The Game (American TV series)

The Game
Title screen from the first nine seasons
Genre	Sitcom (seasons 1–5) Comedy-drama (seasons 6–present)
Created by	Mara Brock Akil
Starring	Tia Mowry Brittany Daniel Hosea Chanchez Coby Bell Pooch Hall Wendy Raquel Robinson Brandy Lauren London Jay Ellis Adriyan Rae Vaughn Hebron Analisa Velez Toby Sandeman
Theme music composer	Kurt Farquhar Def Jef James D. Joiner III
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	10
No. of episodes	155 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Mara Brock Akil Salim Akil Kenny Smith Jr. Erica Montolfo-Bura Kelsey Grammer Devon Greggory Tom Russo Peter O'Fallon Kevin Bray Jordan McMahon
Producers	Dan Dugan Ken Farrington Bobbi Sue Luther Wendy Raquel Robinson Hosea Chanchez
Production locations	Atlanta, Georgia
Editors	Travis G. Rendich Timothy Mozer
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	22–24 minutes (CW/BET) 28-30 minutes (Paramount+)
Production companies	Georgia Media (2011–2015) (seasons 4–9) Inphiniti Entertainment (seasons 10-present) Happy Camper Productions (2006–2008) (seasons 1–2) Akil Productions (2008–present) (seasons 3–present) Grammnet Productions CBS Paramount Network Television (2006–2009) (seasons 1–3) CBS Television Studios (2011-present) (seasons 4–present) BET Original Productions (2011–2015) (seasons 4–9)
Distributor	CBS Television Distribution (2006–2009) Viacom Media Networks (2011–2015) CBS Television Studios(2021–present)
Release
Original network	The CW (2006–2009)[1] BET (2011–2015)[2] Paramount+ (2021–present)
Picture format	1080i (HDTV) 4K UHD (2021)
Audio format	Dolby Digital 5.1
Original release	October 1, 2006 (2006-10-01) – present
Chronology
Related shows	Girlfriends
External links
Website

The Game is an American television series created by Mara Brock Akil. A spin-off of UPN's Girlfriends, the series premiered on its successor, The CW, on October 1, 2006.

The series was canceled in May 2009 after three seasons.^[3] Viacom's BET Networks would strike a deal with CBS Corporation to develop new episodes of the series, relocating taping of the show from Los Angeles to Atlanta, and announcing its renewal at the April 2010 upfronts. New seasons began airing on BET starting January 11, 2011, with the fourth season premiere drawing 7.7 million viewers, making it the most watched sitcom premiere in cable television history.^[4] The show would air for six seasons on BET, being renewed for its final two in 2014, and concluding its run on August 5, 2015.^[5][6]

A revival of the series produced for Paramount+ was premiered on November 11, 2021.^[7][8]

Premise[]

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For the first five seasons, The Game was centered around Joan Clayton's first cousin, Melanie Barnett (Tia Mowry), who was first introduced in the 2006 Girlfriends episode of the same name. Melanie is a first-year medical school student who has given up an offer of admission to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore to follow her boyfriend, Derwin Davis (Pooch Hall), to San Diego, against the advice of her parents. Derwin is a first-year rookie football player with a fictional "San Diego Sabers" team. As Melanie settles into her new life, she meets Tasha Mack (Wendy Raquel Robinson), the mother of Sabers' starting quarterback Malik Wright (Hosea Chanchez), and Kelly Pitts (Brittany Daniel), the then-wife of Sabers' captain Jason Pitts (Coby Bell), who warn her to keep a close eye on her boyfriend because of the numerous "gold diggers" who approach the professional football players. As Melanie learns to balance her new roles as both med student and the partner of a professional football player, the series focuses on the evolving relationships between the players and their significant others.

