"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.