"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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BET lands a Deal to revive "The Game"

Around this time last year, BET began recording record ratings. The month prior, the network had acquired the syndication rights to the first and second season of "The Game." At the time, the show was airing its third season on The CW. Despite the popularity of the series, it was cancelled at the end of the season.

Throughout the summer of 2009, there was speculation about "The Game" airing a fourth season on BET. Each time that the network would be contacted by the fans, they would say that negotiations were still going on. Then, a major breakthrough came when Drew Sidora, a recurring character on the show, announced that it had been picked up by BET.

The news was confirmed by the likes of S2S and other credible media outlets, then the entire cast reunited to begin filming in Atlanta. However, that would be a major let down as it was revealed that they had reunited to film an episode of "The Mo'Nique Show." BET promoted the episode with Mo'Nique asking the question about "The Game" returning for a fourth season. An answer was given, but BET made sure that part was edited out of the episode. Watching the behind-the-scenes on BET.com shows Mo'Nique talking with Tia Mowry about assisting her during the fourth season of "The Game."

Later, Tia Mowry would be asked about a fourth season of "The Game" and she said that the show would not be returning for another season. Not only did she say that the show was over, but she said that the set and most of the props had already been taken down. There has been no talk about "The Game" for the past six months, but recently, rumors have circulated about BET reaching a deal to bring the show back for another season. While the show will return, they were unable to retain all of the characters on the show. No word has been given, but Pooch Hall is already starring on a new sitcom, "Accidentially on Purpose," which airs on CBS.

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Pooch Hall to host BET's "Rip the Runway" for 2010

Despite "The Game" not being picked up by BET, Pooch Hall still has a working relationship with the network. The fact that they are not the ones paying him on a regular basis has not stopped Hall from working with them from time-to-time. Recently, it was revealed that he will be hosting the 2010 installment of BET's yearly "Rip the Runway" event.

With the way that things have been going, BET is not taking their audience for granted. They are going after the viewers by bringing in the top celebrities. Pooch Hall has emerged as the face of "The Game," which has emerged as the top show on BET. In other words, Pooch Hall is the face of BET.

Right now, the hottest rapper in the game is Nicki Minaj and BET wasted no time getting her to host "Rip the Runway" with Hall. The program will air on BET on March 15, 2010.

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