Girlfriends, one of only a few series left in primetime that features an all African-American cast, has ended its eight-year run, The CW has announced. The last episode aired this week and no further episodes will be produced, though the creators are in discussions with The CW about creating some sort of retrospective special for fans to air later this season.
The network released this statement today: “The prolonged strike has changed business conditions and our programming strategy for the balance of the 2007/08 season. To better focus its creative and financial resources, The CW will only resume production on shows that are in consideration for renewal next year. As a result, we will not order additional episodes of the long-running comedy Girlfriends, which planned to conclude its run at the end of this season. This was a very difficult decision for us, and was based solely on the considerable cost to license each episode in an extremely unusual business environment.”
Girlfriends first bowed on UPN before the network merged with
The WB and became The CW over two years ago. The comedy, from creator
Mara Brock Akil, starred Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia
White, Jill Marie Jones (who left the show in ’06), Reggie Hayes,
Khalil Kain, and Keesha Sharp. Said Akil in a statement, “Although it’s
always difficult to say goodbye, I choose to focus my energy on the
history that Girlfriends has made, the human stories that we
told, the beautifully complex images that we projected, and the
blessings 172 episodes bestowed on us, both personally and
professionally.”
The CW is expected to renew The Game and Everybody Hates Chris — both of which feature African-American casts — for fall 2008.
Girlfriends first bowed on UPN before the network merged withThe WB and became The CW over two years ago. The comedy, from creatorMara Brock Akil, starred Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, PersiaWhite, Jill Marie Jones (who left the show in ’06), Reggie Hayes,Khalil Kain, and Keesha Sharp. Said Akil in a statement, "Although it’salways difficult to say goodbye, I choose to focus my energy on thehistory that Girlfriends has made, the human stories that wetold, the beautifully complex images that we projected, and theblessings 172 episodes bestowed on us, both personally andprofessionally."
The CW is expected to renew The Game and Everybody Hates Chris — both of which feature African-American casts — for fall 2008.
sorry but it’s ‘everybody hates cris ‘
no its not.
well that blows
this is not right. this show has done so much for young African American females and it deserves a proper goodbye just like any other show.
Eh, I say forget about the CW. As soon as they cancelled “Veronica Mars”, it was all downhill from there…..
I agree
This is just wrong.. Shows featuring african american casts are what helped make the WB and have helped carry the CW.. I am truly sorry to see this show go.. A retrospective episode will not be enough to satisfy the fans of the show.. We all know what has happened in the past.. We had a vested interest in watching the last two or three episodes left in the SERIES and finding out what happened to the characters.. I am just really sad about the state of TV today.. It’s good that fans are banding together and helping the networks realize that people are connected to the programming.. If the Cw doesn’t continue to respect it’s loyal watchers, WE will up and move– NBC, Fox, anything.. I am sure I can find something else to watch. I just hope that The Game can make it through its sophomore season. CW should be ashamed of itself….STOP DISRESPECTING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AND HAVE BEEN LOYAL FANS…Please..
that one of my favorite show, way the cw dumbasses.
I agree with JuJuBee, to an extent. The WB always had better comedies, aimed towards black audiences compared to the junk UPN had before the merge (excepting Everybody Hates Chris). Although they weren’t all superb, some of them were criminally underrated (like Smart Guy, which deserved more seasons). Although I admit Girlfriends had a nice run and went past its prime, the CW should at least give fans a proper closing. That’s a major middle finger to the fans that followed the program for so many years.
i believe all shows need licensing. i can think of a few that CW should disregard, just bury, and resurrect girkfriends!!!! ‘Touche’!
That show should have ended once Toni Childs left. It’s been downhill ever since.
as a young white male i have to say i am disgusted by the powers that be decision to not even give us fans a real final send off. i watched the show from the beginning and have them on dvds. i love love love this show and i am saddened to see such racism still exist and ignorance towards fans who have devoted their good time watching this fabulous show…is there a petition?
Wow Jeff your idea was before its time, but it may in deed happen!
It’s been on for 8 years?!? More proof that UPN never had any standards.
OMG i have never seen it, but i would be pissed if they just decided not to bring back my show after i had invested 8yrs into it and it didnt get a awesome send off and special interviews and the countdown and the flashback things kinda like how they did for FRIENDS, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND. . .you know!!!
WOW IM SORRY FANS
Here we go again. The black shows just get cut and thats it. They did the same thing for Living Single. Your left hanging in the balance with nothing to hold on to. I am tired of it. But there are sooooo many shows that should have had the plug pulled on them long ago, but we still have to deal with them. No wonder everyone is stuck on reality TV. At least you know how they end.
I started watching Girlfriends in reruns and it is a crime that they are not going to let them wrap up any of the storylines they started this year. No Joan wedding, shame CW shame.
well, that sucks. that was a great sitcom. always take the good show off.