Should 'The Game' become an hourlong dramedy?

By Hanh Nguyen

April 6, 2009 9:07 AM

For the creator/executive producer of "The Game," desperate times call for desperate measures, even if it means pitching an idea that seems counterintuitive.

Mara Brock Akil is expected to pitch that The CW's half-hour comedy "The Game" -- which is expected to get dropped at the end of the season -- transform into an hourlong dramedy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Now, this is an odd idea: extend the run time of a show that's pulling in low numbers in its Friday night time slot. How does more of a bad thing make it better? Also, will a genre change lose what little audience it already has?

It's a head-scratcher for sure.

In "The Game's" defense, the show already mixes drama in with its comedy and is geared towards The CW's target demo of young women. The show revolves around the wives and girlfriends of pro football stars and how they deal with that crazy world.

Also, The CW's love of hourlong dramas is well known. The remaining two sitcoms -- "The Game" and "Everybody Hates Chris" -- were relegated to the low-rated Friday nights, and "America's Next Top Model" is the only reality show with any lasting success on the network. (Anybody remember "13: Fear Is Real," "Farmer Wants a Wife" and "Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants"?)

In addition, keeping "The Game" on, in whatever form, will at least keep a little color on The CW's predominantly white landscape.

All this reasons aside, however, we just don't see how it'd work. Sorry, "The Game," but perhaps it's more dignified to go gentle into that good night.

What do you think about "The Game" as an hourlong series? What do you think about The CW's programming strategy in general?

in TV News

Permalink

| Comments (42)

E-mail

42 Comments

Not a bad idea, actually. Just drop the laugh track and it would be like watching two episodes back-to-back.

I understand Brock Akil's desire to keep the series on CW, but what about those rumors of a possible move to BET?

Billie | April 6, 2009 9:46 AM

I actually stopped watching the show about two months ago, but my wife still watches. I heard the show is in HD now, but I haven't watched to confirm. The show isn't all that bad. It's funny in parts (Wendy Raquel Robinson is great), but I guess the reason I stopped watching is because I can't relate to Derwin and Melody's break up and make up every other week. It just seems like once they broke up the first time that the writers didn't know what to do with the show. If the show was an hour, I doubt I would've lasted this long watching it. 30 minutes is perfect. I hope it makes it, but I'm afraid I can't watch it any more. I wish they'd move TG and Everybody Hates Chris to a different time slot. Friday is the kiss of death to any show. Ask Terminator. I'm sure FOX will ax that shortly. Whoops, I'm sorry, this was supposed to be a short comment, huh?

Q | April 6, 2009 9:50 AM

Yeah, who remembers beauty and the geek?

Jason | April 6, 2009 10:22 AM

i love this show...ill watch it for an hour...i think it should stay on i love the mix of comedy and drama it has...i agree with Q...melanie and dewin are my least favorite part of the show...

Linda (white-age42) | April 6, 2009 10:26 AM

Programming strategy in general? There's a strategy at work, here?

Jonah | April 6, 2009 10:44 AM

It seems like it's an hour long already...NO!!!!!!!

Fakeem | April 6, 2009 10:45 AM

Normally I might echo Fakeem's statement "No!!!!!" but having read Mark Harris' column in EW.com condemning NBC's decision to run Leno instead of 5 dramas next fall, any idea that keeps any scripted show on the air is worth supporting, even if you don't watch the show. There is precedent for what The Game is considering - The Brady Bunch was revived as a dramedy in the 90s and did not bad (even if it was short-lived) and Mary Tyler Moore Show, a sitcom, spun-off the acclaimed hard-hitting drama series Lou Grant.

Alex | April 6, 2009 10:48 AM

I'll go back to watching it if they stop all the baby mama drama, and keep it at 30 minutes. Derwin and Mel had a good thing, but of course the writers had to mess it up. I stopped watching it after that. Send it to BET or lose it.

Libbie | April 6, 2009 12:15 PM

I love the idea!!! Its a very good show and this turn would be great!!

dd | April 6, 2009 12:30 PM

Why in the world is the CW SHOWING REPEATS of 90210 on wednesday after airing on a tuesday? Why don't they move the game and my personal favorite, EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS, to a comedy block on wednesday night after the urban/women-skewing Next Top Model? How about making friday nights repeat nights?

*SIGH* I definitely should be a TV Executive. (Atleast at NBC or the CW)

chris | April 6, 2009 2:42 PM