Source: Eurweb.com

So why did Tracee Ross decided to leave Reed Between the Lines? It turns out, it was just bad timing. The actress told Essence Magazine:

“It was that BET hadn’t decided if they were picking up the show yet or not,” says Ross. “During that time when they didn’t know, I was offered a really amazing pilot for NBC, and BET graciously allowed me to go and do it.”

Ross says from there things got tricky. “Then the timing got complicated and there was a need to move forward. [BET] had to figure out how to deal without me because I wasn’t available. But it’s not because I wanted to leave.”

The natural-haired maven tells us that things happen for a reason. Despite the casting changes and the fact that the NBC pilot she filmed was not picked up, she appears to be in good spirits. “I love Reed Between the Lines, I believe in it. There is a chance I’ll go back, always. There’s nothing weird about it.”

We can’t blame her for jumping at the chance to do a show on NBC. It’s just too bad that show didn’t get picked up and she’d already quit BET. All anyone can do though is make the best decision he/she has with the information available at the time. Something else will come up for her, for sure. “Reed Between The Line” second season begins in July, and they’ve re-written the story to say that Carla moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career and Alex stayed behind with the children in Atlanta. 

Do you think they should write her back into the show?

Follow Alissa on Twitter @AlissaInPink 

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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Zimbio.com

During the first season of “Reed Between the Lines,” 15-year-old singer Jacob Latimore starred as a college prodigy who struggled to fit in at Mt. pleasant University with his older cousin Marco who’s a star on the basketball team, and now BET is turning that plot into its own scripted show titled “Young Man on Campus (Y.M.O.C.)”

On the “Reed” episode, Dawnn Lewis starred as Jacob’s mother, but Terri Vaughn will be taking over her part in the comedy pilot, “as an earthy mama bear who truly wants Jacob to have every advantage in life that she didn’t.” The background on her character, Trishelle, who is a widow, is “She got a second job driving the campus bus at Mt. Pleasant five years ago to get an employee discount on her children’s tuition, and while Jacob got in on a scholarship, she keeps the job to keep an eye on him.“

Jacob Latimore and Eric D. Hill, Jr., who played Marco, will reprise their roles for the show, which will also add a few new cast members. Dondre Whitfield will play Prof. Derek Watson, the primary authority figure in Jacob’s life, besides his mother, who discovered the boy genius, and Vanessa S. Simmons who will play Aliyah, a girl both Jacob and Marco have a crush on.

Y.M.O.C. will be written and executive produced by Jacque Edmonds Cofer, who executive produces “Reed” and “Let’s Stay Together,” which he also created. Word has it that BET is already considering ordering 10 episodes of the show before even seeing the pilot.

What do you think about this sitcom idea? Will you check it out?

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

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As the year 2011 comes to a close, it’s only natural to look back and reflect upon the decisions that were made…by celebrities, that is!  Focusing on the lives and (best of all) the fashion choices made by people we will probably never meet is soooo much more fun than trying to remember how many times you’ve cheated on your diet this year!

We’ve gathered our top 12 female style stars – one for each month – that have embraced this years’ trends, but still managed to stay true to their personal style. Be aware, it’s quite a diverse group! Style-wise, the only thing all these ladies have in common is their love of a bold red lip. You may be surprised by who made the list and who didn’t! In no particular order, let’s take a stroll down memory lane…

Things are looking up for BET in terms of viewers. This year marked the third consecutive year of growth for the network and 2011 is BET’s most watched year ever among all viewers, according to Nielsen. There’s not much to choose from in terms of black networks, still many people had sworn off BET because of the steady decline of quality programs and the increased promotion of rap culture and the questionable lyrics and lifestyle that go along with it. So is the growth of BET a positive sign of the network’s transformation or an indication that viewer’s aren’t looking for quality?

In 2011, BET had more top ranked original programming among Black viewers than any other network, with The Game coming in at no. 1, Let’s Stay Together at no. 2, Sunday Best at no. 4, and Reed Between the Lines at no. 9. A Toya Family Affair, Born to Dance, and The Family Crews Season 2 also ranked in the top 20.

The success of BET’s scripted content caused BET to have the largest audience growth of any other cable network among Black women 18-49 on Tuesday Nights, placing it in the no. 3 position for that day. Season 4 of The Game also ranks no. 1 in ad-supported cable TV history, averaging 4.3 million viewers. The show also ranks among the top 5 series on cable TV among Adults 18-49.

