The Game: Season 4 Episode 8 - You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

Again, this episode of The Game does not focus on Melanie and Dewin.  The other characters are given more time to shine.  I think this is a smart move on the show's behalf because it keeps viewers from getting bored with the same thing.  So, here is what happened...

Malik:  Finally he has a breakthrough.  He is finally ready to admit to and face his problem.  This was all with the help and support of a young model who is in rehab with him.  Malik realizes he needs to change and begins taking steps toward doing so.  First step - repairng the relationship with his best friend.  Malik goes to TT's wing truck and apologizes for sleeping with his girlfriend.  Much to his surprise, TT and the girl are still together.  TT couldn't have said it any better: "The heart wants what the heart wants."

Jason and Kelly:  Kelly is finally able to admit to Jason that she is having a hard time letting go.  After her attempts to embarass him for her reality show "Ex-Baller's Wives," Jason pulls the plug on her show by reminding her of the terms of their divorce.  If she airs the show, Kelly would be in breach of confidentiality.  As she fails to find a new focus for her show, she messes up when she goes after rapper Fabulous at an album release party.  She dances like a "hoochie" on camera and it all ends up on the Internet on the hot booty list.  Kelly's daughter, Brittany, sees this and mimics her mothers actions by taking pictures in a bikini and posting them on the Internet.  The outrages Jason who decides if Kelly does not stop her shennanigans, he will ask for full custody of their daughter.  In the end, Kelly realizes that she is being ridiculous and decides to get herself together.  She asked Jason to take care of their daughter while she straightens things out with herself, to which Jason agrees.

Stay tuned to see what happens next on The Game, Tuesday at 10pm ET/PT on BET

Until next time.... enjoy this recap of a previous episode of the show by Miss P

Torn in Between the Two: Melanie or Janay?

So far in Season 4 of the game, there seems to be no ending of the fued between Derwin's wife, Melanie, and his son's mother, Janay.  Honestly, I think he is torn between the two.  Melanie has been by his side since day one.  Of course they have problems, but what normal relationship doesn't?  She supports him in everything that he does and always tries to help him think before he makes decisions.  Although he bore a child with another woman, she supports him and his relationship with his son despite the pain that she feels.

Janay is the mother of Derwin's son.  Athough she has not been around as long as Melanie, she represents the possibilites... The possibility that there are other women out there that could love and care for Derwin because of who he is and not for what he has.  She is the daughter of a wealthy father, so money has never been an issue for her.  Janay wants a family.  You know the cliche, "a husband, child, dog, and house with a white picket fence."

So, who do you think Derwin will ultimately end up with by season's end?  Will he remain married to Melanie or will he choose to experience the possibilities with Janay?  Stay tuned to The Game every Tuesday night at 10pm ET/PT on BET.

Until next time....

The Game: Season 4 Episode 7 - Don't You Know Who I Was?

The time has come for The Game to change focus. It used to be that the series would focus on the show's beloved couple, Melanie and Derwin, but their drama has mellowed out for a little bit to allow the show to focus on the other characters. Tasha Mack, Kelly Pitts, and Malik Wright's issues receive the spotlight in this episode.

Tasha Mack: Her relationship with Dante seems to be going well, but now her ex boyfriend Rick Fox has squeezed himself into the picture. He calls Tasha and asks her to dinner, which she agrees to. Tasha lies to her younger boyfriend, Dante, by telling him she's having a night out with the Sunbeams because she doesn't want him to know that she is going out with him. Unfortunately, Dante finds out because Rick Fox calls Tasha's cell phone and because he can't reach her on it, he calls the house. Dante answers and Rick Fox tells him that he can't meet Tasha for dinner. Dante shows up to the restaurant upset because Tasha has lied to him and gives her back the key to her place.

Kelly Pitts: She has painted this picture through her new reality show that she is happy and has moved on from Jason Pitts. Everyone has a hard time believing this because she continues to hold on to the things that connect her to him, including the Sunbeams. Kelly invades a Sunbeams meeting with her cameras and invites herself to their ladies' night out, which annoys the members. Melanie is forced to tell her that they do not want her around and, of course Kelly is hurt by this.

Malik Wright: He decides to check himself out of rehab because he continues to believe he does not have a problem. Jason and Derwin, his friends and teammates, find him and try to convince him that he needs to go back and get help. Malik gets upset and takes a swing at Derwin, which he misses. Derwin, on the other hand, doesn't miss and returns the hit that lands right in Malik's face and knocks him out. After regaining consciousness and repeatedly declining, Malik finally listens to his teammates and checks himself back in.

