a CW screenwriter stole the idea from her novel to create the series. The suit was settled out of court under a non-disclosure agreement
Non-disclosure agreement
A non-disclosure agreement , also known as a confidentiality agreement , confidential disclosure agreement , proprietary information agreement , or secrecy agreement, is a legal contract between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that the parties...
in September 2007.
Cancellation and revival
As The CW moved to make its schedule free of half-hour comedies, series creator Mara Brock AkilMara Brock Akil
Mara Brock Akil is an American television writer and producer.-Early life:Muslim American born in Los Angeles, California, Brock Akil was raised primarily in Kansas City. She is a graduate of Raytown South High School in 1988...
attempted to convince the network to air the series as an hour-long, single-camera series like the other shows on CW. The principal cast on the show launched a big viral campaign called "Change the Game Campaign" on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, asking all fans to sign the CW message board. Despite the campaign, on May 20, 2009, Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
announced that the series was officially cancelled, due to budget cut issues.
On April 4, 2010, The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
reported that BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
, which airs the series in syndication, was close to finalizing a deal to produce new episodes of the series. BET announced the deal during its upfront
Upfront
In the North American television industry, an upfront is a meeting hosted at the start of important advertising sales periods by television network executives, attended by the press and major advertisers...
s in April 2010. Series creator and executive producer Mara Brock Akil is expected to return, along with all of the principal cast members. New episodes began airing on BET on January 11, 2011. The premiere drew 7.7 million viewers, making it the biggest ad-supported sitcom telecast in the history of cable.
Stacey Mattocks is credited with creating the Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
fan page for The Game. Upon finding her, BET hired Stacey to run the fan page which at last count was 5.4 million fans.
Hosea Chanchez officially announced at the 2011 BET Awards that the show will begin its fifth season in 2012.
Syndication
Syndicated reruns of The Game began airing on BETBlack Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
on February 16, 2009.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | NAACP Image Awards | Nominated | Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series | Kenny Smith, Jr. (For "The Trey Wiggs Episode") |
| 2008 | Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series | Sara V. Finney (For "The Big Chill" episode) | ||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:-Stats:*Most Wins**Terri J. Vaughn & Camille Winbush- 3 wins*Most Nominations**1. Sheryl Lee Ralph, Wendy Raquel Robinson- 5 nominations, 0 wins... |
Wendy Raquel Robinson | |||
| Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series:-Stats:*Most Wins**Jasmine Guy- 6 wins*Most Nominations-Winners:... |
Tia Mowry | |||
| 2009 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Wendy Raquel Robinson | ||
| Outstanding Comedy Series NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Comedy Series The NAACP Image Award winners for Outstanding Comedy Series:-Stats:*Most Wins:**The Bernie Mac Show & House of Payne has won 4 times.*Most Nominations**1. "Girlfriends"- 7 nominations 0 wins**2. "The Bernie Mac Show"- 6 nominations 4 wins... |
|
|||
| Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series | Tia Mowry | |||
| Won | Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series | Erica Montolfo (For episode "White Coats and White Lies") | ||
| 2009 | NAMIC Vision Awards | Nominated | Comedy | |
| 2007 | Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... |
Nominated | Choice TV Actress: Comedy | Tia Mowry |
DVD releases
Season Releases| |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set details | Special features | |||
|
Girlfriends Girlfriends is an American comedy-drama sitcom that premiered on September 11, 2000, on UPN and aired on UPN's successor network, The CW, before being cancelled in 2008...
|
|||
| Release date | ||||
| (Region 1) | ||||
| September 1, 2009 | ||||
Seasons 2 and 3 are also available in the United States and Canada.