Episodes[]

Season		Episodes		Originally aired
				First aired	Last aired	Network
	Backdoor pilot			April 17, 2006 (2006-04-17)		UPN
	1	22		October 1, 2006 (2006-10-01)	May 14, 2007 (2007-05-14)	The CW
	2	20		October 1, 2007 (2007-10-01)	May 18, 2008 (2008-05-18)
	3	22		October 3, 2008 (2008-10-03)	May 15, 2009 (2009-05-15)
	4	13		January 11, 2011 (2011-01-11)	March 29, 2011 (2011-03-29)	BET
	5	22		January 10, 2012 (2012-01-10)	June 5, 2012 (2012-06-05)
	6	20		March 26, 2013 (2013-03-26)	September 3, 2013 (2013-09-03)
	7	10		March 4, 2014 (2014-03-04)	April 29, 2014 (2014-04-29)
	8	8		January 14, 2015 (2015-01-14)	March 4, 2015 (2015-03-04)
	9	10		June 3, 2015 (2015-06-03)	August 5, 2015 (2015-08-05)
	10	10		November 11, 2021 (2021-11-11)	January 6, 2022 (2022-01-06)	Paramount+

Cast[]

Main cast[]

• Tia Mowry-Hardrict (seasons 1−5; guest season 9) as Melanie Barnett - Melanie is the show's main protagonist. In season one, Melanie is a medical student who gave up the chance to attend Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to move to San Diego with her boyfriend Derwin Davis while attending a less prestigious medical school in the area. Melanie is the cousin of Los Angeles attorney-turned-restaurateur Joan Clayton (of Girlfriends). In season one, Melanie and Derwin break up due to Derwin's infidelity with singer Drew Sidora, which starts a series of ups-and-downs between the two. In the season three finale, Melanie finally marries Derwin during a private ceremony, after the public ceremony was interrupted by the birth of Derwin's son by his ex-girlfriend Janay. In season five, after confessing that she felt empty being just a housewife despite their wealth and Derwin's success, she decides to pursue her medical career and begin a residency program at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Derwin was against it at first but eventually came around. In May 2012 Mowry announced via her Twitter account that she would not be returning to The Game in season six. In the series finale, Melanie made an appearance in where she was pregnant with her & Derwin's twin babies and as the episode closes it's shown that she has had a boy and girl. She did not appear in Season 6, Season 7 and Season 8.
• Pooch Hall as Derwin Davis (seasons 1–5; guest season 6, 9-10) - Derwin Davis is a wide receiver for the San Diego Sabers and husband of Melanie Barnett. In the season one finale, Derwin has an affair with Drew Sidora, and Melanie breaks off the relationship. In the beginning of season 2, after desperately trying to get her back, Derwin acts out against Melanie for a bit until she saves him from a gold digger who tried to "trap" him by getting her pregnant. Derwin and Melanie became cordial for a minute as they both went about their own way & were seeing other people, but a run-in at a grocery store and later at Derwin's apartment on the day of the Super Bowl stirred up their old feelings of love again, as the two passionately kiss upon sight the second time. The off field drama didn't affect Derwin's play on the field though, as he became a rising star for the Sabers until he suffered a bad knee injury in a playoff game. In the season two finale, he finds out his ex-girlfriend Janay is pregnant with his baby, and he and Melanie get back together. Derwin ran into some on the field issues (due to his injury, the Sabers considered cutting him for a little while) and off the field issues throughout season 3 (questions about whether he was actually the father of Janay's baby, Melanie and Janay feuding, getting with Melanie but not being all in, Melanie breaking up then getting back with him while having an affair with a handsome doctor, Derwin breaking up and then trying to get with Janay only for the baby's sake, and finally breaking up with Janay and proposing to Melanie). In the season three finale, Derwin's son is born and he finally marries Melanie in a private ceremony. In the fourth-season premiere, there are still some questions regarding the true paternity of Derwin's son. Derwin also emerges as a superstar player in season 4, getting numerous endorsement deals, including Nike, and becoming the new face of the Sabers organization. In May 2012, it was announced that Hall would not return to The Game for the sixth season; however in August 2012 it was announced that he would be returning, but Hall would only appear in one episode. In season 6, Derwin was traded to Baltimore in exchange for Blue and he is the enemies of Bryce "Blue" Westbrook, who was chosen by Baltimore as the Number 1 Draft Pick. This allowed Derwin to be with Melanie, who is in Baltimore doing her Residency. The trade, however, was not planned by Derwin, but executed by the team owner because Derwin was responsible for the injury of former teammate and quarterback Kwan Kirkland. In the series finale of season 8, Derwin made an appearance with a pregnant Melanie as the episode closes it's shown that they've had a baby boy & girl. He did not appear in Season 7.
