Ah EBT…I mean BET. The network developed by Black people for Black people that is now owned by Viacom used to be known for having strong shows like Comic View, BET Uncut and 106 & Park with Free and Ajay. However, lately the network has come under fire for its lack luster award shows, ruining of The Game, and just a general decline in quality. But things seem to be looking up for the network. Their latest award show wasn’t a complete disaster and Being Mary Jane premiered to great critical acclaim and a massive audience. I happened to catch the show the day after it premiered and was pleasantly surprised at how good it was and decided to list 5 reasons why it could be a hit for the network.
1. It’s relatable. Even though I am not a black woman, not worrying about marriage or helping a large extended family, I found all of the situations in Being Mary Jane relatable. Mara Brock Akil, who has executive produced Girlfriends and The Game, understand how to make the Black experience, regardless of its specificity, feel real and tangible. Especially on a network like BET, it’s incredibly important to not generalize just because you are dealing with a Black audience. I love how they manage to both support and subvert the Black experience.
2. Gabrielle Union is one of the most underrated actors working today. In this era of Kerry Washingtons and Taraji P. Hensons, people often forget about just how wonderful an actress Gabby can be if given the material. Mary Jane fits her like a glove, allowing her to use her comedic timing, ability to be over the top without being over the top, and her grace to carry the show. There are some quiet contemplative scenes that she just aces and I hope that even though the tension will be ratcheted up, they’ll allow her scenes that allow her to be by herself processing.
3. Diversity. Chile did I see a gay black man, with a white boyfriend, on the show? That would have been unheard of with vintage BET and though the show does play it for a bit of a surprise, it’s wonderful that they’ve chosen to include a gay perspective on the show. Also amazing that they have Mary Jane’s partner be a Latina (the fabulous Lisa Vidal) showing that we’re gonna get a multicultural experience.
4. It’s not always over the top funny, which is good. I am of the mind that even on purely comedic shows, the laughs have to come from more than just flamboyant antics. The sight gag of her younger brother buying that white Virgo card and her reaction to it made me cackle just as hard as the actual jokes on the show. I hope the writers keep up that kind of cultural humor that doesn’t need to be shouted to be understood.
5. The network needs this. In today’s TV climate, BET cannot afford to not to develop their own scripted series. This gives me hope that they will put their all into this series and give the creators free rein to really develop a quality show. The only problems I see with Being Mary Jane is that it could quickly devolve into cliché and hysterics and that it doesn’t premiere as a series until January. That is a LONG time to wait after such a rapturous reception might dim the audience, but they’ve got a while to promote it.