Tracee Ellis Ross prepares Return to Television

By TV Insider
JR Staff Writer

In the early 2000s, Tracee Ellis Ross moved out of her mother's enormous shadow and became a star in her own right. She starred for eight years on the hit UPN/CW series, "Girlfriends." The show was the most popular on UPN, a network geared towards the black audience.

In 2006, UPN merged with The WB to form The CW and many black sitcoms were lost in the process. "Girlfriends" survived for two years before being cancelled. Following the cancellation, there was public outrage. People called upon BET to save the day, but they did nothing besides show reruns.

The black community rallied behind "The Game," the popular spin-off of "Girlfriends," in the wake of the cancellation. But, one year later, it, too, was cancelled. But, BET played hero with the second series and brought it back to life. Upon bringing "The Game" back, there was a small glimmer of hope of "Girlfriends" being brought back, but it did not happen.

However, Tracee Ellis Ross will soon be returning to television because of BET. "The Game" has revitalized the network. Because of the success of the series, BET is producing more original sitcoms and adding them to the lineup. Outside of "The Game," BET is also showing a new series called "Let's Stay Together," which has been moderately successful. Tracee Ellis Ross has been cast for a new BET sitcom, called "Reed Between the Lines."

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"The Game" is back as if it Never Left

By TV Insider
JR Staff Writer

When BET picked up the rights to broadcast the first two seasons of "The Game," black America found the new television series. The reruns on BET had higher ratings than the original airings. Despite the rise in popularity, "The Game's" days were numbered.

The CW Television Network had inherited most of their black sitcoms from UPN. Ever since the network's inception, they had been killing black sitcoms left and right. Over the past three years, "The Game" had built a large following. The CW did all they could to ruin the show and cancelled it.

The pressure mounted on BET to somehow save the show. Following months of debating, BET landed the rights to broadcast a fourth season of "The Game." While the battle was over, the war had just started when each actor for the show had to be re-signed. Pooch Hall (Derwin) had landed a guest-starring role on the new CBS sitcom, "Accidentially on Purpose," and Coby Bell (Jason) had landed a role on the USA hit series, "Burn Notice." During the spring of 2010, BET made an announcement that shocked everyone when they revealed "The Game" would be coming back.

Last month, "The Game" returned and is all of the talk in most black households as if the year is still 2009 and the actors are glad. After only four episodes, Malik's selfishness has been the topic of discussion, along with the marriage of Derwin and Melanie. Meanwhile, the now-retired Jason, has created an online dancing craze with the "Dip N Pitts." More than ever, "The Game" is truly connecting with the viewers, as they have loosened up now that they are with BET. They have the freedom on cable that they never had with The CW and it is evidenced with the way the characters are being portrayed.

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Nelly and Snoop Dogg to appear on The CW's "90210"

By TV Insider
JR Staff Writer

Nelly and Snoop Dogg are no strangers to acting as their film and television roles are just as popular as their music. Recently, the two rappers were cast in an episode of The CW's "90210." The show has featured quite a few rappers in its short run.

Snoop Dogg has played in many films, including a few serious roles. However, the rapper's most-famous film role was likely Soul Plane. Snoop's scene will not be a major one on "90210." He will be shown at a local car wash in the episode, but Nelly's role will be a little bigger.

In 2005, Nelly made a famous appearance on The Longest Yard. Nelly has also made small appearances on such shows as "CSI: New York." His appearance on "90210" is a chance for Nelly to market his new music. In the episode, Nelly will be playing himself as he is filming a new video. There has not been any news about when the episode of the show will broadcast. It is likely to air sometime towards the end of the current season.

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Tia Mowry is glad "The Game" is Back

By Mr. Hollywood
JR Staff Writer

"The Game" helped introduce Tia Mowry to an audience who had forgotten her. Mowry, along with her twin sister, Tamera, rose to fame in the 1990s on the sitcom, "Sister, Sister." The show was a hit, but after it was cancelled, Tia and Tamera fell off.

But, in 2006, when Tia Mowry guess starred on an episode of the hit sitcom, "Girlfriends," it was clear she was back. The pilot received high ratings and "The Game" came later in the year. For the next three years, Tia Mowry rose to fame again as the scorned woman, Melanie Barnett.

Despite "The Game" bringing in high ratings for The CW Television Network, the network was looking to take it off of their schedule. "Girlfriends," the parent show of "The Game," was cancelled in 2008. Before the 2008-2009 season, The CW placed "The Game" on their Friday night schedule and the ratings plummeted.

Following the 2009 season, The CW decided not to renew "The Game." Beginning during the summer of 2009, BET showed interest in picking up "The Game." From that point until earlier this year, BET held the loved series in a limbo. With the back-and-forth over, "The Game" will return in 2011. The protagonist, Tia Mowry, could not be happier that her show is returning. She had gained fame in two decades and was upset because she felt her run was cut short.

But, in a rare case, her cancelled series was picked up by a cable network that has decided to make her the face of their original programming. New episodes of "The Game" begin on January 11, 2011.

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