• Wendy Raquel Robinson as Tasha Mack is the brash, bold, & flamboyant mother of Malik Wright and begins the series as his manager. Malik, giving his mother an ultimatum at one point, eventually fires Tasha. It is then that Tasha builds her own management company, Tasha Mack Management. She dissolves the company, however, to join Irv Smiff Management (ISM). In season three, she falls in love with former NBA player Rick Fox, who also works for ISM. Tasha ends up getting fired from ISM, and dumps Rick in the aftermath, assuming that he knew all about Irv Smith's plans to fire her. In the season three finale, Kelly Pitts and Tasha have a falling-out when Kelly discovers that Tasha set her then ex-husband, Jason Pitts, with his then new girlfriend, Camille. The altercation soon turns physical, with Kelly punching Tasha. Season four started with Tasha as Derwin's agent. She had also begun dating a much younger man named Donté (played by former 106 & Park host Terrence J). In season 5, Tasha decided to be celibate after a brief romance with a male escort (Carl Anthony Payne). She eventually falls for her longtime friend Pookie (Rockmond Dunbar). In the Season 5 finale, her ex-boyfriend Rick Fox returns. In season 6, she appoints herself Sunbeams president due to Jaz arguing with everybody with Tasha and Keira and Chardonnay. At the end of season 7, after breaking up with Pookie (upon Pookie finding out about her affairs with Rick) and later with Rick, she becomes pregnant & delivers a baby girl by Pookie. In the series finale, after revealing the feelings they still had for each other Tasha & Pookie decided to be together & happily moved into their own house with their baby daughter.
• Brittany Daniel as Kelly Pitts (seasons 1–3, 9; recurring seasons 4, 7-8) – Kelly Pitts is the wife of Jason Pitts, mother of Brittany Pitts, and former President of the Sunbeams. After their relationship gradually becomes more and more strained in season 2, Kelly and Jason divorce at the beginning of season three. At the start of season 4, it is revealed that Kelly is now a reality TV star, with her own show centered around the ex-wives of professional athletes. Her character was bumped down to recurring in season 4, and her character was effectively written out of the show in season 4 after she stated to Jason that she needed to head back home to her parents to find herself again. Daniel had made no further appearances in the series after that season. But in season 6, Kelly is heavily mentioned by the remaining characters (especially Tasha). After being referred to a therapist by Kelly, Tasha reveals that Kelly has since moved to Paris. She made her return in season 7. She comes to Chardonnay and Jason's wedding where Jason reveals he still loves her, ending the wedding. She and Jason get remarried in season 9.
• Hosea Chanchez as Malik Wright – Malik Wright is the San Diego Sabers superstar quarterback and the son of Tasha Mack. Arrogant and cocky, Malik initially begins the series as an immature womanizer. He falls in love with actress Robin Givens and convinces her to marry him as a publicity stunt. In the beginning, he lived with his mom but eventually gets his own place for the purpose of being able to party every night. He also fired his mom in season 2. In the season 3, he finally meets his father and his half sister, Pucci, whom he tries to help with her singing career. In season 4, Malik is still a cocky, spoiled playboy who is sleeping with the wife of the Sabers' new owner (guest star Meagan Good). Malik gets incarcerated for assaulting a cop and DUI, and goes to rehab to solve his newfound problems. In rehab, he falls for a troubled supermodel Jenna Rice (Tika Sumpter). In season 5, Malik has financial issues and is forced to sell his multimillion-dollar