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

By: Harmoni

Harmoni — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:22:32 +0000

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Orquidea

Orquidea — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:47:41 +0000

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

By: DL

DL — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:07:38 +0000

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.

By: Joy

Joy — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:31:47 +0000

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.

By: mel

mel — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:59:55 +0000

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.

By: Sky

Sky — Sun, 31 May 2009 12:57:50 +0000

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.

By: Nikia

Nikia — Sun, 31 May 2009 05:38:02 +0000

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.

By: Sumatra77

Sumatra77 — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:10:30 +0000

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.

By: Benben

Benben — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:56:16 +0000

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

By: Clnmike

Clnmike — Sat, 30 May 2009 15:45:55 +0000

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.