''Games People Play'' is an American

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

television series, based on the novel ''Games Divas Play'' written by Angela Burt-Murray, that premiered on April 23, 2019, on

BET Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los A ...

. On November 13, 2019, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 19, 2021.

Premise

''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."

Cast

Main

Lauren London Lauren Nicole London is an American actress. London is known for her roles in films and televisions shows including '' ATL'' (2006), ''This Christmas'' (2007), '' Madea’s Big Happy Family'' (2011), ''Baggage Claim'' (2013), '' The Game'' (20 ...

as Vanessa King, a desperate basketball wife trying to protect her family *Karen Obilom as Nia Bullock, a tenacious reporter struggling to rebuild her tarnished career and Vanessa's closest friend and confidente *

Parker McKenna Posey Parker McKenna Posey (born August 18, 1995) is an American actress. She is well known for her role as Kady Kyle on the television show, ''My Wife and Kids''. Early life Posey was born on August 18, 1995, to Polo Posey and Heather Stone. Care ...

as Laila James, a scandalous groupie looking to become a star *Sarunas Jackson as Marques King, a professional basketball all star, who played for New York Gladiators, but traded to the Los Angeles Vipers, is married to Vanessa *

Jackie Long Jackie Long (born October 23, 1981) is an American television and film actor, writer, musician, director and producer. He is also a voice actor for ''Grand Theft Auto V ''Grand Theft Auto V'' is a 2013 action-adventure game developed by Roc ...

as Kareem Johnson, Marcus' best friend and assistant, who was a former basketball star for the Gladiators and a college basketball standout *Kendall Kyndall as Marquis "MJ" Jackson, Nia's assistant and best friend (season 2; recurring season 1) *

Karrueche Tran Karrueche Tran ( ; born May 17, 1988) is an American actress and model. From 2013 to 2016, she starred as Vivian Johnson in the web series '' The Bay''. For producing the series, she won two Daytime Emmy Awards. Her return to ''The Bay'' for i ...

as Eden Lazlo, the daughter of the Los Angeles Vipers owner and the newly named VP of basketball operations, who further complicates Marcus' love life (season 2) *Brandi Denise as Quanisha

Recurring

*Barry Brewer as Eric Rowland, Nia's live-in boyfriend, an IT nerd who is a basketball all-star captain *Morgan Walsh as Ginger Gates *Monti Washington as Terrence Abrams, Nia's ex-boyfriend and a City of Los Angeles police chief, who wants to pick up where they left off when Nia moves to Los Angeles *

Shaun Robinson Shaun Robinson (born July 12, 1962) is an American television host, author, producer, philanthropist, television personality and actress. She is perhaps best known for hosting ''Access Hollywood'' (1999–2015) and ''90 Day Fiancé'' and its spin ...

as Kristen Kensington *Rachel Leyco as Susie Q (A.K.A. Natasha), Laila's friend *

Ryan Paevey Ryan Jacob Paevey-Vlieger (born September 24, 1984), better known as Ryan Paevey ( ), is an American model and actor, best known for his role as Nathan West on the ABC soap opera ''General Hospital''. Early life Paevey was born in Torrance, Cali ...

as Bryce Daniels, a Los Angeles Vipers fan *Kevin McNamera as Coach Kelly Buxton, a coach *Kevin Jackson as Jamal "The Criminal" Jerome, a thief and a drug dealer *

Vanessa Bell Calloway Vanessa Bell Calloway ( Bell; born March 20, 1957) is an American actress. Beginning her career as a dancer, Bell Calloway became known for her film roles as Princess Imani Izzi in the 1988 comedy ''Coming to America'', as well as for her roles ...

as Shelia *

Vanessa Simmons Vanessa Jean Simmons (born August 5, 1983) is an American television personality. Her family is featured in the MTV reality show ''Run's House''. She was recently the host and judge of '' Project Runway: Threads''. Early life Simmons is the olde ...

as Jackie Herman *Alfredo Tavares as Keaun Stevenson, the coach for the Los Angeles Vipers *

Delvon Roe Delvon Roe is an actor. He is a retired basketball player who played at Michigan State University. He was listed as a forward. He ended his career in September 2011 after three years at Michigan State due to degenerative knee pain. High schoo ...

