Feature

Game Over: The Rise and Fall of Black Shows on Television

Monday May 25, 2009 – By Sky Obercam

the-game1

The cancellation of CW’s The Game, represents the final nail in the coffin for African American shows on network TV. Over the past decade, there were a handful of black shows, sitcoms to be particular, that saw the light of day. Once upon a time, there was a minor league network called The WB that gained it’s primary audience by airing these programs – The Jamie Foxx Show, The Wayan’s Brothers, The Parent ‘Hood, The Steve Harvey Show and Sister, Sister, (after being dropped from ABC) being prime examples.

Meanwhile there existed another network that appeared to remain loyal to their African American base: The now defunct UPN, which showcased One on One, Half and Half, and All of Us and Eve, to name a few. In January 2006, CBS and WB announced that they would collapse both The UPN and The WB and launch a brand new network called The CW. From that point, decisions were made as to which programs from each network would be migrated over to The CW, and which ones would be terminated. By 2006, African American programs had been completely eliminated from The WB and it was crystal clear which UPN shows would get the boot as a result of the merger. 7th Heaven, Beauty and the Geek, Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, Reba, Smallville, and Supernatural found a new home at The CW, leaving Girlfriends, and All of Us, The Game, and Everybody Hates Chris as the last Black network TV shows standing.

The downward trend continued with the sudden cancellation of Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith’s All of Us, and was accentuated by the cancellation of the CW’s long running hit show Girlfriends two years later, in 2008. After 8 seasons, and millions in ad revenues, they weren’t even given so much as a series finale. When interviewed once, Mara Brock Akil stated that she was “in talks with the studio and network on putting together a retrospective show which will honor and celebrate this landmark series, so please stay tuned.” Sounds hopeful, but that claim was made well over a year ago. So much for closure.

In a sea European imagery, Brock Akil’s new hit series, The Game, was the last hope as a program that featured a predominately adult Black cast.

The rumors that had been swirling for over a year about the annihilation of Black programs from network TV were confirmed recently when CW President Dawn Ostroff admitted that CW execs “decided to stop developing comedies a few years ago. Maybe at some point in the future we’ll make a go of it again.” Ironically, the last of the sitcoms just so happened to be the final two shows targeted for the African American audience, with Everybody Hates Chris bringing up the rear.

So now that we know what to not to expect from network TV, we have the choice as to how to proceed. The African American viewer has a history of being overlooked – enjoying mere fleeting moments of programming aimed to reflect us (neglecting to even scratch the surface of our range and complexity).

It’s worth fighting for The Game for many reasons. Ultimately, it’s crucial that we as African Americans exercise our power as viewers and consumers and make our voices heard.

The question of quality is a valid one, but we have as much of a right to be thoroughly reflected on the tube as our white counterparts; but in order to do that, we need volume, which is built one show at a time.

To help save The Game (as well as Black programming), you can hit up, The CW, TV One, BET, TNT, Lifetime and WE TV, and state your desire to for them pick up the hit show and continue with its fourth season.

Urban Media News Report: 5.25.09 – Foxxology Report says:

May 25, 2009 at 5:02 am

[...] Game Over. The Rise and Fall of Black Shows on Television The cancellation of CW’s The Game, represents the final nail in the coffin for African American shows on network TV. Over the past decade, there were a handful of black shows, sitcoms to be particular, that saw the light of day. Once upon a time, there was a minor league network called The WB that gained it’s primary audience by airing these programs – “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “The Wayan’s Brother’s”, “The Parent ‘Hood”, “The Steve Harvey Show” and “Sister, Sister” (after being dropped from ABC) being prime examples. (Spotted @ Clutch Magazine) [...]

↑ Reply

nicolemiles says:

May 25, 2009 at 8:32 am

Irate isn’t even the word for how I feel. And the crazy thing is, people I meet in the most random places are talking about how The Game got canceled.. CW are straight up bugging!

ceecee says:

May 25, 2009 at 10:36 am

I am so sad this show got cancelled, I got on the Save the Game Campaign bus apparently that didn’t help :(

Danielle of Urban Glamour says:

May 25, 2009 at 12:54 pm

Just like I read from one of my favorite bloggers on twitter, CW stands for “Coloreds Withdrawn”. Remember in the 90s how many black shows were on TV? You had a choice from dozens of black TV shows to watch–instead of flocking to the only 2 black shows left on TV. I really hope The Game gets picked up on another network. CW truly played themselves–and have the nerve to be bringing back Melrose Place and keeping that dry and sorry 90210 mess. Blah.

Stacye says:

May 25, 2009 at 1:38 pm

I am truely a big fan of The Game. This sucks in so many languages :(

Betty Chambers says:

May 25, 2009 at 5:08 pm

I don’t have a television set. And I’ve also decided to watch very few movies this year, and in future.