mansion and his cars. The season 5 finale, Malik ends his relationship with Jenna. He seemed to be getting his life together, but then had converted back to his old ways. During the season 6 finale, after Malik lands in the hospital from being beat up by a group of men, he learns he won't have full use of his football arm anymore. In season 7, Malik goes through physical therapy in hopes of getting back into football and falls for his previously lesbian physical therapist Yanna. In the season 7 finale Malik ends his relationship with Yanna. In season 8 Malik rejoins the Sabers, but loses his position as team captain to Blue. In the season 8 finale he and Keira admit their feelings about each other (after being best friends for a long time). In the beginning of season 9 Malik and Keira are in a relationship as he and Blue began feuding, and he becomes the laughing stock of the team . Then, in the next to last episode, Malik breaks up with Keira after realizing he wasn't truly in love with her the way he was with Yanna.(Malik determined this after realizing he wasn't crying after having sex with Keira like he did with Yanna, something he had never felt before then.) Keira responds by slapping him. In the series finale Malik leads the team to the playoffs, he proposes to Keira (who declines), he had plans to retire, but he continues to play, winning another championship with the Sabers.
• Coby Bell as Jason Pitts (seasons 1–3, 6–9; recurring seasons 4–5; guest season 10) – Jason Pitts is the San Diego Sabers former team captain and superstar wide receiver, later its head coach. He is the husband of Kelly Pitts, although they divorced in season 3. Jason and Kelly have one child, Brittany Pitts. In season 2, realizing that his skills were visibly diminishing, Jason starts using steroids to boost his performance. The Sabers win the championship that year. But once Kelly finds out about his steroid use it puts a strain on their relationship, leading to their divorce in season 3. Jason had a girlfriend briefly in season 3 (guest star Stacey Dash); however, he is single at the beginning of season 4. Jason is officially cut from the Sabers in season 4, and he becomes a correspondent on Benched, a sports news television series hosted by former NBA basketball player Chris Webber. In season 5, he is a correspondent on his own show, The Pitts Stop, and is in a romantic relationship with girlfriend-wife Chardonnay (portrayed by Brandy Norwood). In season 6, Jason makes an attempt at a comeback but suffered a concussion, affecting his playing ability among other things as well. He retires for good at the beginning of season 7. In season 7 Kelly returns and attends the wedding of Chardonnay and Jason (at Chardonnay's request). Jason does not marry Chardonnay, admitting he is still in love with Kelly. In season 8 Jason courts Kelly again (despite her initial reluctance) and is also named interim head coach of the Sabers. He and Kelly remarry in season 9.
• Brandy as Chardonnay Pitts (seasons 6–9; recurring season 5; guest season 10) – Chardonnay is the ex-wife of Jason Pitts. She and Jason meet when he goes to the bar where she bartends. She refuses to serve Jason, who tells her boss and gets her fired. Feeling bad after he got her fired, Jason takes her on a date. They wind up in Tijuana. Jason gets drunk and Chardonnay tricks him into marrying her to see if he really loves black women. They return to San Diego and decide to get their marriage annulled. In the season 5 finale Chardonnay and Jason decide not to go through with the annulment and stay married. Though they have their ups and downs, everything seems fine between the two until Kelly shows up in season 7. Kelly pays off Ty Savage (Jason's former teammate) to stop him from revealing Jason's steroid use. This upsets Chardonnay to the point that she kicks Jason out of the house. She lets him back in and despite his reveal that he kissed Kelly after visiting her in a hotel, they still plan to get married. But in the season 7 finale, Jason doesn't go through with the wedding, revealing he's still in love with Kelly. Chardonnay slaps Jason and storms off, beside herself. At the beginning of season 8 she goes back to Fresno, saying to Tasha there is nothing left but bad memories in San Diego.
