According to Deadline, the hit drama series will wrap up with a two-hour movie in 2018, and that will be the end of the line for the show. 

“Being Mary Jane has been a landmark series not only for BET, but for African American women around the world who saw themselves in Mary Jane, her family, friends and coworkers. From the captivating storytelling, to the richly complex characters, to the powerful issues tackled on the series, we remain immensely proud,” said Connie Orlando, EVP and Head of Programming, BET Networks.

“We are grateful to the cast and creators of Being Mary Jane, who have worked tirelessly to bring this world to vivid life over the past 4 seasons."

"We also thank the many loyal viewers whose hearts and minds were captured every week, and kept Mary Jane trending worldwide. We look forward to closing out Mary Jane’s journey with a series finale that is sure to blow fans away!”

The news does come as a surprise when you consider it has been a signature series for the network in the past, but the ratings have been steadily declining over the last few years. 

Being Mary Jane Season 4 averaged 0.9 million viewers and a 0.4 rating. That marked erosion of as much as 50 percent vs. Being Mary Jane Season 3. 

Union famously attempted to sue BET network late last year for breach of contract after it emerged that Season 4 was being extended to 20 episodes. 

Union apparently had a contract which was capped at 13 episode seasons, and on top of that, she was supposed to get a salary bump for each additional season. 

“While we hold Gabrielle Union in the highest esteem, we feel strongly that we are contractually well within our rights and are committed to reaching a swift and positive resolution in this matter,” BET Networks confirmed to Vanity Fair at the time.   

Over to you!

What do you think of the cancellation? Is it time?

Hit the comments below!

Cancellation Fever 2016-17: Did Your Favorite Show Get Axed?!

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The post Being Mary Jane: Canceled! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

After catching up with her on Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 5, I'd have to say it's a mixed bag.

It's still hard reconciling Niecy's life with that of a 22-year-old girl given her very adult responsibilities as a mother of two children. If I can't do that, how can she?

In theory, we took a break from Mary Jane, as she and PJ became more of a Greek chorus, weighing in whenever necessary to remind us of the title of the series.

It worked out well, and I'd had just enough time to miss the Patterson family that seeing them again was a wonderful gift even under the strained circumstances.

The opening was worrisome, paving the way for things to get off to a shocking start. Niecy was still spending lavishly and hadn't bothered with a trust for her children. Her girlfriends were appreciative of the attention but also concerned.

They didn't like knowing she was pinning any hopes on Dante, who repeatedly let their friend down, nor did they think it was a good idea to throw her money around when she hadn't yet made any solid plans. 

Then again, Niecy also later admitted to loaning them some cash, too, so they were speaking from a cozy place of comfort. 

There's no arguing the point that Niecy has some hot buttons that get her fire burning. She's very easily manipulated both in love and war. Learning some breathing techniques before making a move might be helpful.

Alas, she didn't have any while at the club and was kicked out on her ass.

There's no accounting for the nastiness that comes from those situations. Why people feel the need to call each other names and immediately post every reaction to social media is a new phenomenon people have to live with now.

It heightens every matter into one of more importance and leads to tragedy. In Niecy's case, she couldn't help but take the bait (over and over again), landing herself in hot water with regard to her settlement. 

The texts were flying so quickly on the screen (which is also how it goes down in real life, by the way), that I didn't even catch she was tweeting about her tasing incident. Given the flashbacks to spending instead of investing, flags on the play should have been thrown right away.

The real pity of it all was how it affected her family.

Helen was so excited to see Deja inducted into Jack and Jane, but her friends turned on her as if Helen had been brawling in the club herself. 

Helen's first line of attack was to talk to Niecy about what her behavior is doing to the family.

Niecy: You act like I asked to be tased grandma.

Helen: Truth be told, Niecy, I had hoped this would be a wake-up call for you and that you would start acting more maturely. Sadly, you have proved it not to be so.

_{🔗 permalink: Truth be told, Niecy, I had hoped this would be a wake-up call for you and that you would…}

That goes back to the trigger. NOBODY deserves to be tased, and the incident was horrific. But you also don't walk toward a cop in anger after being pulled over no matter your race. I am sure I'm going to catch flack for that, but I wouldn't do it for fear of arrest. 

My cousin spent his youth in juvenile detention for his inability to play nice with the local cops, so I've always been scared to death of doing something out of sorts. I've never understood those who hope to talk themselves out of any situation in that area. 

Paul: Is Jack and Jane really that important to you, Helen?

Helen: Yes, Paul! When I joined, it was about assimilating into the white world. But now, it’s about identity. OUR identity. Being proud of being black.

_{🔗 permalink: Yes, Paul! When I joined, it was about assimilating into the white world. But now, it’s about…}

As Helen gave it time to sink in, she began to realize what Jack and Jane meant to her and the family. It's far more than a group, it's part of their identity and that of the community they live in.

She also realized she expected much more from them. She was very impressive addressing the group of friends, standing up for what she believed. 

