TV One just wrapped up its panel at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour promoting two upcoming programs: the first full season of Tatyana Ali’s series “Love That Girl!,” premiering Monday (Jan. 10) at 9 p.m., and a four-part Black History Month celebration titled “Way Black When,” coming in February.
In “Love That Girl!” Ali stars as Tyana Jones, a young divorcee who returns home to Southern California for a second chance in life and a career in her father’s (Phil Morris) real estate business. When her unemployed brother Latrell (Alphonso McAuley), an aspiring stand-up comedian, unexpectedly moves in with her, the world that she was trying to create is suddenly turned upside down.
TV One aired four episodes of the series last year as a test run. Creator Bentley Kyle Evans, a writer from “Martin” and “The Jamie Foxx Show,” produced the episodes himself – calling on favors from friends and industry contacts to get the shows made. Based on viewer reaction, the network opted to produce an additional 13 episodes.
“The ratings were great,” TV One Senior Vice President of Original Programing Toni Judkins tells EURweb exclusively. “The audience loved it. We took some of their positive comments, negative, whatever it was as we decided to go forward.
“We don’t have the opportunity to go out and test and do some of the things the major networks do. So we said you know what, Bentley? We’ll put it up there. If they respond, then we’ll look into it.”
