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Black TV Programs are Keeping Atlanta Production Community Busy

LisaRaye McCoy and D.B. Woodside of VH1’s ‘Single Ladies’

Last summer, I posted a list of TV programs that are in production in metro Atlanta. I decided it was a good time to revisit. Good news: the list has only gotten longer since then with more new productions superseding a couple of shows that are not coming back.

None of the “big four” broadcast networks are represented but at least 17 other networks are. There’s no shortage of variety. You can see a competition reality show (”Sunday Best”), a syndicated game show (”Family Feud”), sci-fi-ish dramas (”The Walking Dead,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Teen Wolf”), relationship dramas (”Drop Dead Diva,” “Single Ladies”), fix-it-up shows (”Mega Dens,” “Elbow Room”), stand-up comedy (”Uptown Comic”), an antique show (”Auction Kings”), two bridal shows (”Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta,” “Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids”), animated programs (”Archer,” “Squidbillies,” “Aqua Teen”) and several sitcoms chasing a black audience (”House of Payne,” “Reed Between the Lines,” “The Rickey Smiley Show”).

If you see anything missing, please email me at [email protected].

This list includes shows that are distributed on a network (or via syndication) that airs nationally. It does not include news (e.g. HLN/CNN) and sports programming (e.g. Fox Sports South, NBA on TNT). It also doesn’t include shows that merely shoot audition episodes here on occasion (”American Idol,” “America’s Got Talent,” “So You Think You Can Dance”) or pop in on occasion (History’s “Top Gear” was shooting this past Thursday in Peachtree City and Senoia).

The tax credits have been a serious boon for business. This list would be significantly shorter if they didn’t exist.

Here’s what we have so far:

The CW’s ‘Vampire Diaries” (three seasons completed. Fourth season taping will start later this summer and begin airing in September)

Bounce TV’s “Uptown Comic” (ten episodes completed, airing now Mondays at 9:30 p.m.)

MTV’s “Teen Wolf” (second season airing now Mondays at 10 p.m.)

VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” (first season airing now on Mondays at 8 p.m.)

VH1’s “Single Ladies” (second season airing now on Mondays at 9 p.m.)

VH1’s “T.I. and Tiny” (second season taping now)

TV One’s “The Rickey Smiley Show” (first ten episodes finishing up now, will debut in October)

TV One’s “The Ladies of R&B” (first season taping just concluded, set to air later this summer)

BET’s “Reed Between the Lines” (second season will start taping soon)

BET’s “The Game (fifth season just concluded, sixth season renewal)

BET’s “Let’s Stay Together” (second season just concluded, third season renewal)

BET’s “Being Mary Jane” (first season scheduled to air later this year)

BET’s “Sunday Best” (fifth season being taped now, will return in July)

USA’s “Necessary Roughness” (second season airing and still in production, airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m.)

TBS’s “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” (taping already concluded, final seventh season episodes concluding this summer, airs Fridays at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.)

TBS’s “For Better or Worse” (second season scheduled to start in July)

Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva” (fourth season production almost over, season airing through the summer on Sundays at 9 p.m.)

Lifetime’s “Devious Maids” (this Marc Cherry drama reportedly coming to Atlanta this fall for airing in 2013)

AMC’s “The Walking Dead” (third season in production, will begin airing in the fall)

Syndicated “Family Feud” (fourth season with Steve Harvey taping now)

Sundance’s “Rectify” (new series taping now)

Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (fifth season taping now, will begin airing in the fall)

FX’s “Archer” (third season concluded, fourth season in production)

Adult Swim’s “Aqua Teen You Know Whatever” (ninth season just started airing. Original name: “Aqua Teen Hunger Force”)

Adult Swim’s “Squidbillies” (seventh season returns next month)

TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta” (fourth season forthcoming, in production now)

TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress: Bridesmaids” (third season forthcoming, in production now)

TLC’s “Preacher Wives” (new series forthcoming, launch date not set)

Discovery’s “Auction Kings” (second season airing Thursdays at 9 p.m.)

HGTV’s “Elbow Room” (first season currently airing Saturdays at 1 p.m.)

HGTV’s “Mega Dens” (second season airing Sundays at 8 p.m.)

HGTV’s “Property Virgins” (second season with V-103 mid-day jock Egypt Sherrod as host taping now)

SHOWS THAT HAVE BEEN CANCELLED OR IN LIMBO

OWN-TV’s “Pink Pastry” (a test run last year of six episodes didn’t lead to renewal)

BET’s “Born to Dance” (no word from BET of a renewal after one season, which is not a good sign)

BET’s “Toya: A Family Affair” (no word from BET of a renewal after one season)

TBS’s “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns” (ended last November after 140 episodes)

Food Network’s “Good Eats” (retired, with its final episode airing this past February after 13 years)

Source: Rodney Ho, AJC

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