BET Still In Talks to Acquire The Game

The BET Network could send The Game into overtime, in a deal that would pluck the canceled CW series from the ashes.

"BET is doing everything it can to acquire the rights to Mara Brock Akil's The Game," a source at the cable network tells TVGuide.com.With the entire cast on board for a fourth season, the only hold-up comes from CBS Paramount Network TV, the studio that produced the series. "The licensing issues are very complicated," says our source.
"BET is waiting to hear if it can acquire the rights to air new episodes." Earlier this year, BET acquired the rights to run repeats of the Girlfriends spin-off.

A spokesperson for CBS Paramount was unable to comment on the talks.BET's possible involvement is but the latest "Hail Mary" pass from The Game.

As the CW pondered its plans for the 2009-10 TV season, series creator Akil tried repositioning the sitcom as an hour-long dramedy. To that end, Season 3's wedding-themed finale was scripted and filmed differently, to offer the CW a taste of what could be.If picked up by BET, however, The Game would stick to its half-hour comedy roots.

According to our source, the idea of BET stepping forward and saving The Game actually came from the show's cast, which includes Tia Mowry, Pooch Hall and Wendy Raquel Robinson.

When The CW announced its lineup for 2009-10, neither Everybody Hates Chris (which was not expected to return) nor The Game, both of which aired on Friday night, made the cut