It appears BET has found a way to balance its content between reality TV, scripted series, and music programming like 106 & Park and its music awards to bring in a female audience and strengthen its viewership.  With T. J. Holmes joining the network, they also have an opportunity to share news stories African Americans want to see and can’t find on other programs, and restore some of the network’s lost integrity.

Do you watch any shows on BET? Have you noticed an improvement in their programming? Do you think growth of the network is a good thing?

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

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I don’t think there’s a single person who doesn’t love Tracee Ellis Ross, and she’s given us more reasons to love her in the next issue of Vibe Vixen.

Covering the December/January issue, Tracee talks what it’s like to produce and star in “Reed Between the Lines,” How her personal style differs from her beloved Joan and Carla characters, and why there’s hope for single black women.

Here’s a snippet:

On whether it’s difficult to produce and act

“I wouldn’t say difficult, but it definitely makes for a long day. But it is the kind of full plate that I adore. I adore this kind of work and it’s very rewarding. The producer role very much plays into the kind of person I am. In the evolution of my career it is a really exciting step for me because I am the kind of creative person that has a real opinion about the kind of images that I want to portray and want in the public in general.”

On the style of Tracee vs. Joan vs. Carla

“I am different than both of those ladies. I dress sexier than Carla, meaning I wear more form-fitting clothes. I have a little more edge to the way I dress than both of the ladies. And I dress down way more than both of those ladies.

“Every once in a while people say Carla is so much like Joan, and I’m like, ‘People, Tracee plays both people.’ So what you’re seeing that’s the same between Carla and Joan is not Carla being like Joan, but it’s Tracee. Tracee was Joan and Tracee is Carla. It’s so funny people don’t understand that, it makes me laugh.”

On single black women

“I don’t think anybody’s doomed if they’re single. The only thing that dooms you is if you’re not willing to stretch outside of your comfort zone to try different things.”

Love her. Are you a Tracee Ellis Ross Fan? What do you think of her cover?

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

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Tracee Ellis Ross and Malcolm Jamal Warner have an intimate spread in the January issue of Upscale magazine. Inside, the stars of BET’s new sitcom, “Reed Between the Lines,” discuss their onscreen chemistry and why they don’t mind comparisons to “The Cosby Show.”

On their onscreen chemistry:

Tracee Ellis Ross: I didn’t have a picture in my head of who should be my (onscreen husband) and first moment with him was so palpable… doing scenes with Malcolm does not feel like acting. It’s like it just happens, and I think that’s the magic that people long for.

Malcolm Jamal Warner: If you’re going to be joined at the hip, you want it to be with someone who shares the same vision and shares the same kind of integrity and values..it’s probably one of the best non-physical love affairs that I’ve ever had.  We have a great rapport and it’s probably one of the best non-physical affairs I’ve ever had.

On comparisons to The Cosby Show:

Tracee Ellis Ross: In our world, it’s always easier for people to put a handle on something so they can grasp what it is like, If we could in any way, shape or form hold a candle to what Cosby did, represented and was, then we have succeeded.

Malcolm Jamal Warner: None of us is Bill Cosby, so we’re not trying to recreate Cosby. What we are trying to recreate is the universality and the timelessness.

What do you think of “Reed Between the Lines” so far? Do Tracee and Malcolm have the chemistry to make the show a lasting success like The Cosby’s?

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

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This fall, there aren’t very many black faces in the new network broadcast line-up, so that means even fewer black women to represent.  However, there are a few shows where you can see black actors and actresses doing their thing, usually in secondary or recurring roles (sigh). So if you happened to be on the lookout, here are the new fall shows where you can find some great writing, good acting, and as a plus, a few black faces. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Another week has come to a close and as usual, your fave celebs gave us a little “tea” to sip on.  Check out what you may have missed this week!

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Tracee Ellis Ross’ fashion on “Reed Between the Lines” may be fans’ favorite part of the new sitcom. When the most recent episode aired, her twitter feed was lit up with comments on her gorgeous curls and stylishly sophisticated wardrobe. The best news of all? Most of the clothes are affordable picks from ZARA! They may need to talk a spokesmodel proposition with Ross pretty soon. Check out the best Twitter commentary on Tracee’s style on “Reed Between the Lines” after the jump, and peruse some of Ross’ hottest fashion moments. Are you watching this positive new black show?