• Lauren London as Keira Michelle Whitaker (seasons 6–9) – a former child star who starred in a fictional 'Cosby'-esque sitcom called Stuck Together. She is struggling to make the transition from child star to adult. Keira is one of the new characters introduced in season 6. Her character does not replace Melanie, but is a new character added into the script. Her love interest is "Bryce 'Blue' Westbrook". The two meet at a party where they hook up. After being shut down by Keira, Blue hooks up with Keira's friend, singer Ciara, making Keira jealous. Blue and Keira try to ignore and anger each other at first, then become cordial, then fall for each other. After Keira loses her virginity to Blue however, they break up due to Blue's insensitivity. They still have feelings for each other even while Keira briefly dates an actor named Luke, with whom she has a rather raunchy sex scene in her movie 'Baggers', that she didn't want Blue to see at the premiere. (He sees it from the back.) They break up again. After more ups and downs in season 7, they elope in that season's finale after Blue proposes, skipping Jason and Chardonnay's wedding. In season 8, after being told by several people that she needs to dedicate herself to her craft, she kisses Malik at an audition after being made to by the acting coach, leading to deeper feelings between the two, who were just best friends before. Blue catches on & breaks off the engagement in season 9 after a huge fight between him and Malik in an elevator. Keira ends up with Malik, at the disapproval of Tasha. In the series finale, after Malik breaks up with Keira, she sleeps with Blue once more, refuses Malik's proposal & she decides to focus on her career. She gets her breakout role.
• Jay Ellis as Bryce "Blueprint" Westbrook (seasons 6–9) – San Diego Sabers wide receiver and the first overall draft pick from Stanford who is highly educated and often the smartest person in the room. Even though he is bright and talented, he is still a young man who has a lot to learn about life, love and himself. Blue is one of the new characters that was introduced in season 6. His character replaces Derwin Davis as a main character. Blue was traded from Baltimore to San Diego in exchange for Derwin. The two men confront each other at a post-draft party and brawl. That same night he pursues Keira for the first time. They start an on-again, off-again type of relationship throughout the series. Though Blue had his moments where he attempts to act out against Keira when the two weren't together by using women to make her jealous (sleeping with Ciara, bringing her to a group photoshoot, & the party bus episode all in season 6, having an escort with him in the season 7 premiere, having a woman with him in season 9 as he calls off their engagement), he obviously still loves Keira. In season 7 Jason chastises Blue for not being focused due to his off the field distractions. Blue takes initiative and eventually becomes team captain in season 8. In season 9 he led a protest against Saber management that cost him a couple of games, though the Sabers would eventually win the championship in the series finale.
• Vaughn Hebron as Jamison Fields (season 10; Season 1 Paramount+) - An ex-con and undrafted free agent football player who had a troubled past that landed him in jail for 3 years. Struggling to make ends meet, he works overnight as a waiter and male exotic dancer while trying to make a comeback for the Las Vegas Fighting Fury open try-outs.
• Adriyan Rae as Brittany Pitts (season 10; Season 1 Paramount+) - Jason and Kelly Pitts now adult daughter who finds herself in debt and financial crisis owing almost 1 million dollars and was forced to seize her possessions. She leaves Miami, Florida to join her friend Raquel in Las Vegas to start her new life, hoping to escape her troubles. She reconnects with Tasha Mack who gave her an opportunity to work herself out of debt by keeping this secret from her parents. Previously played by Erica Gluck (Seasons 1-3) and Katlynn Simone (Seasons 4-9).
• Analisa Velez as Raquel Navarro (season 10; Season 1 Paramount+) - Brittany's college friend, who shares a past that brought them together as the pact '828". She works at Joint 51 nightclub along with Jamison as a waiter, she also partakes in performing in their open mics.
• Toby Sandeman as Garrett Evans (season 10; Season 1 Paramount+) - a 4 time all-pro & Defensive MVP of a previous team from St. Louis who was drafted to the Las Vegas Fighting Fury.

