Single Ladies (TV series)

Single Ladies
Genre Comedy-drama
Created by Stacy A. Littlejohn
Starring
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 42 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Running time 42 to 46 minutes
Production company(s)
Release
Original network VH1
(Seasons 1-3)
Centric
(Season 4-)
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
1080i (HDTV
Original release May 30, 2011 (2011-05-30) – April 22, 2015 (2015-04-22)[1]
External links
Website

Single Ladies is an American comedy-drama television series that debuted on May 30, 2011, as a two-hour television film on VH1[2] Created by Stacy A. Littlejohn and produced by Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit Entertainment, the series chronicles the lives of three friends — Val, Keisha and April (and later Raquel) — and their relationships.[3] VH1 announced on February 28, 2014, that Single Ladies was canceled.[4][5] It was announced on April 8, 2014, that BET Networks ordered a fourth season which will air on Centric.[6] Single Ladies returned on March 18, 2015 with Melissa De Sousa joining the cast.[7]

Cast

Main cast

Former main cast

Recurring characters

  • Timon Kyle Durrett as Quinn Davis (Season 1) - Val's selfish basketball player boyfriend of five years.
  • Anthony Montgomery as Darryl Jenkins (Seasons 1-2) - April's husband of seven years.
  • Tilky Jones as Casey. (Season 1) - Val's tattoo artist friend with benefits, hopes they can start a relationship.
  • Anthony Azizi as Wes Domingus (Season 1) - April's heartless boss at the record company.
  • Tyler Hilton as Reed Durham (Season 1) - A wild child singer that April takes under her wing when he struggles to get his album released.
  • Queen Latifah as Sharon Love - Val's college room mate and news presenter.
  • Lauren London as Shelley - Quinn's ex-fiance and a friend to the girls, Jerry Waters' daughter.
  • Rick Fox as Agent Winston - an ambitious FBI agent investigating fraud and extortion who becomes involved with Keisha.
  • Colin Salmon as Jerry Waters (Seasons 1-2) - Owner of Quinn's basketball team, Shelley's father and Val's boyfriend.
  • Tina Lifford as Evelyn Lancaster (Season 2) - Raquel's snobbish mother.
  • William Levy as Antonio (Season 2) - Raquel's sex addicted childhood sweetheart.
  • Paula Patton as Laila Twilight (Season 2) - a singer feuding with Sharon Love.
  • Ricky Whittle as Charles (Season 2) - Raquel's boyfriend, a writer.
  • Mark Tallman as Reggie Westfield (Season 2) - April's problem prone boyfriend.
  • Cassandra Freeman as Morgan Thomas (Season 2-present) - a crazy and wild new employee at the boutique, mother of one, also looking for love and a chance to expand her family.
  • Jamie Moreen as Nate Phillips (Season 2) - a part-time boyfriend of Raquel's while she also dates Charles.
  • Finesse Mitchell as Jobari Freeman (Season 2) - a city bus driver that falls for Morgan until their different relationship plans clash.
  • La La Anthony as Presley (Season 2-present) - Omar's big sister.
  • Lesley-Ann Brandt as Naomi Cox (Season 3)[8] - A woman that claims she and Malcolm's father were married and wants part ownership of Franks Jewels. She is represented by Sean Clark.
  • Benzino as Dominic (Season 3) - A poker player who has eyes for Keisha.
  • Jason Giuliano as Nate Huntley (Season 3) - Omar's potential love interest.
  • Brian Ames as Ben Murphy (Season 3)
  • Alex Meraz as Sergio (Season 3) - April's artist & ex-husband.
  • Nicole Ari Parker as Dr. Evelyn Powell (Season 4) - a pastor whose past may affect several lives.
  • K. C. Collins as Derek (Season 4) - Felicia's ex-husband.
  • Michaela Thurlow as Tera Chey (Season 4)
  • Samantha Gracie as Breelyn Goldberg (Season 4) - April's sister.
  • Zoë Soul as Casey Bridges (Season 4)
  • Kathryn Winslow as Karen Bridges (Season 4)
  • Shailene Garnett as Bronwyn (Season 4) - a newly hired temp working at Price Entertainment.

