Remember 'Black Mondays'?

'Black Mondays' was a term coined here on BONTV to describe the one night of the week where we had 2 solid back-to-back hours of primetime dedicated to black tv sitcoms. This of course all made possible by CW11.

In just one year, not only have we seen our two hours of black primetime reduced to one, but it's on Friday.

Yes, CW11 has moved it's last two remaining black shows ("Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game") to Friday nights. And we all know Friday night programming is like the nursing home of television. This past Friday I was able to catch the season premiere of both shows.


Everybody Hates Chris is still a funny sitcom but I think the hype is starting to fade. This always seem to happen when shows that feature kids as the lead start growing up. In the new episode, Chris (Tyler James William) has now entered high school and needless to say is growing up. The show still has it's funny moments but they are far and few. I think the writers need to get better plots this season. Or else we may not see Chris make it to his sophmore year.


The Game, which I have to admit I barely watched last season, has stepped their 'game' up. I used to trash this show for poor writing and lack of originality. While the storyline is still somewhat predictable, the show is more entertaining to watch. Last season ended with Derwin (Pooch Hall) finding out he is going to be Janay's baby daddy just as Melanie (Tia Mowry) dumps her current beau admitting that she is still in love with Derwin. Kelly (Brittany Daniel) still wants nothing to do with Jason (Colby Bell) and comes to the conclusion she wants a divorce. And Malik (Hosea Chanchez) is still hiding from his mother that he is married.

This storyline is starting to read like one of a daytime soap. Mara Akil Brock, if you are reading...please stop watching 'All My Children'.

Everybody Hates Chris and The Game can both be seen at their new day and time, Fridays at 8:00 PM EDT.

'The Game' Barely Continues

So it seems CWTV's The Game has made it to season 3.

According to TheYBF.com, The Game will start taping season 3 in two months but in order to save the show cutbacks had to be made.

While taping the new season there will be 'no studio audience, no food on set, no heavy rider requests,...just actors, set, crew and action!', leaked an insider who attended the season wrap party held last week.

Ok. Are black shows doing that poorly these days that in order to keep them on the air actions like this have to be taken?

Wendy Raquel Robinson Is Winning 'The Game'

I have been watching CW11's The Game since returning with new episodes after the long hiatus due to the writer's strike and been noticing something very different.

'The Game' Cast
Where the hell is Melanie (Tia Mowry)? And is Tasha Mack (Wendy Raquel Robinson) now the lead star?

Yes, Tia has been in an episode here and there but her role as of late has been lacking when compared to the story lines of the shows other cast members. Especially Wendy Raquel Robinson who in many folk's opinion, MAKES the show!

Last night's episode carried three story lines:

1. Jason (Colby Bell) and Kelly (Brittany Daniel) start seeing a marriage counselor and the show ends with Kelly admitting she married Jason solely for his money.

2. Derwin (Pooch Hall) becomes the butt of a joke when his playmates convince him to commit the cardinal sin of getting a tattoo.

3. Tasha Mack struggles to be taken seriously in the male dominated industry of sports management.

I have to admit I never liked this show and didn't even think it was worth the bullet when it first aired. (Check the BONTV archives where I trashed the show.) But one of the interns here thought Wendy could possibly save this show as she has done in the past when starring on shows like The Steve Harvey Show.

After watching last night's episode, I must say I now agree. In fact, Tasha Mack seems to be the only laugh producing character on the show.

Check out this interview of Wendy on the set of 'The Game'.


All I have to say is...Tia, I hope you are going on auditions. I would hate for you to end up unemployed when they mysteriously write your character out of the show just like they did Judy Winslow of Family Matters.

The Game can now be seen on Sundays at 9 PM EDT.

Black Monday: Are We Feeling The Game Yet?

Am I the only one who feels The Game has improved some this season?

Trouble in Paradise: Pooch Hall and Tia Mowry
I've been purposely avoiding blogging about this show since the new season premiere a few weeks back simply because I didn't care too much for this show from the 'get'.

But I've seen the past 3 episodes and I must say there's been some improvement. Just a little now, I am not saying this should be up for anybody's Black Emmy!

