Mara Brock Akil: A Writer With Game
22/01/2019
See Also: 16th Annual NATPE Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards | Byron Allen: A Media Mogul Unleashed | Mara Brock Akil: A Writer With Game | Robert Greenblatt: A TV Change Agent | Rita Moreno: A Star for All Platforms | Betty White: An Enduring Sitcom Icon | Henry Winkler: Persistence Pays Off
Mara Brock Akil
Most will know many of her biggest shows, considered groundbreaking in their own right: UPN's Girlfriends and BET's The Game and Being Mary Jane help set the standard by which many of today's comedies and dramas featuring people of color are measured against. The shows have done more than just draw viewers; they've also showcased complex and interesting characters from a unique perspective not often seen on television.
Because there's a Mara Brock Akil, Shonda Rhimes is able to do what she does; Issa Rae is able to do what she does, NPR television critic Eric Deggans said. Today's black showrunners have been able to come up and showcase their vision because trailblazers like Mara went out and created shows that people now remember quite fondly.
The Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism graduate began her TV production career as an assistant writer on such 1990s drama series as South Central and Moesha, before branching out on her own to create comedy series Girlfriends in 2000. The series, which ran on UPN before moving to The CW, depicted the relationships, lives and careers of four young African-American women from a perspective that had never been seen before on the small screen.
Akil, 48, would then create Girlfriends spinoff The Game, which launched on The CW but found its greatest success on cable. When the football-themed comedy series was canceled after three seasons, BET picked it up with the hopes that it would appeal to its African-American target audience.
BET launched The Game in 2011 and set a cable ratings record for a comedy series when it drew 7.7 million viewers. Former BET chairman and CEO Debra Lee told Multichannel News in 2018 that the premiere of The Game was one of the biggest highlights of her network tenure. On The CW [The Game] had been averaging about 1.5 million viewers per episode we brought it back with the same writers and production crew and that night it got 7.7 million viewers, she said. I remember that day; it was like winning the Super Bowl.
Akil and BET would strike gold again in 2013 with the debut of Being Mary Jane, starring Gabrielle Union as a successful cable news anchor juggling career, relationships and family issues.
Currently a producer on The CW's Black Lightning, Akil continues to build upon an impressive portfolio of original scripted series, movies and other projects that shine a light on an underserved but important segment of the television audience.
She's somebody that's crafted shows that black people have embraced from Girlfriends to Being Mary Jane, Deggans said. There's a sense that she's been able to create shows that black women look at and say I see myself in that show,' and it makes them want to watch it.
You may not recognize her name, but you certainly would recognize the shows helmed by Mara Brock Akil, among the most successful and talented writer-producers in contemporary television.Subscribe for full article
Member Exclusive
Get Access to Our Exclusive Content
Learn MoreAlready subscribed? Log In
LINK: | https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/mara-brock-akil-a-writer-with-g... |
See more stories from bandc |
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet Appoints Santiago Solanas as CEO to Lead Next Era of Growth and Innovation
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet and Veritone Reach Agreement to Distribute, Transact and Monetize Media Archives
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
31/05/2024
Orange County Expansion Helps Aerojet Rocketdyne Boost Solid Rocket Motor Production
A U.S. Marine fires an FIM-92 Stinger missile during a training exercise in Yuma...
31/05/2024
IAB Tech Lab Expands Open Measurement SDK Capabilities to Support Samsung and LG TVs
NEW YORK The global body that sets technical standards for digital advertising h...
31/05/2024
Study: Max, Apple TV+ Have Fewest 'Committed Customers'
In a new analysis of what services might make up a good bundle and what services might benefit the most from bundling, Antenna has released new data that highli...
31/05/2024
Report: Older SVOD Subscribers Unfazed by Price Hikes Will Drive Revenue Growth
Global SVOD revenues will increase by $116.6 billion by 2031, a growth rate of 13.3% per year over the next eight years, according to a new report from MIDiA Re...
31/05/2024
FCC Media Bureau Incorporates 2020 Census Data into TVStudy Software
WASHINGTON, D.C. The FCC Media Bureau has announced that effective August 1, 2024 the Commission's TVStudy software will incorporate the most recent U.S. Ce...
31/05/2024
NBCU's FAST Channel TNBC to Rebrand as NBC Comedy Vault
NBCUniversal has announced that its FAST channel TNBC will be rebranding to NBC Comedy Vault on June 1 and that the free streaming service will officially launc...