Guest stars

  • Terrell Owens (Season 1)
  • Common as Mayor Trevor Howard (Season 1) - the Mayor of Atlanta with a criminal history, has an affair with April and eight other women.
  • Darrin DeWitt Henson as Blake (Season 1); Detective Jordan (Season 4)
  • Wilson Cruz as Vincent (Season 1)
  • Kelly Rowland as DJ Denise Phillips (Season 1) - a DJ that April persuades to play Reed's single, using her ties with April to sleep with Reed and get free clothes from the boutique.
  • Pilar Sanders as Jennifer (Seasons 1-2) - Mayor Trevor Howard's wife.
  • Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas as herself — a personal friend of Keisha's.
  • Kim Porter as Jasmine (Season 1) - a conniving ex-video vixen that blackmails Keisha.
  • Eve Jeffers as herself — an investor in the boutique.
  • Jermaine Dupri as himself (Season 1)
  • Yelawolf as himself (Season 1)
  • Kandi Burruss (Season 1)
  • Cam'ron as himself  (Season 1) — an old friend of Keisha's.
  • Mac Miller as himself  (Season 1) — an aspiring rapper that April manages to get signed.
  • Michael Warren as Malcolm Franks, Sr. (Season 1) - Malcolm's father.
  • Durrell "Tank" Babbs as Joe Mason (Season 2) - a charming aspiring boxer that squat's in one of Keisha's properties.
  • Damien Leake as Dennis Lancaster (Season 2) - Raquel's unfaithful father.
  • Omar Gooding as Marcus (Season 2-Present) - the homophobic boyfriend of Omar's sister.
  • Margaret Avery as Josephine (Season 2) - a woman that befriends April at the ball.
  • Flex Alexander as James Blackwell (Season 2) - Shelley's boyfriend, running for governor of Atlanta.
  • Victoria Rowell as Veronica Vanderbilt (Season 2) - Raquel's lawyer and Sean's ex-girlfriend.
  • Justin Gaston as Gavin (Season 2) - a man that April dates for a short while.
  • T.I. as Luke (Season 2) - a friend of Keisha's and her pretender.
  • Meek Mill as himself (Season 3)
  • Keke Palmer as herself (Season 3)
  • Wade Allain-Marcus as Wyatt (Seasons 3-present)
  • Future as himself (Season 3)
  • LaNeah "Starshell" Menzies as Gina Gamble (Season 3) - an Assistant District Attorney who is being pursued by Sean to help build a criminal case against Malcolm Franks.
  • Rico Ball as Grant (Season 3) - a potential investor for Cut but is also interested in Raquel.
  • Malik Yoba as Deacon Jarrett (Season 3)
  • Ja Rule as J.D. (Season 3)
  • Mateo as himself (Season 3)
  • Bobby Ray Simmons as himself (Season 3-Present)
  • Karrueche Tran as Samantha Gray (Season 4)
  • Sharon Leal as Ellen Brown Barrington (Season 4)

Episodes

Season Episodes Originally aired DVD release date
Season premiere Season finale Region 1
1 11 May 30, 2011 (2011-05-30) August 8, 2011 (2011-08-08) July 13, 2012 (2012-07-13)[12]
2 14 May 28, 2012 (2012-05-28) August 27, 2012 (2012-08-27) October 5, 2012 (2012-10-05)[13]
3 12 January 6, 2014 (2014-01-06) March 24, 2014 (2014-03-24) TBA
4 6 March 18, 2015 (2015-03-18) April 22, 2015 (2015-04-22) TBA

Production

The show was tested as a movie before being turned into a 12-episode series. Executive director Olde reports that "TV, sometimes, under the best of circumstances, is a gut business," and went on to say that, after testing the script, the response was good enough for them to develop it into the series.[14] Single Ladies is produced two episodes at a time to save money.[15] Initially the program received reasonable ratings. The two-hour premiere gained a 1.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 2.8 million total viewers. It also scored a slightly higher 2.0 rating in the 18-34 female demographic.[2] Latifah says she is "particularly proud" of the series, stating that "We wanted the ladies to be able to talk about mature things. (Sex and the City) was an inspiration, but the real inspiration was real life...These are virile women who have emotions and desires, and they will be out there looking, but they'll do it on their own terms."[16] Writer Littlejohn believes that Single Ladies could be a "jewel in the crown" for VH1."[15] She also said that she feels like she is breaking new ground and setting a precedent, where VH1 and scripted shows are concerned, saying "I’m creating the formula".[15] Stacey Dash decided to exit the series after its inaugural season. Dash commented, "I have to be back in L.A. with my children right now and the Single Ladies shooting location [in Atlanta] makes this impossible."[17] She will be replaced by All My Children alumna Denise Vasi.

On August 22, 2012, VH1 renewed the series for a third season to premiere in late 2013.[18] It was announced in September 2012, that Single Ladies' creator and executive producer Stacy A. Littlejohn had chosen to leave after the second season.[19] Littlejohn stated, "After two incredible seasons of Single Ladies, I have decided to entrust the show to the safe hands of VH1. Having fostered it from its inception, I’ve found great satisfaction in seeing these characters come to life on the screen, and am proud of what the show has become. But after two all-consuming seasons immersed in its production in the great city of Atlanta, I’ve decided it’s time to shift my focus to my life in Los Angeles and the creation of new projects."[19] On May 20, 2013, the arrival of three new cast members was revealed: Letoya Luckett, Damien Wayans, Lesley-Ann Brandt were signed on as recurring cast members.[8] ADR recording for the series was done at recording studio Cherry Beach Sound.[20]

Tie-ins

To coincide with the third season, the series launched an e-book series. Written by New York Times author Ashley Antoinette, the e-book series helped to serve as an companion to the drama series picking up after the second season finale.[21]

