After big promotion and cast members (including the new ones) popping up everywhere on TV, The Game has come back and pulled in pretty good numbers, but compared to the past, there’s an obvious decline in viewership going on.

According to Shadow And Act, the show’s season premiere brought in nearly three million viewers, which isn’t bad whatsoever for a cable station, but compared to the views they used to rake in in the past, things have definitely changed. In the last two seasons that the show has been on BET, it has been pretty huge with premiere ratings. In 2011, at the height of all the hoopla surrounding the show’s return after moving from the CW, they premiered with 7.7 million viewers, and the next year, there was a small decline with 5.3. With less than three million coming in this time around, I think it’s safe to say the excitement is wearing off.

According to BET’s press release, The Game and its accompanying show, Let’s Stay Together are now “this season’s top two returning sitcom series premieres on cable among total viewers.” Still though, it’s becoming a bit more obvious that all the changes surrounding the show, including the departure of the main two cast members in Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Pooch Hall have affected the people who tried to follow the show. Not to mention the big changes in the storyline over the last two seasons as the plot has become a LOT more dramatic have also had people tuning out (the change in Melanie’s character was very drastic). But I will say that the season premiere was not bad! Definitely kept my attention. But will it keep your attention as the sixth season goes on? If not, the numbers could keep decreasing, and we know BET doesn’t want that…

Source: Johnny Louis /wenn

I know more than a few people who were wondering if we had another Etta James situation on our hands when Jennifer Hudson took the stage during the Inaugural Ball Monday night to serenade the President and First Lady with her own version of Al Green’s hit “Let’s Stay Together.” If you weren’t sure, Al is still very much alive, and still has the same pipes he wooed our parents and grandparents with back in the ’70s, which is why plenty of folks have been asking why he didn’t sing his own song to the FLOTUS and POTUS instead of J-Hud. Well as it turns out, Al turned the President down!

In a statement to the Associated Press, brother Al’s rep said he had been asked to sing, “but scheduling conflicts prevented him from attending Monday’s festivities. Green said he’d be honored to sing for the president in the future.”

Dang Al, what kind of prior commitment could he have had? After all, we are talking about the Commander-in-Chief, who also  just so happens to be a huge Al Green fan. Remember when he hit the stage of the Apollo wit a little “Ahhhhh Ahhh Ahhhh I’m so in love with you”?

I’m sure Barack and Michelle can find sometime in the next for years to invite the rev to the White House but I really wanna know what Al was doing Monday night that couldn’t wait. He better not have been watching  ”Love & Hip-Hop.” Oh wait, that was me! JK

Source: AP Images

There’s so much awesomeness about the President and First Lady’s dance during the Inaugural Ball last night that we had to post the video here for you to see. On top of the two looking picture perfect, Barack Obama in a sleek tux and Michelle Obama in a red chiffon Jason Wu dress, the love between the two was nearly palpable. When the President took the stage to bring out the love of his life, he told the crowd:

“I’ve got a date with me here. She inspires me every day. She makes me a better man and a better President. The fact that she is so devoted to taking care of our troops and our military families is just one more sign of her extraordinary love and grace and strength. I’m just lucky to have her. I said at lunch today some may dispute the quality of the President, but nobody disputes the quality of the first lady.”

*Tears*

At that point, the crowd erupted as Michelle took the stage and Jennifer Hudson joined them to sing her own rendition of”Let’s Stay Together.” The Flotus and Potus essentially had the most intimate first dance you can have among a sea of media people holding cameras and cell phones capturing every moment. And when you check out the video below, you’ll see why Michelle Obama had to tweet this at the end of the night:

Just danced to “Let’s Stay Together” with the love of my life and the President of the United States. I’m so proud of Barack. –mo

So are we!

Katy’s Twitter

If you weren’t aware by now, President Obama loves him some Al Green. “Let’s Stay Together” to be specific. I’m sure you remember the YouTube video shot at The Apollo Theater when the President broke out into the song while speaking for a fundraising event. But this time around, pop singer Katy Perry decided to show love to the Pres and one of his favorite songs by belting out the jam during his “30 Days To Victory” event. This isn’t the first time Katy has done an interesting cover, I’m sure you remember her take on “N***as in Paris.” Funny, when I told a co-worker that she sang “Let’s Stay Together,” said co-worker totally ignored my statement and said, “You mean Jennifer Hudson?” Hudson performed too, but she didn’t mess with Al Green.

But all in all, Katy didn’t do so bad. There were some bumps in the beginning (and some times where it seemed that she was trying too hard), but there were definitely some soulful moments as well. With her microphone shaped as Lady Liberty’s torch, and an extra pep in her step, she tried her best. So I’ll give her an A for effort and a C for execution. Either way, it’s all about raising that guap! And if you were wondering, the campaign fundraiser brought in over $5 million. But I’m pretty sure folks need to let Al sing his song from now on…check out the video and let us know if you’re feeling her rendition!

So what did you think?

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Source: Missxpose.com

Despite the unenthusiastic reaction fans have had to the fifth season of “The Game,” Deadline.com reportedly heard BET has quietly renewed the show for a sixth season, right along with “Let’s Stay Together,” which is produced by Queen Latifah.

The pickups, though not quite official yet, are said to be for 22 episodes, backed by strong season openings. “The Game’s” current season debuted with 5.5 million viewers, while season two  of “Let’s Stay Together” premiered with 3.5 million. The only scripted show hanging in the balance is “Reed Between the Lines.” BET is said to be debating renewal of the new series which averaged 2.9 million viewers and lagged behind the 3.3 million viewers who watched the network’s 2011 Hip Hop Awards.

