It’s no secret that ethnically diverse sitcoms have been dying a slow death. But BET may just redeem itself by snapping up the controversially canceled CW distributed ‘The Game’.
In a recent TV Guide story, sources close to the network claimed that everything possible is being done to secure a fourth season of the Pooch Hall (pictured), Tia Mowry, Hosea Sanchez, and Wendy Raquel Robinson featured show.
“BET is doing everything it can to acquire the rights to Mara Brock Akil’s The Game,” says the source.
If the network, which received a serious backlash from its 2009 BET Awards ceremony last week, is able to pick up the series it would be seen as step in the right direction. In fact, a direction that some have been waiting for the reality and music dominated network to take for years.
While BET has long been a staple source for African Americans over the years, there has long been criticism over its lack of positive and educational programming. In the last five years alone educational and community based programs have received the axe, the most disturbing to young adults was ‘Teen Summit’. Yes, the network is strong when it comes to providing entertainment professionals with an outlet to promote and engage the community with their projects however, it has in some respects joined MTV and VH1 with a staple diet of reality series.
Nonetheless, the network cannot be fully blamed due to viewers. After all, viewers determine what stays and in the long run, what goes.
At this time BET is not commenting on ‘The Game’ related talks however, it has greenlit re-runs of the half hour hit like it did previously with ‘Girlfriends,’ ‘The Jamie Foxx Show’ and ‘The Wayans Brothers’.
With a fourth season potentially on the horizon, BET could very well land its first major sitcom in years and of course one that a good amount of viewers will watch. The question is however, will it stick and most important will ‘The Game’ open doors for additional BET scripted series ?
Do you think BET would benefit from scripted series like ‘The Game’ and would you watch consistently if the network invested in these series ?
—— By: Newsroom
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