However, do we blame the networks, or the advertisers who scorn us as an audience?

The problem is that these network executives claim they are looking for a specific audience, which excludes us, because they seek higher income, and the more educated.

I’d like to know who all the advertisers who despise us so much that they get shows we watch (which seem to be of quality) canceled.

Danie Michelle says:

May 25, 2009 at 5:15 pm

Im very glad that this was written. Thank you very much. As people of color we really need to let our voice be heard by contacting the station that were listed in this article. If Lost, Jericho, and (I can’t think of the last show) was brought back by irate fans, so can The Game. I am kind of surprised that BET hasn’t expressed their concern or put into action about broadcasting the 4th Season of The Game on their station. I read maybe a month or two ago that they were planning to create original sitcom programming and The Game would be a good look for their line-up and branding.

fayva says:

May 25, 2009 at 5:33 pm

…..i am from Trinidad and Tobago and the game was watched and loved by us here….it’s really sad that the show got cancelled ….hopefully BET will pick it up…and CW WILL SEE THE big mistake they made in lettin it go……

Cherish says:

May 25, 2009 at 6:35 pm

I honestly don’t know why they canceled the Game. I’m super pissed. I don’t remember CW promoting the hell out of the show like they have done with Gossip Girl and 90210. CW,you need to check yourself!

Crys says:

May 25, 2009 at 10:21 pm

You also can go to TBS and create an account and let them know why “The Game” should be picked up…here is the link, if you guys are truly fans of this show I hope you do it…
http://forums.tbs.com/jive/tbs/thread.jspa?threadID=66561&start=0&tstart=0

Peace and blessings…lets hope TBS picks this amazing show up!

Patricia Grannum says:

May 26, 2009 at 11:27 am

I love the Game and I am sad to see it go. Like the other commenters, I hope it get picked up on another network

ljkelly says:

May 26, 2009 at 12:12 pm

This also happened with FOX. The Fox Network began with shows like Martin, Living Single, Living Color, etc. and each was canceled one by one and replaced with shows that did not feature black people. These networks use us to get off the ground and then drop us when they are creditable.

Manouchka says:

May 26, 2009 at 2:14 pm

The truth is, no matter what we do…. a save the game campaign or petition, they are still going to cut the show off. The CW is a racist network that only wants to promote those corny white shows that they think the majority of the population wants to watch. They never even promoted the game the way they promote that slutty show gossip girl or one tree hill. When are black people going to wake the hell up and get their own networks!! We keep spending our money at white stores and watch white programming but get mad when there is no black programming on tv. If you want to see black shows on tv, try taking the white out of your diet!!!!

Steve says:

May 27, 2009 at 7:03 pm

This issue was highlighted on this site before:

http://clutchmagonline.com/lifeculture/feature/terri-j-vaughn-black-sitcom-scene-is-no-laughing-matter/

This is pervasive and needs to be stopped. Good news is that this is cyclical, so sooner or later, black sitcoms will be back. It’s just a matter of how much sooner (or later) it will take.

Kinn says:

May 29, 2009 at 2:03 pm

Every since the merge of UPN and WB which created CW, Blacks have been ignored little by little. I AM NOT supporting CW anymore! Although I am a fan of Tyra’s ANTM, I will only watch that show when it airs on Bravo or Oxygen from now on. No support to CW!

Andrea says:

May 29, 2009 at 2:07 pm

this makes me extremely concerned for the new generations. when i was coming up i had the cosby show, a different world, living single, sister sister, even moesha. i had a decent range of black representation on tv compared to what we have today. the problem is that we don’t have enough of us behind-the-scenes. we need to encourage our young people to pursue those creative careers. everything is not about being in front of the camera. be a stylist, be a casting director, film editor, a show producer, writer, etc. those are the people who determine what is seen on tv and on film. without that black representation in the concept room, board-room, or editing room, we don’t stand a chance.

Clnmike says:

May 30, 2009 at 11:45 am

I must be missing something because I do not recall that show being that good to warrent it being put back on the air. Now as much as I want to support black actors and directors I dont want to support weak shows which was what most of the sitcoms that was presented on TV were weak. I would rather there being nothing on the set representing black people than some predictable stale, rehash.

Benben says:

May 30, 2009 at 12:56 pm

The Game was not that good of a television show in my opinion to be considered worth saving. Everybody Hates Chris was a much better show. We have to really look at the demographics when it comes to who is watching Television and on which Networks. The majority of young, working, black adults are not spending a large amount of their time watching Television, and with the little time they have, they are watching newsworthy, sportscenter, or a movie channel.