Reception

Critical reception of Single Ladies were not too favorable, Media Life Magazine reporter Tom Conroy reported that, "The female characters are either one-note (Keisha), inscrutable (April) or incoherent (Val). It’s unfair to blame the actresses. The writers are the ones who can’t decide if Val, for example, is the kind of girl who would make men wait 90 days or the kind of girl who would use a phrase like "tap this" referring to herself."[22]

Ginia Bellafante of The New York Times reports that ""Single Ladies" has issues with black men, who are depicted as way too self-regarding, and blond women, who are simply taking up too much space on the planet. Not altogether predictably, the show reserves a certain kindness for that forgotten minority: the boyish white man. Apparently "Single Ladies" has yet to see "The Hangover Part II"."[23] Hank Steuver of the Washington Post said that, "It's the TV equivalent of a beach read with no words. Even if "Single Ladies" can be enjoyed in some basic brainless way (and even though it's safely sequestered on VH1, where standards are aggressively low), there's something steadfastly embarrassing about it."[24]

Britni Danielle of clutchmagonline.com said "VH1 released the trailer for its new show, Single Ladies over the weekend and it looks promising!" and went on to say that "With shows like Basketball Wives, What Chili Wants, and Lets Talk About Pep, VH1 has been trying hard to produce (reality) shows that appeal to Black women. Let’s hope this new one is worth our time."[25]

David Hinckley of the NYDailyNews.com said "In any case, Single Ladies has stretches when it gets stuck in its own cliches and must fight its way through the soap suds." going on to add, "But it comes out the other side not looking half-bad. By the end of the first episode, it has created three distinct characters whose vulnerability and basic decency make us like them in spite of some obvious flaws." He went on to say, "There's a lot of soap, and the dialogue can make you wince. But the characters just might make you care."[26]

References

  1. ↑ "SINGLE LADIES (CENTRIC)". Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 Seidman, Robert (July 24, 2013). "Monday Night's Episodes of VH1's "Basketball Wives" and "Single Ladies" Set Series High Viewing Ratings". TV by the Numbers (Press release).
  3. ↑ "VH1 and Flavor Unit Entertainment Give Summer a New Sizzle With VH1's First Hour-Long Scripted Series "Single Ladies"". The Futon Critic. April 27, 2011. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
  4. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (February 28, 2014). "'Single Ladies' Canceled After Three Seasons; 'Stevie TV' Canceled After Two by VH1". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ Robbins, Stephanie (February 28, 2014). "'VH1 cancels 'Single Ladies'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  6. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (April 8, 2014). "'Single Ladies' Un-Cancelled; Fourth Season to Debut on Centric". TV by the Numbers (Press release). Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  7. ↑ Centric TV. "Melissa De Sousa Joins Cast of 'Single Ladies' - What's Good - Entertainment - Articles - Centric". CentricTV.
  8. 1 2 3 Andreeva, Nellie (May 20, 2013). "Trio Join VH1′s 'Single Ladies', Darin Brooks Added To 'The Bold & The Beautiful'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 "Cast Bios". VH1. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  10. ↑ Salemi, Vicki (September 1, 2011). "Stacey Dash Leaves 'Single Ladies'". OK! Magazine. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  11. ↑ Nede, Jethro. "All My Children's' Denise Vasi Joins VH1's 'Single Ladies". The Hollywood Reporter.
  12. ↑ "Single Ladies DVD news: Update about Single Ladies — Season 1". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Single Ladies — MOD release of Season 2 Ships Today". TVShowsOnDVD.com. October 5, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
  14. ↑ Richard Huff (May 26, 2011). "VH1 enters the scripted series game with Queen Latifah-produced series 'Single Ladies". New York: NYDailyNews.com. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  15. 1 2 3 Stelter, Brian (May 8, 2011). "In Cable Niches, Less Reality and More Original Shows". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  16. ↑ Donna Freydkin (25 May 2011). "For Queen Latifah, there's 'a renewed vigor'". USA Today. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  17. ↑ Hibberd, James (August 31, 2011). "Stacey Dash exiting VH1's 'Single Ladies'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
  18. ↑ Bibel, Sara (August 22, 2012). "'Single Ladies' Renewed by VH1 for Third Season". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  19. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (September 4, 2012). "'Single Ladies' Creator Stacy A. Littlejohn Exits VH1 Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Recording ADR via ISDN for Single Ladies". Cherry Beach Sound. April 9, 2015. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  21. ↑ Ng, Philiana (7 November 2013). "'Vh1's 'Single Ladies' to Launch E-Books Ahead of Season 3 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  22. ↑ Tom Conroy. "'Single Ladies,' and pretty confused, too". Media Life Magazine. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  23. ↑ Ginia Bellafante (29 May 2011). "Sex and the City (Atlanta), With Racial Politics". The New York Times. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  24. ↑ Hank Stuever (29 May 2011). "VH1's 'Single Ladies' is embarrassing to the gilded hilt". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  25. ↑ Britni Danielle. "VH1 Releases Trailer for 'Single Ladies' Starring LisaRaye & Stacy Dash". Clutch magazine online. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  26. ↑ David Hinckley (30 May 2011). "'Single Ladies'". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
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