When Niecy received her summons, she stood on her own, too, and proved to Helen she's come a lot further than the family may realize.

Niecy is still only 22. She wants love and doesn't want to raise two kids on her own. But that's the path she chose for herself. Nobody else can walk it with her. Trying to rope in Dante only worked as long as she could tease him with gifts.

Paul: You bought that deadbeat a car?

Niecy: He’s been there for me, Isabelle and Treyvion. He’s been tryin’!

Patrick: Yeah, right, now that he has the car, has he still been trying? I ask you again, now that he has the car, has he still been tryin’? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

_{🔗 permalink: Yeah, right, now that he has the car, has he still been trying? I ask you again, now that he…}

It was heartbreaking hearing Treyvion ask why he couldn't be a family with Isabelle and Marquee. I thought maybe that was the moment it would all click for Niecy, that she'd realize the responsibility she has for her kids to ensure their happiness.

And in a way, she does. 

The look on Trey's face when they were doing figure eights in the parking lot was of sheer joy. It was something only him and his mommy were going to have forever.

And then Niecy kind of ruined the moment by showing her youth again.

Niecy: I am a single black mother of two who hasn’t always made the best decisions, and I ain’t goin’ away silently. Cause see, I’m a black woman who had the nerve to speak her voice, and that’s why this bitch got tased.

_{🔗 permalink: I am a single black mother of two who hasn’t always made the best decisions, and I ain’t…}

Speaking her mind wasn't the issue. Someday maybe she'll understand that.

I hope she finds peace in what has happened to her and learns to deal with her trigger points, so she doesn't find herself tossed into the street after spending another night with her friends.

There's a time to speak your mind and a time to let things go for the sake of your family and your future. You can always talk about it, blog about it, etc., when you're in a safer environment.

Agree or disagree? Let me know your thoughts. 

If you have missed any of the season, watch Being Mary Jane online!

17 Fierce Females on TV

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The post Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 5 Review: Getting Served appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Mary Jane is lonely while Lee's away, and she and PJ head out for some ribs since they're missing dad's rib fest.

Mary Jane decides to buy a smoker and put it on her $1000 per night hotel room balcony. PJ overrides that one. He also wants a favor for Olivia's girl.

Niecy rises to the challenge of a jealous bitch at the club and gets kicked out. It results in a media frenzy of other jealous people and gets totally out of control.

Meanwhile, Deja is having her own troubles at a mixer because of Niecy's actions.

Helen can't believe what she sees, and leaves the mixer to go home. She's very disappointed with Niecy.

Niecy finds Dante, who appears to have gotten all he wanted from her – a $45,000 car.

She has to appear in court for violating her settlement agreement.

When she jumped onto Twitter to talk back to the bitches, she spoke about the tasing incident and violated the agreement.

Deja won't be endorsed for initiation to Jack and Jane because she's going to be forced to pay for the sins of her mother and grandfather.

Niecy has to give the money back. Of course, it's all gone. The family is disappointed again, but Niecy is ready to step up. What greets her at Dante's isn't pleasant.

But Niecy makes the most of it. She believes she and Anika should get their kids together for play dates since they're siblings.

Patrick asks Paul for advice. Paul advices him to let Niecy fall, but to be there to pick her up.

Niecy crumbles when she realizes just how bad things are after Treyvion asks about his daddy and why he can't be family with Isabella and Marquee.

When Helen confronts Joan about her family's issues, she wants to remind everyone of the work they do, not be judged by those who shouldn't be doing the judging.

Dante comes to the house and Niecy finally makes her stand against the stupid ass.

The post Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 5 Recap: Getting Served appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Kara discovered on Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 4 that being with a guy who was famous could have its drawbacks in the bedroom, so she set about setting them straight.

Mary Jane had a couple lessons of her own to learn, but she still hasn't figured out one of the most important, and it's regarding Justin's presence in the newsroom.

Mary Jane has decided not to let being relegated to the web stop her from making her mark on Great Day USA.

In fact, she's proven that having the leeway to post whatever she wants online gives her a distinct advantage over Rhonda.

Rhonda most assuredly didn't expect that to happen, but something tells me Justin did.

The first story that caught Mary Jane's eye was about a boy who was being "assaulted" by his dad for wearing a kilt to school. I think we toss around the world assault a little too easily these days, and don't have enough fingers on my appendages to count the number of times I was "assaulted" by parents.

But we're in a different world now, and MJ knows that world very well. Clicks mean everything on the internet, and they mean a lot to Garrett, too.

When MJ took the story to the entire team, they turned her down flat. Rhonda glossed it over with a winter wedding piece and the other news gal whose name escapes me even pushed MJ's story off the projector "by accident."

So MJ ran it online and got a million hits almost instantly. It was the biggest story on their page and trumped anything that was actually produced for the show. It's hard to believe Garrett thought through his plan to give MJ completely control over the website, isn't it?

