New York — BET has recruited the famed Wayans
family for a new comedy series development project
as it continues to make noise in the scripted
content genre.
The African-American targeted network is developing Second
Generation, a single-camera scripted comedy that
follows the second generation of Wayans that were responsible
for such 1990s television hits as In Living Color
and The Wayans Bros. Marlon Wayans (G.I. Joe) will executive
produce.
Second Generation follows the latest scripted announcement
for BET, which for years had been known
mostly for reality shows and music videos.
The series joins a scripted lineup that already includes
sitcoms Reed Between the Lines, with former Cosby star
Malcolm Jamal-Warner; football-themed The Game
(which in 2011 debuted as the most watched cable comedy
of all time) and Let’s Stay Together.
During its current second-season run, The Game is averaging
3.7 million viewers, down from the 4.6 million the
show averaged its freshman season. Let’s Stay Together is
averaging 2.4 viewers, slightly above its first-season tally.
The MTV Networks outlet also is moving into original
tele-movies with production of cop drama Gun Hill.
That series tells the tale of two identical twins — one
a cop and one a criminal — and what transpires after
the police officer brother is killed and the con assumes
his identity.