Official announcements are supposed to come out tomorrow so a decision on “Reed” should be made soon, along with more details on Gabrielle Union’s show, “Becoming Mary Jane,” and BET’s newly announced show, “Young Man on Campus.”

I’m sort of surprised about “The Game.” I usually just have the show on as background noise if I even remember to tune in. Have you been following “The Game” this season?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Feeling the spirit of the Apollo theater, President Obama briefly broke into a verse of “Let’s Stay Together” before speaking to a crowd at the Harlem fundraiser yesterday.

Al Green performed before the president took the stage and once Obama finished his line, the crowd broke out into cheers as he said “Those guys didn’t think I would do it, I told you I was gonna do it.

The president can actually carry a little tune, which may be why, as he said, “the sandman did not come out.”

Check out the clip below and tell us what you think.

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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The Game is coming back! And to ring in season five the right way (which premieres Jan. 10), the cast stepped out for a premiere party along with the cast of Let’s Stay Together in Hollywood last night. While many of the men were looking delicious, the women were looking sparkly and chic. Well, for the most part. Check out the looks of three ladies from the cast (Tia Mowry, Brandy and Wendy Raquel Robinson) and let us know if their style is steal worthy or needs to be stopped!

Tia Mowry

Looking like a “million dollar bill” after a huge post-baby weight loss (give props to her trainer Jeanette Jenkins), Mowry stepped on the red carpet to promote her show in shimmering effect. The star wore a sequined silver and white tank dress that didn’t hug her figure (aka, drown her) and left a little somethin’ somethin’ to the imagination without making her look like she was wearing a bag. On her feet were white/gray round-toe pumps that she kicked up her heels in. Her hair was a two-tone treat–dark brown at the top, light brown at the bottom. Her accessories were minimal with bangles of different sizes, humongous hoop earrings, and some fab rings (including her wedding ring).

I’m still stunned by how much baby weight she seems to have dropped, so she’s a hot momma no matter what I say. But I love this look (minus the really large eyelashes…)! The dress is very fun without doing the absolute most and also without showing off too much as well. The two toned spiral hair and the two-toned dress are hot, and she’s just looking all around radiant without too much extra umph or effort. Stolen!

Brandy

Brandy’s back and she’s shining on us! A new, surprising addition to The Game‘s fifth season, Brandy arrived at the premiere in this copper colored, asymmetrical number–she was definitely looking to be seen on that carpet. The singer’s dress was a long sleeved one with puffy, pronounced shoulders, an asymmetrical cut around the leg, and varying graphics around the frock. Her hair was down in a straight, choppy bang cut and her shoes were black strapped heels that showed off her foot tattoo. She scooped up an angled clutch and wore simple, long threadlike earrings.

While the dress looks pretty good on B-Rocka, I can’t say I’m a fan of it. The spickle spackle design on the sides and the high-school asymmetrical cut is little too mall party dress-like for me. While I love this chick (and hope she gets back on top musically again), it’s safe to say that I’m going to have to ask her to stop it. With love of course.

Wendy Raquel Robinson

Oh the drama! That’s what I think everytime I see dresses that are bright red. Wendy Raquel Robinson, aka Tasha Mack on the show, matched the red carpet in this floor length gown. A very different construction, her dress was both long sleeved and of the tank design, showing off her shoulders as well as a bit of neck thanks to the scoopneck neckline. Outside of that, the dress didn’t have too much else going on, and her feet are hidden (so no shoe action…*sad face*). Her hair was big and in wavy curls that laid all around her head, and her earrings were rhinestone (or diamond?) threaded that remind me of fab curtains. The makeup looks fab, and she looks freshly dressed.

Now to the nitty gritty. As much as I’m a fan of Wendy, I just can’t get with this look whatsoever. From the wrong bra being worn underneath her gown, to the mix and match of both tank and long sleeved design, this is just too much and too little at the same time. And the hair is just all over the place for me too. I could go on, but I’ll just keep it real and make this quick and painless: girl, stop.

What do you think of the styles these three women rocked the red carpet in?

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Remember the days of “Martin” and “Living Single” and “In Living Color”? Of course you do. Those were our shows and they were our shows. You know what I’m saying? We loved the shows because they featured black casts but more importantly we loved the shows because they were funny, fresh, relatable and entertaining.

Is that still the case today? We might be entertained by a show, but does that make it quality television? A writer over at Hello Beautiful argues not. She says that while there is no shortage of black people on television she would never even consider buying a DVD of shows like “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” or “Single Ladies”.

Do you agree with her? Check out her full opinion over at Hello Beautiful.com.

You’ve seen Joyful Drake around, from her reoccurring role on the Soul Food series to her current role as Tasha on BET’s “Let’s Stay Together”. Joyful has been in the game for the past seven years. Madame Noire sat down with this talented actress to discuss her start in the business, the lessons she’s learned and what women can learn from Tasha.

Erica Hubbard just landed a job on the Queen Latifah produced show “Let’s Stay Together” but the road most was not easy. After earning a college degree and moving to California to pursue a career in acting, Hubbard was without work. After years of paying her dues, the actress is on her way up. Madame Noire spoke with this soon to be star about her ideal role, The Ideal Husband, and her efforts to build the ideal community.