MJ wanted to get Kilt Boy (also known as Calhoun, I later learned) on camera for an interview. While that would eventually prove to be more difficult than expected, it was the initial reaction from Justin and Rhonda that floored me.

They were doing everything in their power to throw MJ off her path. Yet Justin's reaction still seemed a little off-kilter.

After all, he was newly assigned to produce all of Mary Jane's segments no matter where they aired. Kara had word with him. She and MJ had been watching him and his powers of persuasion.

He wouldn't be working with MJ if he didn't want to, so what gives? If Justin is truly the caliber of producer he claims to be, then there's no way he's happy producing winter wedding segments for Rhonda.

That's not news, even if it is on the biggest morning show in the country. My guess is Justin has always seen the potential Mary Jane has for being a powerful reporter. He just wants her to stop going off the deep end and learn her craft.

When she wasn't able to get Kilt Boy on the air, she the creator of the kilts, a rapper named D-Razor. A rapper and clothes designer, MJ believed his influence was what was needed to lure Calhoun to the show.

MJ: A young man was assaulted for wearing your clothes. What would you like to say to him?

D-Razor: I would say that we need to call out the person that did that. We need to make sure that never happens again.

_{🔗 permalink: I would say that we need to call out the person that did that. We need to make sure that…}

That's exactly what happened. Mary Jane stayed on the story and pushed, and she brought to light Calhoun's story. It was eventually covered on the evening news, which wouldn't have happened without MJ's dogged determination.

There's no way Justin wasn't proud of what she'd done, but you can guarantee he'd never tell her that.

Lee did, though, especially because he was feeling a lot like Calhoun in his relationship with Mary Jane.

The differences between black people in America and abroad is coming into play nicely with this new relationship, and it's interesting watching Mary Jane come to terms that not all black men are alike.

Lee: Why do we do that? Question a person’s sexual orientation based on what they wear?

_{🔗 permalink: Why do we do that? Question a person’s sexual orientation based on what they wear?}

When the story first appeared, Lee admitted he had a kilt. That's pretty common for men in the UK, and they wear them proudly. It floored Mary Jane to imagine him in it, and she compared him to other black men she knew.

She even pointed out he crossed his legs wrong, not leaving enough room for his "junk." When Lee retorted that she was doing to him exactly what Calhoun's father did to him, she was reluctant to believe him.

MJ: I can feel it’s wrong for a kid to be bullied for wearing kilts, but that doesn’t mean I want my man wearing them.

_{🔗 permalink: I can feel it’s wrong for a kid to be bullied for wearing kilts, but that doesn’t mean I want…}

There is still a lot for Mary Jane to learn about relationships, and she's going on 40 years old. I'm glad she's branched out and allowed Lee into her life. 

I just worry now that she's going to end up having feelings for Justin once she realizes what he really thinks of her work. Because I know I'm right about him.

Mary Jane wasn't the only one exploring different sides of her gentleman caller.

Kara had to tell Orlando she just wasn't feeling it in the bedroom. He had all the parts, but didn't know how to use them.

Kara: We are gonna work with your technique. Starting with your tongue.

_{🔗 permalink: We are gonna work with your technique. Starting with your tongue.}

She was so incredibly tactful!

The way she complimented him on his good, strong body and how it might be hard for him to constrain such a masterpiece being why he put so much pressure on her delicate bits was brilliant.

It never struck me that she wasn't that into him.

I guess it was Mary Jane's suggestion that Kara become the teacher with Orlando, but why go to all that trouble just for an occasional booty call?

She taught him how to pleasure her to her specific needs, and they never stopped. It was like a sex marathon at Kara's place.

Only neither Kara nor Orlando took into consideration that there might be parts of Orlando's body that weren't in the same shape as those he worked daily for baseball. Maybe some more stretches would have been in order.

It was almost like watching an "I got my braces stuck in your…" moment when Orlando tweaked his neck while going down on Kara.

But she didn't seem all that concerned when Garrett wondered what the heck happened, because he needed to play ball. She sloughed it off. 

Not so much when Orlando wanted to just snuggle and be together. So Kara's kids really like him, and Kara really enjoys the sex, but she hasn't given him a chance to be anything more.

In all of their meetings so far, he's seemed like a lot of fun and someone who would have more to offer than a big baseball filled head, so hopefully Kara will open up to a different sort of fellow herself.

Jump on the Mary Jane train. Buck her normal type and see what this sporty guy is all about.

Quotables for Week Ending February 3, 2017

Open List

This was another fun hour of that threw a lot of possibilities onto the table for stories going forward. How long will any of the new relationships last? Who knows.

Make sure you share your thoughts about all the excitement below.

If you've missed an installment, you can watch Being Mary Jane online to catch up. 

Who wants to miss out on any of this action??

The post Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 4 Review: Getting Schooled appeared first on TV Fanatic.