31/05/2024
TVRI Taps Ateme for Transition to 4K UHD OTT Streaming
PARIS Ateme has announced that the Indonesian public broadcaster TVRI is making the transition to 4K UHD OTT streaming using Ateme technologies....
31/05/2024
Marlow Film Studios considering next steps' as council blocks plans
The proposal had received support from James Cameron, Andy Serkis, Paul Greengrass, Richard Curtis, and Jeremy Irons By Matthew Corrigan Published: May 31, 2...
31/05/2024
Skydance submits new Paramount Global bid, Sony talks still progressing'
According to multiple reports, the new bid from Skydance offers a better deal to Paramounts Class B shareholders, who were said to be unhappy with the companys ...
31/05/2024
2024 Rise Awards open for entries
The awards recognise women and companies who are stand-out performers, innovators and leaders in the broadcast media technology industry By Matthew Corrigan ...
31/05/2024
Samsung, LG Adopt IAB Software Kit for CTV Ad Measurement
NEW YORK The global body that sets technical standards for digital advertising has expanded the reach of its measurement software development kit to include Sam...
31/05/2024
The Old Investment Cycles of Broadcast Technology are Being Run Over'
The rise of digital platforms is fundamentally changing the broadcast newsroom and its investment in technology according to Jon Roberts, director of technology...
31/05/2024
Study: Max, Apple TV Have Fewest 'Committed Customers'
In a new analysis of what services might make up a good bundle and what services might benefit the most from bundling, Antenna has released new data that highli...
31/05/2024
State Broadcasters Urge Passage of Broadcast VOICES Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. Fifty state broadcasters associations, including the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, have sent a letter to Congressio...
31/05/2024
EVS Names Richard Katz SVP Operations for NALA region
EVS has announced the appointment of Richard Katz as senior vice president of operations for the North and Latin American (NALA) region. This appointment is par...
31/05/2024
CommScope to Buy Cable Business Assets of Casa Systems for $45.1M
CommScope has announced that it was selected by Casa Systems, Inc. as the highest to acquire Casa's cable business assets and that the two companies have en...
31/05/2024
NAB Withdraws De Niro's Service Award
Robert De Niro won't be receiving the Service to America Leadership Award from the NAB Leadership Foundation after all....
31/05/2024
Viant Integrates With Google Cloud's BigQuery Clean Rooms
Viant Technology said it formed an integration with Google Cloud's BigQuery data clean rooms...
31/05/2024
The CW To Broadcast Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
The CW said it will broadcast the 2024 Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop Last year, The CW aired the game when it was called Bar...
31/05/2024
Allen Media Makes Carriage Deal With Amazon Fire Channels
Allen Media Group said it made a deal with Amazon's Fire TV Channel that will make content from several of Allen's outlet available via Fire TV and Echo...
31/05/2024
Robert De Niro Will Not Receive Service to America Award
Robert De Niro, announced as the winner of the NAB's Leadership Foundation's Service to America Leadership Award on May 28, will not get the award. The ...
31/05/2024
Comcast Technology Solutions To Manage Channels for AccuWeather
Comcast Technology Solutions was selected by AccuWeather to create, manage and distribute linear and over-the-top video channels....
31/05/2024
Attention to Connected TV Ads Grew in Q1, TVision Study Finds
Connected TV is becoming a bigger deal for consumers and advertisers, according to a new report from TVision....
31/05/2024
Master of the House' Unveils a Scandalous Tale of Power and Greed on July 18
Back to All News Master of the House' Unveils a Scandalous Tale of Power and Greed on July 18 Entertainment 31 May 2024 GlobalThailand Link copied to ...
31/05/2024
JEEtu Bhaiya is Back: Kota Factory' Season 3 Arrives on Netflix June 20
Back to All News JEEtu Bhaiya is Back: Kota Factory' Season 3 Arrives on Netflix June 20 Entertainment 31 May 2024 GlobalIndia Link copied to clipboar...
31/05/2024
Thales has completed the sale of its Ground Transportation Systems business
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn With around 9,000 employees, Ground Transportation Systems is a global leader in Rail Signaling and Train Control Systems, Telec...
31/05/2024
RT 2FM is the home of music this summer
RT 2FM is the home of music this summer, entertaining listeners across the day and night, with the best music, chat and interviews providing the soundtrack to ...
