CW Hands Out Early Renewals - No 'Chris' or 'Game' Included

Should we be worried, Everybody Hates Chris and The Game fans?

Earlier this week, The CW announced its early decision to renew six series for an additional season: 90210, America’s Next Top Model, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Smallville, and Supernatural. As the list clearly shows, Everybody Hates Chris and The Game aren’t included. Neither is the midseason dramedy Reaper, but that show is unique because it has yet to premiere during the current 2008–2009 season.

So, my question is do sitcom fans have cause for concern given that no pickup went to either of The CW’s only series in that genre? Sure, it’s still early days, but this looks like a lack of confidence in the merit of keeping the half-hour comedies around a while longer.

Some might even see an additional reason to worry because Chris and The Game are also the only two CW series featuring predominantly African-American casts and perspectives. Heck, they’re two of only a handful of shows on all networks combined that fit that bill.

The sitcoms’ current Friday-night time slots — traditionally a day where TV shows go to die very slowly and painfully, CBS’ hit lineup aside — and sporadic new episodes don’t inspire happy thoughts, either. I hope all of this ends up being more conjecture than reality and that neither show goes the way of Girlfriends at the end of the 2007–2008 season (speaking of which: where is that alleged retrospective send-off special, by the way?). Only time — and The CW’s future complete renewal list — will tell.

However, supporting my observations is the Hollywood Reporter, which ends its article about the renewals with the comment: “Slim at best are the renewal chances for “Reaper,” whose second season begins Tuesday, and of CW’s only two remaining comedy series, “The Game” and “Everybody Hates Chris,” as the network has abandoned the genre.” That’s bad, sad news indeed.

Everybody Hates Chris airs Fridays on The CW at 8pm EST and The Game follows at 8:30pm EST.