When a kid gets assaulted by his father for wearing a kilt, Rhonda and Justin think it's not newsworthy. Instead they go for Rhonda's winter wedding Vera Wang story.

Justin has been assigned to produce MJ's stories, whether as reward or punishment, he's not sure. He just wants her stories to have an angle going forward.

Kara doesn't want Orlando to go "there" anymore.

When MJ proceeds with the story, putting it online, it gets 1 million hits straight away. Garrett wants to run with it for the 8 o'clock hour. Justin doesn't agree. Garrett doesn't care.

MJ tries getting to the kilt kid, but can't get anyone to answer the front door.

Kara, Lee, PJ and MJ all have dinner together, PJ sporting a Rolex.

Kara doesn't like sex with Orlando, but her kids think it's the coolest thing ever that she's hanging with him.

Kara is ready to help Justin learn about using the strong body he has.

MJ wants to bring D-Razor onto the show. Justin thinks a cross-dressing rapper would be horrid on the morning show. They take it to Garrett. Garrett approves but doesn't want them bringing anymore issues like that to him.

PJ seems to be in a good place with his mentor Olivia.

Orlando is trying too hard with Kara, so she has to keep teaching him. He's not a good student.

MJ's interview with D-Razor goes really well.

Orlando goes back to Kara's to talk about his penant win. If he can do all of that, then he can master all this.

Kara teaches Orlando how to warm up and get into the zone.

If he can win the penant, he knows he can master all that.

Natalie at the office tries to get Justin to go to the Knicks game with her, but she discovers he has a girlfriend and buys the tickets off of her for twice the price she paid.

Justin wants to know why MJ is in the office if she still hasn't scored an interview with Kilt Kid.

Olivia calls PJ about her daughter Ava. She wants him to look into internships for her. Instead Ava shows up with a pal to get a look at her new babysitter.

Kara is still having sex while Mary Jane meets up with Calhoun who decides to go on the show to spite his dad. And no, he's not gay.

Garrett wonders what the heck Orlando did to hurt his neck. He's going to miss the beginning of spring training.

Mary Jane learns Justin's father dropped a lot of hard truths on him, but he's not a victim. He's a winner. It never held him back.

When Orlando just wants to hang out, Kara isn't really into it.

Lee is very impressed with what Mary Jane did with Calhoun. He tries to get her to understand he's different than the other guys she dated in the same way Calhoun is different than his peers. MJ still needs a little time.

The post Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 4 Recap: Getting Schooled appeared first on TV Fanatic.

It makes me wonder if she really understood the morning news business. Or of we're not watching the same type of morning news we've become accustomed to seeing daily in this country.

With the outdoor audience segments and sports dudes and all the other goings on, it's pretty clear after Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 3 that it's MJ's expectations that need to change. Well, she doesn't have a choice at the moment, anyway.

Talk about a big, steaming pile of doo doo. That's what we can call Justin's staff ratings, especially using MJ's past work as indicative of what she'd produce at Great Day America.

Not only do the two shows focus on completely different types of news, but Mary Jane was also more free to look into the black issues that interested her at SNC. At Great Day, she's far less news and more pop. 

That was so incredibly annoying, but not at all surprising. Rhonda was obviously lighting the firecracker up his behind in her attempt to force MJ out of the newsroom.

Garrett's conversation with Mary Jane already sent her down into the dumps and scraped the confidence right off of her. 

Hearing she as no good from Justin was expected, and it didn't hurt. But Garrett going along with Justin was unexpected from Garrett.

Justin: I think your demeanor is cold, judgmental and haughty. I just don’t think that’s what our viewers want with their morning coffee.

Garrett: Look, Mary Jane, we all know you have charisma and charm, and that works for the lighter pieces. It’s the serious pieces; I just don’t think they’re for you.

_{🔗 permalink: Look, Mary Jane, we all know you have charisma and charm, and that works for the lighter…}

It wasn't going to be easy for Mary Jane to pull out of that downward spiral, but spending a lot of time with Lee was introducing her to knew things. 

As soon as Lee turned on Family Brawlers, I knew it would spark some sort of story idea in Mary Jane's brain. Unfortunately for MJ, it all went to crap when Garrett assigned Justin to the story with MJ instead of Kara.

Mary Jane's idea was to bring in one of the most controversial reality characters on television, Mercedes from Family Brawlers (Cardi B of Love & Hip Hop fame). She wanted to slip her in the door under the guise of talking about her bathing suit line and then engage in "real conversation."

Justin said no. MJ said yes.

Mary Jane was fully intent on having her own conversation with Mercedes, but she was not prepared for the fire that was going to come out of the mouth of that babe. 

Mercedes had news about her app, from which the swimsuit line would be sold, and it went right over MJ's head. MJ didn't have the physique for the suits Mercedes was selling. In fact, she was just too damn old to even be dealing with Mercedes, and girl wasn't afraid to say it on live TV.

