It’s very rare that a TV show delves into the delicate intricacies of what it means to be a black woman in the U.S. Whether intentional or coincidental, most often, black women are excluded from the mainstream Hollywood landscape. But, Girlfriends, for a moment, rose to the occasion in satisfying the lack of black female representation on TV.
There were other shows, of course. Well, one other show, Living Single. We can’t forget the impact of that show and the legendary cast. However, there was something quirky and endearing about the modern version of the four black female friends that were trying to figure out life together.
For 8 seasons and 172 episodes, Girlfriends invited us into the lives of Joan, Maya, Lynn and Toni. Then, the show abruptly ended with no explanation and no closure.
The Breakfast Club host and TV personality Charlamagne Tha God sat down with the cast of Girlfriends to ask some of the most pressing questions that fans have been holding for years. Let’s get to the meat of the interview.
Charlamagne asked, “Are y’all real friends?” His question was met with laughter and a nonchalant yeah. Then, the ladies admitted that they don’t talk to each other often, but when they do it’s like “no time has passed”. But then Charlamagne presented the big question when he asked how did it feel to not end the show with closure. Tracee Ellis Ross (Joan) said that it was a bad time because she was directing the finale, there was a writers’ strike going on and there wasn’t even a wrap party. Persia White who played Lynn said that she was informed about the end of the show through a phone call.
“There was always speculation that there was beef between you, Jill, and the women,” Charlamagne questioned. Jill Marie Jones (Toni) responded quickly, “No”. Apparently, her reasons for leaving the show was that she felt like she was using her best acting years on the show and wanted to grow and develop her career outside of the show.
“I’ve said it before, but let me say it again,” Jones told Charlamagne. “What a lot of people don’t know is that Girlfriends was my third audition in town. The first audition I booked, the second one I didn’t, the third one I booked, Girlfriends. I’m on this show for 6 years. I know no casting people, I know no producers…I booked Girlfriends at 25…I’m thinking I got to get stuff going because I don’t know what’s next.”
So, to all the fans out there who were upset about the abrupt end of their favorite show, it all comes down to one actor making a very selfish but needed decision to see what else is out there. It’s not really Jones or any actor’s responsibility to stay on a show that they are outgrowing. But, the way that she left the show with no communication to her cast mates and not even a statement to fans over media made many assume that there was a taxing issue that required her swift exit from the show after 132 episodes.
In the interview, Tracee Ellis Ross could not hide her disappointment. “It was so hard,” she said. “There was no roadmap…we were navigating that together…We were all very young.”
Oddly enough, the cast never had the conversation about the abrupt ending of the show, even after all these years. That’s smoke, kids. Jones became emotional in the interview because she ultimately was blamed for the end of the show. “It became a topic that I wish it hadn’t been,” Jones said.
Jones says she doesn’t regret leaving and feels she made the best choice at the time. After the show ended, Jones went on to act in a series of projects such as, The Longshots, The Perfect Holiday, Redrum, Meet The Browns, 35 And Ticking, American Horror Story and Sleepy Hollow, to name a few. So, maybe Jones was right to leave to try her hands at different Hollywood projects. Luckily, the other ladies kept working after Girlfriends, too, with Ross being the most successful out of the bunch.
Over the years, fans of the show have begged for closure by bringing the show back or creating a movie. The whole cast is open to a movie based on the show, similar to what Sex And The City did. However, they have not been able to find the right producers and distributors to get the project going. This is where The MouthSoap has to interject.
It’s clear that Hollywood is scared to take risks on black content. The conventional studios and production companies often rely on already established big names to pull in audiences. But, there is definitely money to be made with Girlfriends.
Here’s the blueprint. How about a traveling movie experience. Just like the modern day shows that are birthed on YouTube and social media, why not have the cast of Girlfriends travel to major movie exhibitors in major markets and do in-person or Skyped-in Q&A’s with exclusive invites to diehard fans. Then, immediately after the panel, screen the Girlfriends film. Make the film a limited release, available only in certain markets, such as New York, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Charlotte, Washington D.C. and see how many fans come support the film.
By doing this, fans will have an exclusive VIP experience and receive the closure that they so desperately desire. The production budget shouldn’t cost too much and not too many actors need to be cast. Come on, Hollywood! Netflix, Amazon Prime, BET +, Paramount Pictures, we know y’all see this, get this check!
Check out the interview HERE.
