BET finally gets into "The Game" of Original Sitcoms

By TV Maverick
JR Staff Writer

The black community has been outraged with BET since its inception. When the idea of a television network owned and operated by black people was presented, it was presented in a professional manner. Bob Johnson promised he would fill the network with original sitcoms and dramas.

But, Johnson realized BET was a business, so he aired free music videos throughout the day. Some other black businessmen tried to create other networks, but they did not last. Johnson had the right formula and Viacom bought into it. They would take over BET for $3 billion.

Still, the network continued to broadcast cheap reality shows and music videos. Meanwhile, other networks, such as FOX, The WB, and UPN aired original black sitcoms. Each network eventually dumped these programs when their audience was built. Often times, the black community looked towards BET to save these cancelled shows. BET would pick the cancelled shows up, but only to broadcast the reruns of them to the large audience. In 2009, BET began rebroadcasting episodes of "The Game," which became the highest-rated show in network history.

Following the third season, The CW cancelled "The Game" and the pressure was on BET to deliver new episodes of the series in the future. Surprisingly, BET came through and landed "The Game." But, in an effort to cut costs, production of the show was moved to Atlanta. Along with "The Game," BET also decided to add another original sitcom to their lineup. "Let's Stay Together" stars the former "Soulfood: The Series" star, Malinda Williams as she plays the role of Stacy Lawrence.

Now, all of a sudden, the black pack is back and it is finally on BET, where most people feel it shoul have been the entire time. TBS also has a lineup of black sitcoms on its schedule, powered by the Tyler Perry sitcoms. With BET in the mix, there is a chance of the new lineup of black sitcoms staying on television for longer than five years. Even with the new, heavily promoted, lineup of new original sitcoms for BET, this is not their first time broadcasting original scripted programs. During the fall of 2008, BET aired "Somebodies," starring Hadjii Hand.