Proving Justin right in that she has hot buttons that when pushed she can't back down, and she's a bit of a liability to the network, MJ heard Mercedes and her gang call MJ a bitch after the show.

In this day of modern television, she went in and the two busted each others' chops. Mary Jane said some hideous things to Mercedes and that was the only thing that finally gained some respect from Mercedes. 

The videos taken by Mercedes' friends went viral and spurned conversation about double consciousness.

It was about how black ladies had to be one way around work ladies and another way around their black friends. Everyone wanted to interview MJ. But is it really that worthy of news in itself?

I don't know a single person in my life who would dare talk at work as they'd talk at home. Work friends have the title of work friends because they're separate from their other friends. What you don't want to get around work, you can't share with them. Livelihood trumps all other hoods.

At least it always has in my life. 

It wasn't the best news for MJ to be taken off camera and assigned full time to the internet, but if they're looking for the younger market, the entire plan to eliminate MJ might backfire for Rhonda.

The youthful audience watches online. If they become accustomed to watching online and seeing MJ's face as their brand, it won't be long before they want the traditional TV coverage that also airs online to feature the face they love.

Kara's fun and games getting Orlando Lagos ready to try our for the sports casting position not only proved how good she is at her job with people other than Mary Jane, but allowed her to have a little fun with a sexy fella.

It's about time!

It's been too long since Kara had someone successful, sexy and fun she could hang out with at work and at home, and Orlando proved he might fit both bills when he was not only a good student, but taking photos of her in his jersey. How cute was that?

Showing up at her place with tequila no doubt led to more than just shots. It's exciting, because we might finally get to see Kara and MJ double dating.

Finally, let's talk about Mary Jane and Lee.

Their relationship is always going to new places! Daaaamn, right? Can you believe the places BMJ is willing to go?

It's authentic, because (outside the trip to the BDSM shop), what they're exploring is natural and explored in so many relationships. We are just so rarely along for the ride.

The closer they get sexually, the more comfortable Lee feels with MJ. It's not necessarily the same for her, though, so he's doing his best to bring her into his frame of mind.

Mary Jane was pushing buying a new place in Manhattan, and she's looking outside her wallet to do it. She's pushing too hard. Lee said he can't move in with her until he's certain about her, and that means she has to know and get along with his kids.

Mary Jane's excitement sometimes gets the better of her and she doesn't hear what someone is saying. She's also a little too rich for Lee, her tastes on the haughty side. He'll be good for her, bringing her down to reality, her heads out of the clouds.

I loved how gobsmacked she was when he knocked on her door, expecting to come in and watch Family Brawlers. 

Lee: Did you really think we broke up?

Mary Jane: Yeah, I did.

Lee: Well, congratulations. You’re about to celebrate your 40th, and it looks like you’re about to be in a real relationship.

_{🔗 permalink: Well, congratulations. You’re about to celebrate your 40th, and it looks like you’re about to…}

Her relationships were so simple in the past that "get out…leave, I mean it, leave" was enough to end them. Lee's not that kind of guy.

He's a father and a real man. He knows the difference between an argument and a breakup, and he'll help Mary Jane to understand, too. 

I can't wait to see what's up next for Mary Jane. She's turning 40, and her life is full of changes, but it's probably going to be the best year of her life.

What about you? Any thoughts? If you're here reading, why not share a few?

You can also watch Being Mary Jane online if you need to catch up.

Quotables for Week Ending January 20, 2017

Open List

The post Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 3 Review: Getting Real appeared first on TV Fanatic.

At the office, Kara and Justin are competing for the same job, and Kara's the odd woman out.

Kara and MJ are interested in real stories about real people, but even when they propose one, it's given to "Natalie" who already has three segments.

They're trying to break up Mary Jane and Kara, as well as demeaning MJ during a staff meeting.

MJ talks with Garrett, who calls in Justin. Since MJ is new, he's using MJ's SNC interviews to critique for the new show shakeup. He chooses the one in which MJ went rogue, calling the white author "an ugly black woman, too."

Justin says she ambushed the woman and was race baiting, and did it without any style.

The look on Garrett's face says he may not agree, but he's not going to have a say.

Kara says to give them a story only they can do.

Lee watches MJ as she pours through old story ideas and leaves her alone to think. Except they're in one room, and stirring tea and watching TV annoys her to death.

Yet when she watches, it makes me think maybe it will spark an idea.

MJ and Lee talk about how expensive NY is. Are they really having a conversation about living together? Yes.

Lee cannot believe the goldmine of material he gets from watching the reality crap, Family Brawlers. MJ starts thinking.

Mary Jane wants to try to bring in Mercedes, the chick from Family Brawlers. Kara goes to bat for her.

When Justin balks, Garrett decides to partner him and Mary Jane.

Justin challenges Mary Jane to either do the story his way, or prove to the world why he was right about her.

Kara is meeting the baseball player. She has a proposition for him. Orlando wanted sex, but she's talking about him getting on camera.

