The CW's Sunday Night Lineup (or fried chicken and collard greens night)

Ambivalently anticipating the season premiere of Girlfriends (sans Toni), I turned on the CW's Sunday night lineup (while grading papers of course). I've written about the CW's "network integration" scheme before, cynically pondering the time it would take for the new broadcast network to expunge themselves of all shows black. Isolating all the black shows into their own Sunday night ghetto seems to be a crucial first step. Or perhaps the network execs figured black families, after a long day of church and a hearty soul food meal of fried chicken and collards would be primed to settle down for a night of comedy from 7-9, or until the "itis"(eye-tus) kicks in.

So the premiere of Everybody Hate's Chris was hilarious. The title character, played by Tyler James Williams, is quite the talent. Good casting. Enjoyable storylines.

The fact that the network actually kept All of Us speaks volumes of Will Smith's enduring cache in Hollywood. Otherwise, what the fuh? It's the most pointless show ever (other than The Game, which I'll mention shortly).

Girlfriends sans Toni will not last. Sorry Mara. I really like the show, but Toni adds that "bitch we love to hate" element that made the show's viewers keep a Monday night slot open for the past few seasons. Check the message board at CWTV. Folks are not happy with Jill Marie Jones's departure. Betta bring the bitch back. The opener was weird too. Joan, who was volunteering for Habitat for Humanity after her blowout with her best friends last season decided to take a little jog through the destroyed neighborhoods of NOLA and then broke down in tears. The NOLA shout out I appreciated, but the jogging. Come on now.

The lineup concludes with Mara Brock Akil's new show The Game, starring Tia Mowry (remember her from Sister Sister). Anyway, the show is about footballers' wives in short and um (crickets, crickets -- I wish this thing had sound effects). Was Half and Half cancelled for this snoozer?

Coda: Just found out the chicken and collard greens lineup is moving to Mondays. Not sure what that will bode for the black shows but since there's nothing else worth watching on Mondays perhaps the move will increase viewership. Stay tuned.