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Being Mary Jane

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Being Mary Jane
GenreDrama
Created byMara Brock Akil
Starring
ComposerKurt Farquhar
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes51 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Mara Brock Akil
  • Salim Akil
  • Gabrielle Union
Production locationGeorgia
Running time
  • 61 mins (pilot only)
  • 42 mins
Production companies
  • Akil Productions
  • Breakdown Productions
  • Schoolcraft Productions (season 4-present)
  • Will Packer Productions (season 4-present)
Original release
NetworkBET
ReleaseJuly 2, 2013 (2013-07-02) –
present (present)

Being Mary Jane is an American drama television series created by Mara Brock Akil and starring Gabrielle Union,[1] that debuted January 7, 2014 on BET.[2] The 90-minute-pilot for the series aired on July 2, 2013.[3] The series follows professional and personal life of successful TV news anchor Mary Jane Paul, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Being Mary Jane has received positive reviews from critics,[4][5] and the series premiere on BET had more than 4 million viewers.[6][7][8] The second and third seasons received critical acclaim, specifically praising Gabrielle Union's leading performance, Mara Brock Akil's writing, and directing work by Regina King.[9][10][11][12] On January 6, 2016, the series was renewed for a fourth season, which premiered on January 10, 2017.[13] Set in New York, season 4 reaches a milestone and a record as it is made with 20 episodes. It was announced on October 11, 2017 that the series would conclude in 2018 with a two-hour movie finale.[14]

At the 45th NAACP Image Awards, the pilot movie won award for Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special, and Union for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.[15] The series later received another nine NAACP Image Awards nominations, include two for Outstanding Drama Series.

Series overview

Further information: List of Being Mary Jane episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
19July 2, 2013 (2013-07-02)February 25, 2014 (2014-02-25)
212February 3, 2015 (2015-02-03)April 14, 2015 (2015-04-14)
310October 20, 2015 (2015-10-20)December 15, 2015 (2015-12-15)
42010January 10, 2017 (2017-01-10)March 21, 2017 (2017-03-21)
10July 18, 2017 (2017-07-18)September 19, 2017 (2017-09-19)
Television filmApril 23, 2019 (2019-04-23)

Cast and characters

Regular cast

  • Gabrielle Union as Pauletta ("Mary Jane Paul") Patterson: a successful TV news anchor for Satellite News Channel (SNC) who remains devoted to a family that doesn't share her motivation as she juggles her life, her relationships, her work, and commitments.
  • Lisa Vidal as Kara Lynch: the executive producer of the Talkback (Mary Jane's show) at SNC and Mary Jane's best friend.
  • Margaret Avery as Helen Patterson: Mary Jane's overprotective mother, who is battling lupus.
  • Latarsha Rose as Dr. Lisa Hudson: Mary Jane's best friend since elementary school, an OB/GYN. (Seasons 1-3)
  • Aaron D. Spears as Mark Bradley: a co-anchor at the newsroom and the closeted gay friend of Mary Jane. (Seasons 1-3)
  • Richard Brooks as Patrick Patterson: Mary Jane's older, less-motivated brother.
  • B.J. Britt as Paul Patterson, Jr.: Mary Jane's responsible younger brother.
  • Raven Goodwin as Niecy Patterson: Mary Jane's niece; Patrick Patterson's daughter, who is also a mother.
  • Richard Roundtree as Paul Patterson, Sr.: Mary Jane's compassionate father.
  • Omari Hardwick as Andre Daniels: Mary Jane's married love interest. (Season 1)[16]
  • Stephen Bishop as David Paulk - Mary Jane's playboy love interest. (Seasons 2-3; recurring Season 1)

Recurring cast

  • Robinne Lee as Avery Daniels - Andre's wife, who learns of her husband's affair with Mary Jane. (Season 1)
  • Tatom Pender as Tracy - Patrick's girlfriend and mother of their child.
  • Madison Alsobrook as D'Asia - Patrick's daughter (Season 4). Formerly Navia Robinson (Seasons 1-3)
  • Brély Evans as Nichelle - Mary Jane's friend and publicist to the stars.
  • Kelly Rutherford as Cynthia Phillips (Seasons 1-2)
  • Ryan Homchick as Lance (Season 1-3)
  • Salli Richardson as Valerie (Season 2)
  • Gary Dourdan as Sheldon (Season 2)
  • Kyle Massey as Cameron (Season 2)
  • Loretta Devine as Cece (Season 3)
  • Daniella Alonso as Marisol Esparza (Season 3)
  • Thomas Jones as Brandon (Season 3)
  • Paul Rolfes as Aaron Felty (Seasons 3-4)
  • Michael Ealy as Justin Talbot (Season 4)
  • Chiké Okonkwo as Lee Truitt (Season 4)
  • Valarie Pettiford as Ronda Sales (Season 4)
  • Ashton Holmes as Garrett (Season 4)
  • Julian Walker as Ty (Season 4)
  • Cesar Cipriano as Dante (Season 4)
  • Tian Richards as Jovan (Season 4)