She's interested in making him an anchor. Justin gives her the go ahead to give it a whirl.

She asks about his game day rituals, gets him into his game day jersey and gives him a shot of tequila.

Lee cannot believe MJ is doing an interview with Mercedes.

She saw the Chelsea loft and liked it. Lee wonders about her other preferences. Like her BDSM preferences.

Kara gets the job done with Orlando while MJ tries something new.

When Mercedes gets there, things go from bad to worse, but is the whole thing actually a plan on MJ's part?

She still wants to buy the loft. PJ is getting a massage.

Lee really doesn't like the way things are going with Mary Jane. He wants her to meet her kids before he's ready to contemplate moving in with her.

Kara is excited when MJ gets to work. Mary Jane is a hit. It earned Mary Jane a spot as the resident web correspondent.

Lee drops by and wonders why the TV is off when the new episode of Family Brawlers is about to start. She thought they broke up. He says they fought and now they've made up. Isn't that what adults do?

He tells her to let go of what she thinks is supposed to happen happen.

Orlando takes tequila to Kara's place. Girl deserves a hottie.

The post Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 3 Recap: Getting Real appeared first on TV Fanatic.

After the strained events of Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 2, though, I have a lot of hope for Mary Jane Paul. She saw the light that is Lee Truitt for what he really is and her walls fell away before him and his friends.

And despite the harrowing developments between Mary Jane and Rhonda Sales, Mary Jane does her best work when pushed to her limits. She excels on the professional battlefield. Rhonda thinks she did her homework, but she ain't seen nothin' yet.

Mary Jane has been thrust into this new world, and she loves it. But I cannot imagine her staying afloat without Kara by her side.

The last year has been terrible for MJ. She had an accident, was blackmailed, fought for Niecy's rights after a terrible run-in with the police and was ultimately fired. That's only the tip of the iceberg.

Being in these untested New York City waters, she's hoping to reshape her life and become someone different. Successful, loved and family oriented. 

The thing is, Mary Jane has always been successful, loved and family oriented. She may not be the anchor on the most successful morning network broadcast in the country, or married with children, but her life and heart are full.

So she's taken this whole New York thing a little too seriously. As much as she's tried to focus herself, she's actually lost touch with herself. Only Kara has been there by her side to veer her back onto course. 

Kara has continued to remind MJ it's into Rhonda's seat MJ wants to go. Sure, it's great to be working with your idol, but she's beyond that now.

She also knows herself well enough to trust when a grown man with a good job, caring for his family and showing genuine affection for her comes around. Don't run away!

But, still, it's Mary Jane. She needs to figure these things out in her own time, and it can be unbearable watching her be hurt in the process.

Rhonda Sales is a piece of work. But she's not so good as to be undetectable if you're paying attention. 

Kara wanted MJ to dig into the woman's past. The moment Rhonda told MJ she requested MJ cover her acceptance of the award at the gala and get involved with the director of her charity by interviewing him, it was pretty obvious Mary Jane was being manipulated by a master.

With stars in her eyes, Mary Jane was accepted into Rhonda's world. She has been worshipping Rhonda since high school.

Mary Jane was being introduced to the family (how much did the hubby oversell that introduction?) and was loving every minute of it.

Instead of getting dirt, she was giving it. 

She forgot where she was and who she was, even if only briefly. Rhonda set up the situation so Mary Jane started to question her interest in Lee and her friendship with Kara. 

MJ shared one deep secret after another and almost took to her suite the very man assigned to assemble the dossier on Mary Jane. I can't imagine what could have come of that.

Lee being at the hotel shook some of the dust out of Mary Jane's ears, and reading his portfolio made her realize what a grave mistake she could have made by ruining things with him.

Mary Jane: Look at your cute little nekkid ass.

Lee: Nekkid. Don’t you mean naked?

Mary Jane: No. Naked is when you don’t have any clothes on. Nekkid is when you don’t have any clothes on and you’re up to no good.

_{🔗 permalink: No. Naked is when you don’t have any clothes on. Nekkid is when you don’t have any clothes on…}

There's nothing scarier for Mary Jane that someone who really sees her. She's far better at getting nekkid than she is at getting naked.

From his first scene this hour, Lee was practically inside of Mary Jane; not her body, but her soul.

He can sense when she's upset and making a move that's putting another brick in her wall instead of letting him in. Lee is a letting him in kind of guy.

Taking her to the movie for the popcorn she wanted and a debriefing was beautiful.

He's a stand-up guy in more ways than one. His honesty is so refreshing, so when Mary Jane went to club to find him, and he shut down a private conversation, it wasn't a surprise.

Rhonda could have ruined that. She was trying to ruin Mary Jane even as Mary Jane was trying to feel close to that evil woman she admired. 

Whether Rhonda saw the loneliness of a rising star new to the city or has just always been evil is hard to ascertain, but given what she did with her own charity and the lengths she went to expose and then cover it up, she's not winning any points from me.