Current Recurring cast[]

• Tim Daly as Colonel Ulysses S. Thatcher (season 10; Season 1 Paramount+) - a self-made billionaire and owner of the Las Vegas Fury football team.
• Rockmond Dunbar as Pookie - Ex-con; Tasha's old friend and eventual love interest. He is the father of Tasha's newborn baby. It is revealed his real name is Marion. (Seasons 3, 5-present)
• Cecil Blutcher as Caleb Antwan Jones - Malik's past college pro teammate, whose been in Malik's presence at his side through his hallucinations. He was injured in an accident that Malik was responsible for and died later from his injuries. He also serve as Malik's guilt of survivor's remorse. (season 10; Season 1 Paramount+)

Previous Recurring cast[]

• Barry Floyd as Terrence "Tee-Tee" Carter (seasons 1–9) - Malik's childhood friend, former assistant, and owner of Tee Tee's Cluck Truck.
• P. J. Byrne as Irv Smiff - Owner of Irv Smiff Management (ISM). (Seasons 1–3, 5, 9)
• Bumper Robinson as Juvon Glenn - San Diego Sabers' Running Back and husband of Jazz. (Seasons 1, 3–6, 8-9)
• Shanti Lowry as Dionne Marie Taylor - Derwin's former publicist and Melanie's previous roommate. (Seasons 1–3, 8)
• Gregory Alan Williams as Dr. James Barnett - Melanie's father. (Seasons 1, 3-4)
• Claudette Roche as Grace Barnett - Melanie's mother. (Seasons 1, 3-4)
• Tahj Mowry as Cameron Barnett - Melanie's brother. (Season 1, 3)
• Drew Sidora as herself — singer; Derwin's brief love interest. (Seasons 1-2)
• Rocky Carroll as Kenny "Coach T" Taylor - offensive coordinator of the San Diego Sabers; Tasha's brief love interest. (Seasons 1-2)
• Caryn Ward as Erica Harrison (Seasons 1–4, 8)
• Kendra C. Johnson as Renee Royce - TV personality and one of Malik's love interests. (Seasons 1-2)
• Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Trey Wiggs - Melanie's college friend and father of Melanie's aborted baby. (Seasons 1–2, 5)
• Rick Fox as himself — former NBA basketball player; Tasha's co-worker and eventual love interest. (Seasons 2–3, 5–6, 9)
• Robin Givens as herself — actress; Malik's ex-wife. (Seasons 2-3)
• Tae Heckard as Jasmine "Jazz" - the former Sunbeams President and Wife of San Diego Sabers' Running Back Juvon (Seasons 2–6, 8-9)
• Gabrielle Dennis as Janay Brice - Derwin's ex-girlfriend and mother of his son. In season 5, it was revealed that she is engaged to a man named Noah and decided to take her son DJ and move to New York with her fiancé. (Seasons 2-5)
• Lee Majors as Coach Ross - coach of the San Diego Sabers. (Seasons 2-3)
• Mehcad Brooks as Jerome - Melanie's ex-boyfriend. (Seasons 2-3)
• Jason Olive as McHottie - Melanie's love interest in medical school. (Season 3, 5)
• Michael Boatman as Lawrence Chauncey Wright - Malik's father. (Season 3)
• Lisa Tucker as Pucci Wright - Malik's half-sister. (Season 3)
• Stacey Dash as Camille Rose - Jason's ex-girlfriend. (Seasons 3-4)
• Michael Beach as Roger Keith - Owner of San Diego Sabers. (Seasons 4–6, 8-9)
• Terrence Jenkins as Donté - the younger ex-boyfriend of Tasha. (Season 4)
• Chris Webber as himself — former NBA basketball player; Jason's co-host on the sports news television series Benched. (Season 4)
• Tika Sumpter as Jenna Rice - Super Model; Malik met Jenna in Rehab; later Malik's love interest. (Seasons 4-5)
• Meagan Good as Parker Keith - The wife of Roger Keith; had an affair with Malik. (Season 4)
• Jigga as Bibs - Malik's bodyguard. (Seasons 4-9)
• Isley Anderson as D.J. - Derwin and Janay's son (Seasons 4–5, 9)
• Charles Michael Davis as Kwan Kirkland - the San Diego Saber's former quarterback. (Seasons 4-5)
• Janet Varney as Summer Grayson - co-host of The Pitts Stop. (Season 5)
• Ciara as Herself — singer; friend of Keira; she hooked up with Blue. (Season 6)
• Candice Patton as Tori - Malik's personal assistant. (Seasons 6-7)
• LaMonica Garrett as Luke Rogers (Season 6)
• Miranda Rae Mayo as Patreece Sheibani (Season 6)
• as Nina - Malik's girlfriend; friend of Keira. (Seasons 6-7)
• Hayley Marie Norman as Bianca (Season 6)
• Danielle Nicolet as Yana - A physical therapist who agrees to help Malik recuperate from his injured arm. (Season 7-9)
• Andra Fuller as Roger Keith, Jr. - The son of Sabers owner Roger Keith. (Seasons 9)

Special guest appearances[]

Production[]

2021 revival series[]

In December 2019, it was announced that a revival of the series was in the works at The CW. The new incarnation, to be written by original series creator Mara Brock Akil and Devon Greggory, would have had a new East Coast setting while allowing original cast members to return. Greggory would serve as showrunner and also executive produce the follow-up series with Akil's fellow original executive producers, Salim Akil and Kelsey Grammer, as well as Tom Russo.^[9] However, in early 2020 The CW announced they would not be moving forward with the series.^[10]