31/05/2024
NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchip Accelerates Murex MX.3 Analytics Performance, Reduces Power Consumption
After the 2008 financial crisis and increased risk-management regulations that f...
31/05/2024
RT Supporting the Arts: What's On this June
RT Supporting the Arts: What's On this June Watch our promo: RT Supporting the Arts | What's on YouTube This June, RT is delighted to support Lim...
30/05/2024
When to Upgrade Software or Firmware
When to Upgrade Software or Firmware This post is from our blog and news archive. The information may be out of date. Please contact us for further information ...
30/05/2024
The City of San Jose Chooses Utah ScientificAgain!
The City of San Jose Chooses Utah Scientific Again! This post is from our blog and news archive. The information may be out of date. Please contact us for furth...
30/05/2024
Empowering Media Leaders: Transformative Insights from the Executive Learning Series
Navigating Strategy, Ethics, and Innovation in the evolving European media lands...
30/05/2024
Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Thea Hvistendahl, the Filmmaker Behind Handling the Undead
By Bailey Pennick One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festi...
30/05/2024
CHOOSE CHICAGO, CITY OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCE PROGRAMMING DETAILS OF SUNDANCE INSTITUTE X CHICAGO 2024 (June 28 - 30)
Tickets are now available for the first-of-its-kind event in the United States f...
30/05/2024
UNICEF and Spotify's Award-Winning Mental Health Hub, Our Minds Matter, Comes to Latin America
Mental health and well-being are fundamental components of a child's healthy...
30/05/2024
After 64 days, the winner of Alone Australia has been revealed
After 64 days, the winner of Alone Australia has been revealed 29 May, 2024 Media releases *Contains Spoilers* After 64 days alone in the extreme and wild...
30/05/2024
Alone Australia finale delivers strongly as SBS confirms it will join VOZ streaming
Alone Australia finale delivers strongly as SBS confirms it will join VOZ stream...
30/05/2024
Alone Australia finale delivers strongly for national broadcaster SBS with 4.2m tuning in across the season
Alone Australia finale delivers strongly for national broadcaster SBS with 4.2m ...
30/05/2024
Lockheed Martin Canada Awards L3Harris the Integrated Communications System Contract
Photo credit: BAE...
30/05/2024
The New Standard for Unmanned Ground Vehicle ISR
L3Harris' WESCAM MX -10 RSTA provides advanced ISR and targeting capabilities for land-based platforms including Unmanned Ground Vehicles....
30/05/2024
AccuWeather Inks Deal With Comcast Technology Solutions For Channel Origination
DENVER AccuWeather has selected Comcast Technology Solutions' (CTS') Managed Channel Origination (MCO) to create, manage and distribute linear TV, on-de...
30/05/2024
Samsung, LG Adopt IAB Software Kit
NEW YORK The global body that sets technical standards for digital advertising has expanded the reach of its measurement software development kit to include Sam...
30/05/2024
Amazon Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Fire TV Devices with an AI Upgrade
As Amazon celebrates the 10th anniversary of the launch of the first Fire TV devices in 2014, the company has unveiled new AI-powered search capabilities for th...
30/05/2024
Finding the sustainability balance with personalised video streaming
As the expansion of personalised video streaming continues apace, JUMPs CEO and co-founder, Jer nimo Macan s and Fran ois Polarczyk, sustainability director at ...
30/05/2024
EditShare boosts sales direction with alumnus Grant Carro...
EditShare, the technology leader that enables storytellers to create and manage collaborative workflows at every stage from storyboard to screening, has appoint...
30/05/2024
COW Featured Resume: Paula Zimmerman - Video Editor - Motion Designer
COW Featured Resume: Paula Zimmerman - Video Editor - Motion Designer Brie Clayton May 30, 2024 0 Comments Paula Zimmerman Looking for work? Sign up...
30/05/2024
Palme d'Or Winner Anatomy of a Fall Finished with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Palme d'Or Winner Anatomy of a Fall Finished with DaVinci Resolve Studio Brie Clayton May 30, 2024 0 Comments Winner of the Palme d'Or at the ...
30/05/2024
Real-Time Workflow Masterclass
Real-Time Workflow Masterclass Michael Cioni May 30, 2024 0 Comments Would you rather have your workflow move at the same speed it always has, or woul...