Stay tuned to see what happens on The Game, every Tuesday night at 10pm ET/PT on BET

Until next time.....

The Game: Season 4 Episode 6 - Men In Crisis

In this episode the drama picks up again.  Derwin has Melanie thinking he is spending his days in court going back and for with Janay about child support and other matters about their son, DJ.  In the meantime, Melanie thinks it's a good idea for her and Derwin to take DJ to Disneyland.  Of course Derwin has to check with his son's mother, but he neglects to tell her that Melanie would be coming along.  Janay agrees.

Melanie is having lunch with Tasha and Kelly when Janay walks in.  Melanie decides to go over and thank her for allowing DJ to go to Disneyland with her and Derwin, but much to her surprise Janay knew nothing about Melanie going.  Derwin had told her that it would be only him and DJ.  Janay also tells Melanie that her and Derwin have not been going to court and that Derwin has been coming over to her house swimming in her pool and cooking steaks on the grill.  All of this is news to Melanie's ears and upsets her.

After the lunch Janay decides to take it a little further and email Melanie the home video footage of herself, Derwin, and DJ spending time together.  When Derwin comes home,  Melanie confronts him about it.  He is left speechless and the only thing left to do is apologize.  Melanie is somewhat appeased when she asks if he slept with Janay and his response is no.  She forgives Derwin.

Stay tuned to BET for more of The Game every Tuesday at 10pm ET/PT

Who is responsible for "The Game"?

Mara Brock Akil is the creator and executive producer of the hit television series, The Game.  Prior to the show, she had already been a part of other successful television series.  She was one of the writers and supervising producer of two popular shows, Moesha and The Jamie Foxx Show.  She also created, as well as produced (along with Kelsey Grammer), the hit series for UPN Girlfriends.

With all of these successful shows under her belt, it should be no surprise that she was able to create a show that sparked so much interest and left such an impression on its viewers that it could be revived after 2 years of being off air.  I'm sure much of this has to do with her creativity and her clear responsiveness to what the viewers want.

Be sure to check out more of Mara Brock Akil's creativity by tuning in to The Game every Tuesday night at 10pm ET/PT on BET.

Until next time...

For more on Mara Brock Akil:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_Brock_Akil
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0015327/bio
http://visionaryartistrymag.com/2010/12/mara-brock-akil/

Is "The Game" losing...?

To gage how well The Game is doing, I keep my eyes open to what people are saying on social media sites. A great deal of it comes from Facebook and Twitter, while the rest comes from a number of blogs. The first two episodes of the show were greatly enjoyed by most viewers. The third and fourth episodes; however did not receive many positive responses. Scrolling through my own Facebook newsfeed I saw a number of individuals express their disappointment in how "boring" the episodes were. In addition to their disapproval of the episodes, many complained about the number of commercials being shown throughout the 30 minute show.  If you take out all of the comercials the show would be only 15 minutes long.

After episode 5, I read through my Facebook and Twitter feeds and there were noticeably more people approving of the episode.  Many were afraid that the show had come back with a BANG and then "short changed" the viewers with barely satisfactory episodes.  We will continue to see how well the other scripts have been written an excuted on the future episodes.

Be sure to tune in to "The Game" every Tuesday night at 10pm ET/PT on BET.

Until next time...

BET's Possible Release of more Scripted Series

The Game has been a real "game changer" for the BET network.  This is BET's first scripted televison show.  Let's Stay Together is BET's second, but it is the first scripted show that originated with the network.  The support of both has opened the eyes of BET executives and has turned the possibility of creating more scripted television shows into a reality.  It will enable the network to change its image and attract more diverse group of viewers   There are more than eight in development, but BET plans to release two of them before the year end.  One is called Reed Between the Lines which stars Tracee Ellis Ross (Girlfriends) and Malcom Jamal Warner (The Cosby Show).
This shift is a very important one.  It can attract a more mature crowd; one beyond the youth that was more interested in the music videos, reality tv, and music awards shows.  Personally, I believe BET can make this change successfully if they continue to pay attention to what the viewers want, take the risk, and execute.  Keep an eye out for more scripted televison on BET.

Be sure to tune in to The Game every Tuesday at 10pm ET/PT on BET

Until next time.....


More on this at:

• BET.com News - http://www.bet.com/News/TheGameBreaksBETRecords.htm
• The Kansas City Star - http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/26/2611214/bet-is-off-to-a-winning-season.html