Guest stars

Production

The show was originally to be called Single Black Female.[17] The series centers on successful broadcast journalist Mary Jane Paul (played by Gabrielle Union) and her professional and private family life while searching for "Mr. Right":

Mary Jane Paul has it all: she's a successful TV news anchor, entirely self-sufficient – an all-around powerhouse who remains devoted to a family that doesn’t share her motivation. As Mary Jane juggles her life, her work and her commitment to her family, we find out how far she's willing to go to find the puzzle pieces that she, and society, insist are missing from her life as a single Black female.[18]

Omari Hardwick plays a potential Mr. Right. Other cast members include Latarsha Rose, Lisa Vidal, Aaron D. Spears, Richard Roundtree, Margaret Avery, Richard Brooks, Tika Sumpter, Raven Goodwin, B.J. Britt, and Robinne Lee.[18]

The series is produced by Mara Brock Akil, who produced BET's most successful series ever, The Game, and the romantic comedy film Jumping the Broom. The pilot episode was filmed in April 2012 at 780 N. Highland Ave. in the Virginia Highland neighborhood of Atlanta.[19][20][21]

On September 12, 2013, BET renewed Being Mary Jane for a second season, before the first season premiered.[6] The second season premiered on February 3, 2015, and on February 5 the series was renewed for a third season,[22] which premiered October 20, 2015.

Controversy

In 2016, Gabrielle Union sued BET for allegedly depriving her of agreed upon compensation.[23]

References

  1. ^ "BET Networks Announces New Programming at Annual Upfront Presentation". The Futon Critic. April 2, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  2. ^ "BET Networks' First Original Scripted Series "Being Mary Jane" Starring Gabrielle Union Premieres on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 10 P.M. ET/PT" (Press release). The Futon Critic. October 24, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  3. ^ Braxton, Greg (May 24, 2013). "Pilot for BET's 'Being Mary Jane' gets late start time on July 2". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "Being Mary Jane - Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. July 9, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  5. ^ "Being Mary Jane: Season 1". 7 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  6. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (September 11, 2013). "BET Preps Second Season Of 'Being Mary Jane', Cancels 'Reed Between The Lines'". Deadline.com. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  7. ^ O'Connell, Michael. "TV Ratings: BET's 'Being Mary Jane' Scores Huge Premiere". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  8. ^ "Solid Ratings Debut For BET's 'Being Mary Jane' - 4 Millions Viewers, Highest-Rating On Cable | Shadow and Act". Blogs.indiewire.com. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  9. ^ "Regina King talks directing 'Being Mary Jane' and 'Scandal'". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  10. ^ "'Being Mary Jane' season 2 premiere review - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Being Mary Jane finale postmortem: Mara Brock Akil addresses policy brutality story line - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Being Mary Jane premiere postmortem: Gabrielle Union on Mary Jane's car crash, beauty standards, more - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  13. ^ http://deadline.com/2016/01/being-mary-jane-renewed-for-season-4-by-bet-tca-1201676854/
  14. ^ "'Being Mary Jane' To End In 2018 With 2-Hour Series Finale Movie On BET". Deadline.com. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  15. ^ Aaron Couch, Arlene Washington (22 February 2014). "NAACP Image Awards: The Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  16. ^ http://www.bet.com/shows/being-mary-jane/cast-info.html
  17. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 13, 2012). "BET Greenlights 'Single Black Female' Pilot From Mara Brock Akil And Salim Akil". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
  18. ^ a b "BET unveils new programming at Upfront". Radio & Television Business Report. April 18, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  19. ^ Hirsch, Jaclyn (April 23, 2012). "Photos: TV Pilot Filming in Virginia-Highland - 'Being Mary Jane' filming all day Monday on N. Highland Avenue". Virginia Highland-Druid Hills Patch. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  20. ^ ""Being Mary Jane" TV Pilot filming 4/23 & 4/24". Virginia-Highland Civic Association. April 19, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  21. ^ "Being Mary Jane Production Department letter to residents" (PDF). Virginia-Highland Civic Association. April 17, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  22. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 5, 2015). "BET's 'Being Mary Jane' Renewed for Third Season". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  23. ^ Counthios; Stone, Auriel; Natalie (2016-10-12). "Gabrielle Union Sues BET Over Being Mary Jane For Allegedly Depriving Her of 'Agreed-Upon Compensation'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2017-04-15.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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