Info:
Premiere Date: Sunday, October 1, 2006 (Happy Camper Productions)
Network: The CW
Time: Sundays at 8:30 p.m. et/pt
Cast: Tia Mowry as Melanie Barnett, Brittany Daniel as
Kelly Pitts, Coby Bell as Jason Pitts, Pooch Hall as
Derwin Davis, Hosea Chanchez as Malik Wright and Wendy
Raquel Robinson as Tasha Mack.
Introduction:
From the hit show Girlfriends comes this spin-off
titled THE GAME. Being the wife or girlfriend of a
pro-football player might sound like a glamorous and
stress-free existence, but Melanie Barnett (Tia Mowry,
"Sister, Sister") is about to discover the truth. When
her boyfriend Derwin Davis (Pooch Hall, "Miracle's
Boys") is chosen as the new third-string wide receiver
for the San Diego Sabers, she decides to forgo Johns
Hopkins Medical School to attend a local college so
she can be with him. While Derwin worries about the
plays on the field, Melanie learns how to deal with
egos, groupies and image consultants.
Melanie quickly bonds with Tasha Mack (Wendy Raquel
Robinson, "The Steve Harvey Show"), a single mother
who is the manager of her son, quarterback Malik
Wright (Hosea Chanchez, "For Your Love"). She takes
control of his career to make sure he is getting good
deals (while also not getting the wrong women.
Although Malik is a player on and off the field, he
loves and respects him mom and encourages her to get
back into the dating scene (as long as it is not
someone he works with) to find happiness for herself
after looking after him for all these years.
Welcoming Melanie and Derwin to the San Diego Sabers
family is interracial couple Kelly (Brittany Daniel,
"White Chicks") and Jason Pitts (Coby Bell, "Third
Watch"). Kelly, who always receives flack about
marring her African-American husband, is the typical
supportive NFL trophy wife, but as a result of meeting
Melanie and Tasha, she is empowered to explore the
other aspects of her life. Although her husband is a
star player, he is also a notorious cheapskate and
demands that the family be extremely frugal.
As Melanie adjusts to her new lifestyle, she gets a
play-by-play account of the lives and relationships
among NFL wives, girlfriends and mom/managers who use
their best "game" help their men stay on the field and
on their arm.
THE GAME is from Happy Camper Productions and Grammnet
Productions in association with CBS Paramount Network
Television with executive producers Kelsey Grammer
("Frasier"), Mara Brock Akil ("Girlfriends") and Steve
Stark.
Cast Details:
Tia Mowry
as Melanie Barnett, Brittany Daniel as Kelly
Pitts, Coby Bell as Jason Pitts,
Pooch Hall
as Derwin Davis, Hosea Chanchez as
Malik Wright and Wendy Raquel
Robinson as Tasha Mack.
Tia Mowry (Melanie Barnett), birthed in Germany, was
an actress from the age of 12, she performed in school
plays and talent shows, with her twin sister Tamera.
The two sisters went on to star in the WB's
long-running sitcom "Sister, Sister" which debuted in
1994 and ran until 1999. Tia went on to voice
characters in "Detention," and "Bratz." She's
guest-starred in numerous shows, such as "All That,"
"Are You Afraid of the Dark?," "Full House," "Blue's
Clues," "Love, Inc.," "Smart Guy," and most recently,
"Strong Medicine," and "Girlfriends," as her starring
role of Melanie.
Brittany Daniel (Kelly Pitts), Florida born and bred,
along with her twin sister, Cynthia. The sisters went
into modeling in high school, and began appearing in
such magazines as "Teen," "Seventeen," and "YM." She
then began making guest appearances on "The New Leave
It to Beaver," "Burke's Law," and "Swan's Crossing."
Brittany (along with her sister Cynthia) went on to
star in the popular "Sweet Valley High" series and the
two sisters won Youth in Film Award for Best Actress.
She went on to become a regular on "That '80s Show,"
as well as a season-long guest arc on "Dawson's
Creek." More guest appearances include "It's Always
Sunny in Philadelphia," "North Shore," and "That '70s
Show."
Coby Bell (Jason Pitts), is the son of Broadway
veteran Michel Bell. He graduated with Honors at San
Jose State University and then decided to try his hand
at acting. He landed small guest roles in "Buffy The
Vampire Slayer," and "ER" before landing the role of
NYPD Tyrone Davis on "Third Watch". Other guest roles
include "Half & Half" and "L.A. Doctors."
Pooch Hall (Derwin Davis) began acting at the age of 7
and his first debut was on "Kids Say the Darndest
Things." Hall acted in several movies, such as "Don’t
Think Twice."
Hosea Chanchez (Malik White), has very little acting
background, but has guest starred in "Close to Home,"
"Girlfriends," and "The Guardian."
Wendy Raquel Robinson (Tasha Mack), is an acting
veteran, having starred in "Cedric the Entertainer
Presents," "Minor Adjustments," and "The Steve Harvey
Show." Some guest starring roles include "All of Us,"
and "Baby Blues."
Pilot Plot:
Episode #1 "Away Game"
Sunday, October 1, 8:30 PM ET/PT
Melanie (Tia Mowry), a pro football player's
girlfriend, adjusts to life in the NFL, in this "The
Girlfriends" spin-off.
First Up: Derwin (Pooch Hall), Melanie's boyfriend,
invites her to the team's first away game in Miami,
but his teammates tell him he has to dis-invite her
out of fear that she will be a spy for the rest of the
wives. But in typical sitcom fashion, unbeknownst to
Derwin and the guys, Melanie does indeed head to Miami
-- and does indeed spy on him!
Analysis:
Overall, the show is actually well put together and
the leads play off each other very well. For a CW
sitcom, I do have to say this is one of their better
ones. Although its typical sitcom fare (girlfriend
spies on boyfriend without him knowing and is then
caught), the writing is good and it's most of all
funny.
Since it is going to air on The CW, ratings will not
be an issue, as mostly everything on the channel is
not a ratings hit like on the big networks. But if you
like typical sitcoms on the old UPN network, then you
will love this.
Conclusion:
Like I've said, for a CW show, this is one of their
better ones. It's a spin-off of the popular sitcom
"Girlfriends" and has the cushy slot right after it.
So, this Sunday, make sure you get in "The Game" at
8:30 p.m. ET/PT on The CW!
Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):
Watchability: 4/5
Funniness: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
-- Reviewed by TVJunkie101 (Shawn Eaton) on 09/29/06
Related Links:
The CW Official Site
TV.com
epguides.com
Internet Movie Database
Wikipedia
Sitcoms Online Message Board
Sitcoms Online Photo Gallery