as Dante Herman, a college basketball player, professional basketball player and the husband of Jackie *Phillip G. Carlson as Detective Anderson Loomis *Ismeli Henriquez as Kalinda Walters *Jack Merrill as Detective Frank Thrillin *

Tracy Melchior Tracy Lindsey Melchior (born June 22, 1970) is an author and actress most known for playing the role of Forrester family, Kristen Forrester Dominguez on the CBS daytime drama ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' and Beverly Hills Cop III. Acting Melc ...

as Roxanne *Chinedu Oji as Ceawen Maduenu, a basketball player for the Tulsa Tornado *Momo Dione as Atebe Sekibo, a Nigerian Gangster *Lourdes Gonzalez as Merlot *Gail Bean as Quanisha *Ben Shields as Gus, a reporter *Mike Bash as Tony, a sports reporter *Jerry Cummings (Frvrose) as Himothy "He-Man" Taylor, a basketball player for the Austin Stallions, traded to the LA Vipers *

Cynthia Bailey Cynthia Denise Bailey (born February 19, 1967) is an American model, reality television personality, and actress. Born and raised in Alabama, she moved to New York City at the age of 18 to pursue a modeling career. There, she signed a five-year ...

as Ndasia *Ro Parrish as himself, a Vipers' NBA Commentator. *Hitman Holla as Romello "Rome", the new cocky point guard traded to the Vipers *

Leon Leon, Léon (French) or León (Spanish) may refer to: Places Europe * León, Spain, capital city of the Province of León * Province of León, Spain * Kingdom of León, an independent state in the Iberian Peninsula from 910 to 1230 and again fro ...

as Walter, Marques father *Calvin Seabrooks as Andre, a successful ex from MJ's past * Marlo Hampton as Monique, a friend of Vanessa King

Guest

Partial list of guest by last name: *Anisha Adusumilli as Anushka *Terrah Bennett Smith as Rosalind Jackson *Jennie Fahn as Janet, Vanessa's lawyer *Giana Garcia as Deja *Blaine Gray as Cameron Pike, a basketball player *Jamaal Lewis as Handsom Manny *John A. Lorenz as ADA Martin Escovedo *

Nazanin Mandi Nazanin Aliza Mandighomi Pimentel ( ; born September 11, 1986), known professionally as Nazanin Mandi, is an American actress, singer, model, and life coach. Early life Nazanin Mandi was born on September 11, 1986, in Valencia, California. Sh ...

as Zara, wife to new Viper player Tyreck *Aaron Marshall as Theodore Delano *Alveraz Ricardez as Officer Mel Friendly *Jeremie Rivers as Jebediah Hawthorne, a reverend *Ron J. Rock as Jason Brown, a basketball player *Greice Santo as Yoga Nanny *Owen Saxon as Thomas, a trainer and a basketball player for the Los Angeles Vipers *Marie Stark as Deanna George *

Norman Towns Norman Towns (born December 26, 1985) is an actor, comedian, and producer. He is best known for his roles as Bennett on HBO's ''Insecure'' and on the TV series The Affair. Early life and education Norman Towns was born December 26, 1985, in Los ...

as Tyreck Woolridge, a basketball player for the Tulsa Tornado *Shabnam Yusufzai as Ana Reyes, a housekeeper *Zach Zublena as Jasper White, a basketball player for the Tulsa Tornado

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (2019)

Season 2 (2021)

Production

Development

On April 17, 2018, it was announced that

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. 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. On January 31, 2019, it was announced that the series had been retitled ''Games People Play''. On April 1, 2019, it was announced that the series will premiere on April 23, 2019. On November 13, 2019, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 19, 2021.

Casting

On December 6, 2018, it was announced that

, and Karen Obilom had been cast in leading roles. On January 31, 2019, it was reported that Sarunas J. Jackson and

had joined the main cast and that Barry Brewer and Kendall Kyndall would appear in a recurring capacity. On September 10, 2020, it was announced that

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.

Filming

Principal photography for the series commenced on November 29, 2018, in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Games People Play (TV series) 2010s American drama television series 2020s American drama television series 2019 American television series debuts BET original programming English-language television shows