Now that Mary Jane is building up her support group again, she'll have Lee and Kara to bolster her professional confidence. She won't have to fight fire with fire, because nobody wants to climb to the top over a rotting carcass.

And what is Rhonda Sales, really, other than dying inside?

She's in a fake marriage, running a corrupt charity for personal gain. She buys people and steps all over them to better herself. No, she doesn't see in Mary Jane someone who is lonely and easy to manipulate, but someone she wants to be, someone she will never be.

The people you take under your wing are those you can mold into what you want. The people you try to tear down are those you know can ruin what you have and become more than you have ever been.

Mary Jane trumps Rhonda Sales and Rhonda knows if MJ gets her chance in the spotlight, her own star is going to crash and burn.

So welcome to the fold, Jason Talbott. You can become a good guy and get on board with Mary Jane, or you can watch your star crash with Rhonda's, because there may be room for to black women at "Great Day USA," but there's no more room for a manipulating bitch like Rhonda Sales.

I feel better now.

But that still doesn't help Niecy, to whom I say this: It's better your children grow up with their grandparents and other family as role models than a father who is going to talk you out of making the best financial decision of your life.

Every decision Dante makes is terrible. Niecy using the, "but he's a good father to both the kids," excuse is like making excuses for any other criminal on the street. He just robbed her of a hefty portion of her settlement.

He may not have taken the cash and run, but first he sweet talked her out of $13k for a car, then made it into $45k. That's a third of the entire settlement. I give her a week and it will all be gone.

I was proud of her for standing up to him as the hour began, but she fell hard and fast as it progressed. I'd much rather see her stand on her own than need saving by her family, so how will this swing around in her favor? 

OK guys. What did you think of "Getting Naked"? Don't be shy! Even if you disagree, let's talk. I want to know what you think. 

If you have missed any of the series so far, you can watch Being Mary Jane online to see what all the fuss is about!

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The post Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 2 Review: Getting Naked appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Niecy is sexing her fellow, who wants to use her settlement money, her car, move into her parents' house. She holds strong, though, wondering why she should be responsible for doing any of those things so he can see his daughter, let alone date her.

Mornings are killing Mary Jane.

Garrett wants Mary Jane to cover Rhonda's story because she's getting an award. Kara immediately wants to step into his game when Rhonda knocks on MJ's door.

Rhonda specifically chose MJ for the story. They would never say it out loud, but the assumption is that there can only be one black woman at the table. Rhonda says let's work together and show them that isn't true.

Rhonda then sets up Mary Jane with the director of her charity. What's up with that?

After the interview, during which Kara interrupts with a question of her own, Mary Jane spots dresses and Rhonda says they're in her size.

Lee and Mary Jane get nekkid and then naked, at a movie theater with real movie popcorn. He's awesome. He's always wanted to sample real American life. American life, American food. He has two kids and turned down the American tour.

Rhonda starts to dig and Mary Jane decides to uninvite Lee from the gala.

Niecy gets only $150,000 from the settlement and Dante talks her into a $45k car instead of investing it for Tre or her initial car budget of $13k.

Mary Jane is leaning far away from Lee on all aspects. Kara thinks she's crazy.

Rhonda introduces Mary Jane to her family and her husband oversells his wife's excitement about having MJ on board.

Mary Jane cnnects with Corey, but forgets who is her ally and who is a roadblock.

MJ's fascination with Rhonda starts to hurt Kara in her core. Is it a black thing? Before she leaves, Kara and MJ spit some spanish back and forth and end their night in an argument.

Rhonda gets out of Mary Jane her Justin Talbot story.

Rhonda really wants Corey to get close to Mary Jane. It screams red flag. When he gives Mary Jane a ride home, she runs into Lee, who was trying there to leave something on her pillow. He can't get over the fact she's running from what she wants most, after having begged a total stranger to say I love you. Well, he's done trying to figure her out.

Mary Jane tells Kara about Corey and his Brooklyn place, and the two of them realize there's something amiss with Rhonda's charity. What they're missing is that Rhonda is probably involved, too, especially when they see the gal who bought the brownstone is her husband.

There has to be a reason Rhonda wanted Mary Jane to do the interview.

But when Mary Jane goes to Rhonda, Rhonda seems legit surprised. She cries and says she knows MJ has to tell Garrett. When Mary Jane and Kara go to tell Garrett (much later than I would have expected), Rhonda is already on the air and confessing what happened with the charity.

Kara is very pissed MJ made a move without her. MJ goes to apologize to Corey, but he's already taken a deal. She's not somebody you want to mess with.

Rhonda is not only in on it with her husband, but she's hired Justin Talbot to make Rhonda uncomfortable.

The post Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 2 Recap: Getting Naked appeared first on TV Fanatic.

With everything that happened during Being Mary Jane Season 3, especially with Niecy and the tasering in the finale, I really thought there would be more of that story to come.

Yet after watching Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 1, I wouldn't have wanted the new season to begin in any other way.