In September 2020, it was announced that CBS All Access would be developing a sequel series to The Game ahead of its relaunch as Paramount+ in 2021.^[11] The series was officially greenlit in May 2021, with the setting relocated to Las Vegas. Hosea Chanchez, Coby Bell, Brandy, Brittany Daniel, Pooch Hall and Wendy Raquel Robinson were in talks to reprise their roles as Malik Wright, Jason Pitts, Chardonnay Pitts, Kelly Pitts, Derwin Davis and Tasha Mack.^[12]

Joining the returning cast was Vaughn W. Hebron as "Jamison Fields", an undrafted free agent; Adriyan Rae as "Brittany Pitts", Jason and Kelly Pitts daughter, (previous portrayed by Katlynn Simone); and Analisa Velez as "Raquel Navarro", Brittany’s best friend.^[13] Tia Mowry-Hardrict, who was cast in Netflix's Family Reunion, made a TikTok video expressing that she will most likely not return to her 2 roles of Sister, Sister and The Game.^[14] While being honored at the Ebony 'Power 100', she was interviewed by Entertainment Tonight saying: “You know what’s so funny? Never say never. I mean, as it stands for right now, we aren’t in any talks or communication about me coming back to the show...I know it seems kind of weird, because I’m like, the only one, but you know, Melanie, I loved playing that character, and if everything works out, and if everything works out the way that it should, then who knows? I might be on the show.” ^[15]

Reception[]

Reviews[]

2021 Series[]

Joe Keller, a 'stream it or skip it' critic of the review section Decider of the New York Post states "The return of The Game carries on what made the original series so popular: Well-written characters dealing with real issues". He continues, "If you’re expecting gut-busting laughs, then you didn’t watch the later seasons of the original series (seasons 4-9), which veered more towards drama than anything else. There’s enough that’s funny to generate some chuckles here and there, but the show then and now is character-driven, and Greggory and his writers have done a good job creating new compelling characters."^[16]

Stacey Yvonne, a net blogger for 'Black Girl Nerds' critiques: "The Game has made all the right moves and delivers a set a of entertaining premiere episodes for old fans and new viewers...the setup is less sitcom-like and more comedic drama. Gone are the multicam shots with room for punchlines and laughs, instead we’re treated to hard hitting and heartfelt situations infused with the type of biting humor The Game is known for...Even though it is a sequel, it’s also an evolution." She continues, "This reboot is faithful, well thought out, and well produced, it's definitely worth tuning in."^[17]

The television news outlet TVLine listed Hosea Chanchez as an 'Honorable mention' in their Performer of the Week review in January of 2022 citing: "Chanchez has been a force throughout the season, uncovering a more vulnerable side...The actor really drove it home in the season finale, which saw Malik experience an emotional breakdown after finally being honest with himself about what he was going through". They concluded, "We have to applaud Chanchez for breathing fresh new life into a character he’s played for more than a decade-plus an outstanding turn that made us love Malik even more than we already did."^[18] A poll was also taken from readers on their season finale recap article early January on how they would grade the finale. The poll was generally favored 65.53% with the grade "A" (excellent) with more than 270 votes out of 412 voting margin.^[19]

In a online remote season finale recap interview powered by CBS TV Studios Instagram live stream, Moderator and talk show host Akbar Gbaja-Biamila of CBS 'The Talk' expressed to Wendy Raquel Robinson, the role that she empowered as sports agent Tasha Mack is the type of agent a younger Akbar, himself who was also a previous a Pro-NFL player, would want to be represented by because of the 'power' she brings, and also due to many of agents of color who don't get enough recognition in the sports world partly due to distrust. Hosea Chanchez and showrunner Devon Greggory were also in presence of the livestream interview.

