| Games People Play | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Sports drama |
| Based on | Games Divas Play by Angela Burt-Murray |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 20 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Running time | 40–41 min. |
| Production companies | Edmonds Entertainment STX Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | BET |
| Release | April 23, 2019 – December 21, 2021 |
Games People Play is an American drama television series, based on the novel Games Divas Play written by Angela Burt-Murray, that premiered on April 23, 2019, on BET. [1]
On November 13, 2019, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 19, 2021. [2]
Games People Play takes place "inside the high-stakes world of professional sports where everyone plays to win. With an ensemble cast of dynamic characters including an ambitious reporter, a millionaire basketball player, a desperate housewife, a scandalous groupie, and a murderous stalker, the series follows three women Nia, Vanessa and Laila and the men in their lives. In a ruthless battle for success, these women's passions and motivations are seldom altruistic, but their life choices and drive will determine what it really takes to stay on top." [3]
Partial list of guest by last name:
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Pilot" | Janice Cooke | Vanessa Middleton | April 23, 2019 | 0.76 [8] |
| 2 | 2 | "Lover's Moon" | Rob Morrow | Kim Newton | April 30, 2019 | 0.53 [9] |
| 3 | 3 | "The Drink of Kings" | Rob Morrow | Stephen Godchaux | May 7, 2019 | 0.37 [10] |
| 4 | 4 | "The Wrath of Grapes" | Michael Grossman | Mike Flynn | May 14, 2019 | 0.46 [11] |
| 5 | 5 | "To Live and Lie in LA" | Michael Grossman | Theodore Witcher | May 21, 2019 | 0.38 [12] |
| 6 | 6 | "Reversal of Fortune" | Janice Cooke | Sara Finney-Johnson | May 28, 2019 | 0.51 [13] |
| 7 | 7 | "Persons of Interests" | Rob Morrow | Vanessa Middleton & Sara Finney-Johnson | June 4, 2019 | 0.40 [14] |
| 8 | 8 | "A Wing and a Prayer" | Rob Morrow | Story by : Vanessa Middleton Teleplay by : Meagan Diane | June 11, 2019 | 0.41 [15] |
| 9 | 9 | "The B' is Back" | Janice Cooke | Theodore Witcher | June 18, 2019 | 0.41 [16] |
| 10 | 10 | "The Way You Save" | Janice Cooke | Vanessa Middleton | June 25, 2019 | 0.58 [17] |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [18] [19] | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [18] [19] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "I Saw What You Did" | Rob Morrow | Vanessa Middleton | October 19, 2021 | 0.48 [20] |
| 12 | 2 | "Gone Girl" | Rob Morrow | Theodore Witcher | October 26, 2021 | 0.50 [21] |
| 13 | 3 | "Love and Basketball" | Rob Morrow | Ben Cory Jones | November 2, 2021 | 0.46 [22] |
| 14 | 4 | "Lost and Found" | Rob Morrow | Sara Finney-Johnson | November 9, 2021 | 0.48 [23] |
| 15 | 5 | "All In" | Rob Morrow | Meagan Daine | November 16, 2021 | 0.45 [24] |
| 16 | 6 | "The Game Catches Everyone" | Rob Morrow | Phonz Williams | November 23, 2021 | 0.51 [25] |
| 17 | 7 | "There's No Place Like Home" | Courtney Miller | Theodore Witcher | November 30, 2021 | 0.56 [26] |
| 18 | 8 | "Undercover Brother" | Rob Morrow | Vanessa Middleton & Meagan Daine | December 7, 2021 | 0.48 [27] |
| 19 | 9 | "Truth and Consequences" | Rob Morrow | Sara Finney-Johnson | December 14, 2021 | 0.57 [28] |
| 20 | 10 | "The Greater Good" | Rob Morrow | Vanessa Middleton | December 21, 2021 | 0.52 [29] |
On April 17, 2018, it was announced that BET had the production a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. Executive producers were set to include Tracey Edmonds, Angela Burt-Murray, and Vanessa Middleton, who was also expected to act as showrunner. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of Edmonds Entertainment. [3] [30] On December 6, 2018, it was reported that Middleton would write the pilot episode of the series and serve as a co-showrunner alongside Kim Newton, who will also executive produce. [31] On January 31, 2019, it was announced that the series had been retitled Games People Play. [32] On April 1, 2019, it was announced that the series will premiere on April 23, 2019. [1]
On November 13, 2019, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 19, 2021. [33]
On December 6, 2018, it was announced that Lauren London, Parker McKenna Posey, and Karen Obilom had been cast in leading roles. [31] On January 31, 2019, it was reported that Sarunas J. Jackson and Jackie Long had joined the main cast and that Barry Brewer and Kendall Kyndall would appear in a recurring capacity. [32]
On September 10, 2020, it was announced that Karrueche Tran will join the series for Season 2. It was also announced that Lauren London will appear in a limited role and Kendall Kyndall will join the main cast. [5]
Principal photography for the series commenced on November 29, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. [31]