But I do think it is safe to say that the show is somewhat better this season because we finally have some real good drama to sink our teeth in to. If you havent been watching read my 'black catch-up':

Melanie is still giving Derwin the hand for sexing that singer chick, Drew (Drew Sidora), from last season. Derwin's begging for forgiveness but Melanie's not hearing it. Since the new season, Melanie has moved out, moved in with Tasha (Wendy Raquel Robinson and Malik (Hosea Chanchez), slept with Derwin's enemy, Trey (Chaz Lamar Shepherd) and is still braving it alone. I've seen future clips of her about to give it up to Malik. I dont know how I feel about that. Do sistas really jump in bed with your boys and enemies after they find out you messed around on them? Damn!

Derwin has done nothing but grovel for Melanie's forgiveness this entire season. He got his ass kicked when he tried to prevent Melanie from getting her things and as of late seems to be putting his energy into his game. The team has a new coach that turned out to be a former coach of his so he is basking in the glory of being the teacher's coach's pet. In other words, Derwin's character is nothing but a punk this season thus far.

A friend of mine always felt Tasha (Wendy Raquel Robinson) could save this show. I must admit she is the funniest character on here. And I do enjoy watching her. Her role this season has been minor thus far. She had a tear jerking moment last week when she reluctantly tells Malik he needs to move out. As the over protective mom, you can tell this was hard. Nonetheless, it is her quick wit and funny comebacks that keeps this show entertaining. So I hope they don't try to get too serious with this new sub-plot.

Malik is sexing plus sized, Renee (Kendra C. Johnson) who is not comfortable with him still living with his mother. After seeking advice from Melanie, he decides its' time to move out. This news comes to a blow to Tasha who later cusses Melanie out for getting in their business. I'm not mad at this plot. It's entertaining. 'Cliche'...but entertaining.

Let me start by saying I hate this character. Jason (Colby Bell) struggles with being older in 'the game' and has been doing nothing else this season but try and prove himself to the new coach who seems to think he is washed up. Last week Jason offers to host the team's bible study at his home with the hopes of scoring points with the new coach. Jason finally confesses to having not been in a church in over 20 years after the guilt of lying catches up with him. (Yawn!)

And lastly, is the role of the dumb blonde (because no black sitcom could ever survive without one), Kelly (Brittany Daniel). To be honest, I pretty much tune her out everytime there is a scene with her. So I really can't offer much by way of an update. But tonight's episode might change that.

Watch tonight as Kelly convinces Jason to allow her brother who just recently got released from rehab to stay with them for a while. Jason agrees but only if her brother stays clean. Kelly's brother catches Jason using steroids and agrees to keep his secret. Later Kelly finds Jason's used syringe and accuses her brother of using drugs again. She then kicks him out.

Well now! Seems like someone decided to add a little drama to this weak martini to shaken (not stir) things up a bit.

The Game comes on tonight at 9:30/8:30c on CW11

Black Monday: "All of Us" Gets The Axe!

The word is out! After three seasons, the plug has been pulled on CW11's "All of Us"


Today, CW announced there Fall season line-up and it does not include the Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith produced sitcom. Meanwhile, "Girlfriends", "Everybody Hates Chris" and "The Game" all have made the cut.

"All of Us", starring Duane Martin, Lisa Raye, Tony Rock, Terri J. Vaughnn and Elise Neal, a loosely based story on the lives of Will and Jada, premiered on UPN back in September 2003. In it's third seasons not only was the show moved to CW but Elise Neal's character, Tia, was removed from the show with hopes this new format could boost ratings. Seems this was not the case.

So what will come of Black Monday? Will there be a new black sitcom added to the Monday lineup? Or is this CW11's first step towards crashing Black Monday nights all together?

Word has it there will be three new dramas, "Gossip Girl", "Reaper", and "Wild at Heart" and a couple of new shows, "Online Nation" and "CW Now" added to the Fall line-up. (None of these sound black if you ask me.) "Online Nation" is said to be an "AFV" meets digital media show where the focus is youtube videos vs. home videos. And "CW Now" is an entertainment news piece similar to that of "ET" or "Access Hollywood".

All I have to say is.....it's about time! "The Game" better get their shit plot together. They just might be next!