The new series on paramount plus currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes audience score of 71%, rating at 7 with a user consensus of general favorable reviews.^[20]

U.S. ratings[]

Seasonal ratings based on average total viewers per episode of the series. The fourth season premiere acquired 7.7 million viewers, which was a record for a scripted premiere on BET.^[21]

Season	Network	Timeslot (ET)	Season premiere	Viewers (in millions)	18-49 rating	Season finale	Viewers (in millions)	18-49 rating	TV season	Rank	Viewers (in millions)
1	The CW	Sunday 8:30 p.m. (2006) Monday 9:30 p.m. (2006–2007)	October 1, 2006	2.60[22]		May 14, 2007	2.51[23]	0.9[23]	2006–2007	#141[24]	2.33[25]
2		Monday 9:30 p.m. (2007–2008) Sunday 9:00 p.m. (2008)	October 1, 2007	2.98[26]	1.4[26]	May 18, 2008	1.62[27]	0.8[27]	2007–2008	#196	2.35[28]
3		Friday 8:30 p.m. (2008–2009)	October 3, 2008	1.95[29]		May 15, 2009	1.78[30]	1.2[30]	2008–2009	#174	1.75[31]
4	BET	Tuesday 10:00 p.m. (2011)	January 11, 2011	7.68[32]	3.6[32]	March 29, 2011	4.43[33]	2.2[33]	2010-2011	N/A	4.53
5		Tuesday 10:00 p.m. (2012)	January 10, 2012	5.28[34]	2.8[34]	June 5, 2012	2.49[35]	1.3[35]	2011-2012	N/A	2.69
6		Tuesday 10:00 p.m. (2013)	March 26, 2013	2.54[36]	1.2[36]	September 3, 2013	3.77[37]	1.9[37]	2012-2013	N/A	3.35
7		Tuesday 10:00 p.m. (2014)	March 4, 2014	3.35[38]	1.6[38]	April 29, 2014	2.53[39]	1.2[39]	2013-2014	N/A	3.35
8		Wednesday 10:00 p.m. (2014)	January 14, 2015	3.13 [40]	1.1[40]	March 4, 2015			2015 -	N/A	TBA
9		Wednesday 10:00 p.m. (2015)	June 3, 2015 [40]			August 5, 2015
10 / 1**	Paramount+	Thursday weekly VOD streaming (2021-2022)	November 11, 2021	TBA	TBA	January 6, 2022	TBA	TBA	TBA	N/A

• **The series is marketed and rebranded as a fresh new season on Paramount+, beginning the new inception as Season 1.

Lawsuit[]

In September 2006, writer Staci Robinson filed a $40 million lawsuit against the CW, CBS, Warner Bros., and Grammnet Productions for copyright infringement. Robinson claimed that she had applied for a job as writer's assistant in 2005 with series creator and executive producer Mara Brock Akil, to whom Robinson had subsequently sent her novel, Interceptions. The novel is about a woman who decides to put her goal of becoming a lawyer on hold to follow her boyfriend as he pursues a career as a professional football player.^[41] After receiving the novel, Robinson was interviewed for the job but later declined the position. Robinson alleged that Akil and a CW screenwriter stole the idea from her novel to create the series. The suit was settled out of court under a non-disclosure agreement in September 2007.^[42]

Awards and nominations[]

Year	Award	Result	Category	Recipient
2007	NAACP Image Awards	Nominated	Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series	Kenny Smith, Jr. (for "The Trey Wiggs Episode")
2008			Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series	Sara V. Finney (for "The Big Chill" episode)
			Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Wendy Raquel Robinson
			Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series	Tia Mowry
2009			Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Wendy Raquel Robinson
			Outstanding Comedy Series	–
			Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series	Tia Mowry
		Won	Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series	Erica Montolfo (for episode "White Coats and White Lies")
2014			Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Brandy Norwood
2009	NAMIC Vision Awards	Nominated	Comedy	–
2007	Teen Choice Awards	Nominated	Choice TV Actress: Comedy	Tia Mowry

DVD releases[]

Season releases

The First Season
Set details			Special features
22 Episodes 3-Disc Set N/A Aspect Ratio N/A Mins Languages: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)			Includes the backdoor pilot episode from GirlfriendsThe Game - Press Release Gives The Game Plan for The 1st Season on DVD Rift and Separate Interview with Mara Brock Akil To Baby...Or Not To Baby Commentary with Mara Brock Akil The Iceman Cometh Commentary with Mara Brock Akil All-Star Blues Commentary with Mara Brock Akil When the Chickens Comes To Roost (Parts 1 & 2) Offseason interview with Mara Brock Akil
Release date
United States (Region 1)
September 1, 2009

References[]

External links[]

• Official website at Paramount+
• The Game at IMDb
• The Game at epguides.com