Wayans Family Show ’Lit at BET

By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 2/13/2012 12:01:00 AM

New York — BET has recruited the famed Wayans family for a new comedy series development project as it continues to make noise in the scripted content genre.

The African-American targeted network is developing Second Generation, a single-camera scripted comedy that follows the second generation of Wayans that were responsible for such 1990s television hits as In Living Color and The Wayans Bros. Marlon Wayans (G.I. Joe) will executive produce.

Second Generation follows the latest scripted announcement for BET, which for years had been known mostly for reality shows and music videos.

The series joins a scripted lineup that already includes sitcoms Reed Between the Lines, with former Cosby star Malcolm Jamal-Warner; football-themed The Game (which in 2011 debuted as the most watched cable comedy of all time) and Let’s Stay Together.

During its current second-season run, The Game is averaging 3.7 million viewers, down from the 4.6 million the show averaged its freshman season. Let’s Stay Together is averaging 2.4 viewers, slightly above its first-season tally.

The MTV Networks outlet also is moving into original tele-movies with production of cop drama Gun Hill. That series tells the tale of two identical twins — one a cop and one a criminal — and what transpires after the police officer brother is killed and the con assumes his identity.