The Game: Sitcom's Return On BET Nearly Finalized

Good news for fans of the former CW sitcom 'The Game.' Sources close to the production tell BV Buzz that Black Entertainment Television has struck a deal with 'The Game's' parent company Paramount to develop new episodes of the popular series. "The deal is done between the two networks," the source told BV Buzz. "Now it's a matter of getting the actors under contract again." When The CW canceled the show in May of last year, the contracts with the shows stars Tia Mowry, Pooch Hall, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Hosea Chanchez, Brittany Daniel and Coby Bell weren't optioned and ultimately expired on June 30, 2009. Now BET has to negotiate new contracts with the actors, which is expected to be done within the next two weeks. "The show will have the same production value, so the actors will make the same type of money they made when they did 'The Game' for The CW," the source shared. There is a conflict now with actor Bell, who played Jason Pitts on the sports-themed comedy. It was just announced that he is joining the cast of the hit USA show, 'Burn Notice.' (Read: 'Coby Bell: Hunky Star of 'The Game' Now Doing 'Burn Notice') "He will likely still be able to work on 'The Game,' but only as a recurring character instead of being a series regular," the source explained. Once the deal is finalized, 'The Game' will begin production on new episodes in May and shoot on location in Atlanta. Mara Brock Akil, who also produced 'Girlfriends,' will return as the executive producer of the show as well. BET hopes to use 'The Game' to launch their new scripted television division, something that Debra Lee, CEO of Black Entertainment Television told BV Buzz when we reported on this story last summer. (Read: 'Game Time: Could Canceled Sitcom Go Into Overtime On BET?') ****** BV Buzz has reportedly extensively on 'The Game' since rumors of its cancelation began in 2009.