It feels good not to have Mary Jane and Kara banging their against the same walls any longer. There are still walls, and they're still banging (in many different ways), but we won't be subjected to storylines the likes of Cece, and if all goes well, MJ won't be revisiting David again.

While MJ was led to some interesting moments of self-discovery due to her involvement with Cece, both the story and Loretta Devine deserved better overall. 

And MJ and David were never going to connect at the right time and place, so watching their hit or miss engagements time and again leading to so much pain was just as painful to watch. 

Niecy's tasering story could have gotten bogged down and turned into story without end. It could have taken a Cece type of turn, because there is so much ground that needs to be covered to do the story justice, that even wading into it is perilous.

With the way it was handled, we discovered MJ did what we would expect. She went to bat for her family with every ounce of her being and all of her professional resources. In fact, it got her fired.

In the meantime, while the courts eventually sided with the family, the public gave them a very hard time, and it was Patrick who took the brunt of it as the ne'er do well father with a questionable past.

For the moment (and maybe forever), we can only guess the types of accusations that were laid at his feet, but given his history, it must have been ugly. 

By the time we catch up with them a year later, though, the family seems at peace. Niecy isn't her usual self, but who would be after something like that? It's a weight she has to carry forever, and she has to learn how to live with it day by day.

The press is still hounding the family, and with MJ gone, Patrick has taken over her duties in that regard. The legal side of things with restitution for Niecy seems to be coming to a close, and his statement on Niecy's behalf was beautiful.

He never wanted to think the family would have to go through something like that, let alone with a daughter of the family, but they were able to do it by coming together as a more loving and powerful familial unit than they ever had been before.

That's a pretty significant message to send to the community. You can let things break you, or you can stand together and remind those who want to tear you apart what really matters. And if the Pattersons can do it with as fractured as they were, there is hope for others.

All of that meant MJ was already feeling a little off when she got to New York. No doubt it influenced her decision to focus on family, namely one of her own…

MJ: I signed with a professional matchmaker.

Kara: A matchmaker? Is this one of your white friends’ suggestions? It was Molly, wasn’t it.

MJ: She caters to diverse, professional women like me.

Kara: How does that differ from a dating app?

NJ: It cost $20,000.

_{🔗 permalink: It cost $20,000.}

And it also made her very grateful to have a job at Great Day USA.

Did you notice how different MJ acted while making her way through the offices of Great Day USA? She's confident, but not overly so. She's eager and interested, but excited to work with her idol, Rhonda Sales.

That's why it's such a mess that her new producer, Garrett, has pitted the two women against each other straight away.

There are two ways I see this going. The new Mary Jane seems more willing to soak things in and was even open for earning her spot on the anchor's desk. At least she was until Garrett messed with her mind and Rhonda seemed kind of annoyed about it.

Rhonda knew Mary Jane was being hired to compete with her, but she still, initially, treated her kindly and offered to her use of her own private stylist. She didn't have to do that.

Rhonda may get a five-year contract. She may not. She's getting older. One thing is certain: that five-year contract will not be what she wanted it to be, or they would have already closed the deal.

She thought MJ was going to be a co-anchor. Others thought Rhonda was on her way out completely. No that they know they've been chosen to have an on and off-air rivalry, why not work together, just like MJ's family did, to prove Garrett wrong?

Rhonda has no lost love for the new and inexperienced producer. Maybe they can get him removed from the job. Maybe by working together, MJ and Rhonda can make Great Day USA really great instead of having to act like fellow toddlers in Garrett's sandbox?

That's what's going to work for me.

And no, I'm not forgetting London Lee. Thanks to him, MJ has her latest motto.

MJ [on a Post-It]: Make yourself at home, but don’t get too comfortable.

_{🔗 permalink: Make yourself at home, but don’t get too comfortable.}

The best thing about him is he's nice. At least so far. And he's very accommodating in bed.

It was hard not to laugh with poor MJ when she called Kara with info on what might happen now that she had taken a strange man to her bed, after carefully walking him past the cameras in the lobby, of course.

It would be tricky dating a comedian in the off chance he wasn't funny, but other than that, this guy is lining up just right so far. And he doesn't cost $20,000. 

I'll never understand the allure of a matchmaker for women who have no problem attracting men. MJ's only problem is not obsessing and choosing a man who cares for her instead of "challenges" her in a dickish way.

That stuff is for kids. She's a woman now.

And can we talk about that bit with the rubber band? How sexy was that? But to see it lead to her wanting him to say, "I love you," in bed was just precious. She's such an enigma.

This was a great start to the season. Being Mary Jane Season 4 is bold and sexy with a lot of new opportunities to keep the show fresh and exciting. I can't wait for more!

If you need to catch up, you can watch Being Mary Jane online right here via TV Fanatic!

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The post Being Mary Jane Season 4 Episode 1 Review: Getting Nekkid appeared first on TV Fanatic.