Long-running sitcom THE
GAME returns to airwaves tonight, but not to as much fanfare as before –
probably due to the exit of show headliner Tia Mowry-Hardrict as Melanie
Barnett.
According to the cast picture, it appears that her
character’s husband Derwin Davis, played by Pooch Hall is also not back on the show, though it was reported
that he would return. But a quick perusal
of his Twitter page shows he’s promoting that he will indeed be on the episode,
which from the clip below appears to be accurate. Why not just be upfront that he’s gone?
But even weirder is that this is the 100th
episode, a great milestone for any television show, much less a Black one on
contemporary TV – but yet again it seems like barely anybody – including the
network really cares as there are barely any videos or clips on BET’s website
to promote season six except the one here that I found on YouTube…
…and then the one below (if you can sit through the commercials) that shows the history about how the show got to its 100th
episode:
I guess BET wants to put its full energy into The Real Husbands of Hollywood –which
is actually a really funny show despite The Game having the highest cable
sitcom premiere in television history.
Thankfully I was able to at least locate the official press
release, which clarified a few things. Here’s the meat of it:
“The new season of THE GAME introduces new
characters to the show. Fans will see the “dysfunctional”
football family through the fresh eyes of its newest cast members Keira
Michelle Whitaker (Lauren London) and Bryce “Blue” Westbrook (Jay
Ellis). They join fellow cast members Wendy Raquel Robinson,
Hosea Chanchez, Coby Bell, Brandy Norwood and Barry Floyd. Fans will
be taken on a roller coaster ride filled with plenty of twists and turns for
the Sabers and Sunbeams beginning with the excitement of the NFL’s Premiere
Draft Day that ends in the draft trade of longtime Saber Derwin Davis.
The season five finale ended with Tasha Mack in love, but will
this love last forever when former flame Rick Fox returns to her life?
Meanwhile, newlyweds Jason and Chardonnay are very much in love, but will
Jason’s job get in the way of their honeymoon bliss? Tempted by his past
demons, Malik is Malik 2.0 this year, but will he stay on track and
maintain his sobriety? All this and more will be revealed in the new season of
THE GAME.”
So yes Pooch is at back at least for the first episode, more likely in
reaction to this trade from the team, which if you watched the 2012 season
final, its what he wanted in order to be closer to his wife as she chose to go
to Johns Hopkins. Don’t feel sorry
for him though as he’s set to appear in the Showtime series Ray Donovan, as well as a guest spot (if
the commercials are accurate) in the new ABC show How To Live With Your Parents (For The Rest of Your Life).
The press release also highlighted that Rick
Fox, Rockmond Dunbar, and Bumper Robinson will return in the recurring roles.
Still, the episode is worth watching as Brandy returns now
as a regular cast member, and the show introduces new cast members to replace
Melanie and Derwin. The include cutie Lauren
London, last seen on TV in Single Ladies,
as Keira Whitaker who, according to her character bio on BET’s website is a
25-year old actress trying to transition into the acting world as a grown-up
after spending her childhood in a “long-running Cosby-esque family sitcom.”
Though still a Hollywood socialite, and very comfortable with the spotlight,
she is insecure about being taken seriously as an actress and woman. Keira is the
love interest for the new character Bryce “Blue” Westbrook, played by Jay Ellis, who last appeared in the
basketball segment of Movie 43 with
Terence Howard. Bryce, the new
rookie on the San Diego Sabres, is Ivy League educated, tall and handsome, the
heartthrob of women – and boasts about all that to anyone he runs into. Seems
like Sabres quarterback Malik will have an ego almost as big as his own to
contend with in the new season.
The one hour-long premiere runs tonight from 10-11 p.m. ET/PT, followed by the
humdrum sitcom LET’S STAY TOGETHER
immediately after at 11 p.m. ET/PT.