Besides, Tyler Perry still has 2 BLACK ADULT CAST show’s, Meet the Browns and House of Payne.

But quiet as it is kept, White America is not stupid, they’ve been paying attention to the major shift in the USA. The latino’s are about to be the majority, an African American made it through the ‘gates of hell’ and became President of the used to be white United States of America….keep smiling people..deuces

Sumatra77 says:

May 30, 2009 at 2:10 pm

As much as I liked The Game, and as sorry as I am to see it go, I am not surprised that it was canceled. Thinking about it purely objectively, with no racial sentiment attached, it probably was not bringing enough revenue in to make it work the networks while. If we realize that it’s all about money, it make it easier to swallow. The Game was touted as a comedy but it was more dramatic (in my opinion) than it was comedic. Also, for shows to survive, they have to have universal appeal, whether we like it or not. Having a loyal, isolated niche is not going to lead to a long media life.
The same goes for Girlfriends. When it first came on, it was new, fresh and highly entertaining, but then it started to lose some of its appeal with Toni’s character left and when those who were left didn’t really have any real character development- Lynn was still lost and confused, Joan still man-hungry and codependent and Myra still “oh hell no” spouting.

Let’s face it, all media is really struggling right now, magazines and newspapers are folding, shows are getting canceled after one episode, etc, so unfortunately, we’ll have to start thinking even further outside the box to be heard.

Nikia says:

May 31, 2009 at 1:38 am

it hurt me to pieces that the game was cancelled…as furious as I was about Half & Half & Girlfriends, I didnt think I would like the game but it end but surpassing a lot of comedies for me. I was a faithful viewer, even during the friday lineup switch….I truly hope another network will pick it up. IF BET does, that will be the best thing they’ve done in a very long time. they already have the reruns, so they myswell bring Mara on board and finish from there. My only concern is they would lose more viewers if they go to a cable channel.

Sky says:

May 31, 2009 at 8:57 am

Sorry for overlooking Tyler Perry’s programs. Truth be told, I have a severe mental block when it comes to minstrel shows;) Seriously though, this piece is solely referring to network television, not cable programs, which many African Americans still lack access to.

mel says:

June 1, 2009 at 8:59 pm

I knew it would happen sooner or later. It always does starting with Good times, The Jeffersons, Family Matters, Sanford & Son, What’s Happening, South Central, The Cosby Show, and the list goes on and on. A African American show is just around long enough to make the networks millions and then are thrown away for their next money maker. I haven’t watched one tree hill in 3 years and it’s still on the air, but have watched every episode of The Game. I want to know how Melanie really handles raising Derwin Jr., If they really have that fairytale ending every girl dreams of, If it is really over between Jason and Kelly?, If Rick and Tasha get a deeper relationship?, If Kelly forgives Tasha for her betrayal? Their is two many questions left unanswered for this show to be canceled.

Joy says:

June 2, 2009 at 2:31 pm

Well, I think this has been a hard year for a lot of networks. A host of other shows (Lipstick Jungle, Kings, Castle, The Unusuals, Dirty Sexy Money to name a few) have been canceled after a couple seasons or just a couple episodes. I think this has just been a bad time for everybody and stations are replacing them with reality shows which are cheaper and people will still watch them. I’d love to see more black actors and actresses with their own shows or on mixed casts. Right now the only ones I know of in real roles that aren’t on cable is ABC’s The Practice.

Andrea’s right – one of the only ways to see more black actors/actresses on television is to get behind the scenes. Another way is to reward those companies that do support black programming with our patronage.

DL says:

June 2, 2009 at 5:07 pm

Mel, why is that we are entertain by only drama. The Game was filled with drama and not enough comedy. It became a soap opera and it seemed like too much was being cramped in the 30 minute episodes. I was left drained a few times at the end of the episodes and not to mentioned disgusted by Malik’s character who was superficial, materialistic and misogynistic. I think the show ended right and if it does come back to tv hopefully they lighten the show up and lose some of the drama.

Orquidea says:

June 3, 2009 at 6:47 pm

I love this show! What in the world are they thinking just like Girlfriends it has glam with flavor… Haters!

Harmoni says:

June 22, 2009 at 11:22 pm

This is so not fair, I can’t beleive that there is nothing that we as a people can do to save THE GAME!!!!!!!!!! I must admit I was addicted to this show until CW move the time slot to late evening on Fridays. This in it self was the begining of the end. It seemed as the station want it to fell. Even through all those upheavals we still manage to get an pretty good rating for Friday night. All of CW’s Afro-American Shows/Cast happen to mysteriously fell after two or three seasons, why is that? Could it be that CW intentually plan for that to happen so they, purposly move it to a time slot where no show can do well. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!