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Let’s Stay Together Doesn’t Have Much Staying Power

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by  |  on January 12th, 2011  |  28 comments

by Aja Dorsey Jackson

I watched the premiere of Let’s Stay Together last night and it reminded me a little of eating celery. I really wanted to like it. I thought it would be good for me. I tried it and attempted to force myself to like it. But in the end it just wasn’t that good.

The show centers around two couples and one single woman. Tasha (Joyful Drake) and Jamal (RonReaco Lee) are married. Charles (Bert Bellasco) and Stacy (Nadine Ellis) are engaged and Charles’ sister Kita (Erica Hubbard) hangs out with the crew.

In episode one Stacy has a run in with Charles’ ex (played by Eva Pigford) and learns that her fiancé once proposed to this woman with the same ring that he gave to her. Jamal, an attorney, momentarily chases his secret dream of becoming a musician by forming an impromptu band with Kita and performing at a restaurant.

The show had some smile-worthy moments. I may have chuckled a bit when Kita and Jamal were performing her spoken word piece at the restaurant with him playing the bongos. But otherwise the show just wasn’t funny.

To be fair, I think the actors and actresses did a good job working with a boring script. Most of the jokes fell flat. The storyline was not interesting.  To be honest, the only reason why I watched it in its entirety was because I needed to write a review.

Maybe Let’s Stay Together just got off to a slow start. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been (anyone seen Love That Girl?). However if the first episode is any indicator of the rest of the season, Let’s Stay Together might be breaking up pretty soon.

Does Let’s Stay Together have staying power? What did you think of the show?

Aja Dorsey Jackson is a freelance writer and public relations consultant in Baltimore, Maryland. Find out more about her at www.ajadorseyjackson.com or follow her on twitter @ajajackson.


About the author

Aja Dorsey Jackson is a freelance writer in Baltimore, Maryland and author of the blog Making Love in the Microwave.



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Comments (28)

  1. Ginagate Wednesday - 12 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I haven't even heard of this show. When is it on and on what channel does it air?
    • Larrychambers Wednesday - 09 / 03 / 2011 Reply
      I'll tell you the problem with the show, it doesn't have a storyline where you would be saying " I want to see whats going to happen next episode". That to be continued moment. it need a continuous story that keep you guessing.
  2. Aja Dorsey Jackson Wednesday - 12 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    It comes on BET, Tuesdays at 10:30 pm
  3. Tee Wednesday - 12 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I thought it was cute. I'm going to give it a chance.
  4. Lakeennesha Wednesday - 12 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    It was ok...a lil boring...hope it gets better cause it has promise...if it was for the game I would have turned it off...im goin to give it a chancs
  5. Crystal Wednesday - 12 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I would have to disagree. Being a newly married person, my husband and I related to pretty much everyone (forgiving your future spouse and understanding them, not over-reacting to your spouse following a dream that may not be best suited for them, making light of money issues, and having a single friend around). I will continue to watch this show because I think it lets young married folks laugh at ourselves and know that obviously someone else is going through similar things.
  6. Lainie Wednesday - 12 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I think it has potential. I don't particularly care for BET, but I'll give it a chance. I think following the much-hyped premiere of The Game had a lot to do with it falling a little flat. The cast was pretty good with the acting but the writing should be amped up. It beats shows like "Basketball Wives" and "Bad Girls Club" so I'll give it a shot.
  7. Nia Wednesday - 12 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I didn't get a chance to see the show but I keep hearing the same thing. I hope that it gets better. I would love to see BET showcase something other than what they normally do.
  8. CieCie Wednesday - 12 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I couldn't watch it to its entirety as I became bored. Honestly, I got as far as Kita belting on the microphone in the restaurant before I changed the channel. I ended up catching that last minute where the ring was exchanged and still wasn't impressed at all. Not sure if I will be tuning in for future episodes.
  9. Peculiar1 Wednesday - 12 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    Kind of predictable characters and story lines. It didn't keep my attention at all. No fault of the actors or the actresses. Just not an exciting show.
  10. Drkewl Wednesday - 12 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I thought the show was funny! the best part was the Lounge acts. Its shows like this one with potential that has me returning to Black Entertainment Television.
  11. Srcouch74 Thursday - 13 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    Yeah, I tried to give it a chance and opted not to finish the first episode, but who knows,I will definitely be tuned in to The Game each week, so it may get another glance from me. All is not completely lost yet ;)
  12. Lhall25 Thursday - 13 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I thought it was a pretty good show because it touched on some good topics. Yes it was kind of slow, but it did have some funny parts. I will be watching next week hopefully the script will be better.
  13. JJ Thursday - 13 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I'm hoping things will get better it was a little sad. But I promise to give it a few episodes to redeem itself, I didn't like TP's House of Payne when it first came on. Hopefully things will get better. I'm pulling for you.
  14. Jalanay1 Thursday - 13 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    i didnt really like the show but however it was the first episode and a black show so i am willing to give it a try but i just was not feeling it,...and VERY DISAPPOINTED with THE GAME
  15. Meleemel Saturday - 15 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    Pls take this show off the air...it's horrible! I tried watching the premiere episode 3 times and it bored the hell out of me each time. Bring back Girlfriends with the original cast!!!!!!
  16. newnaturally Saturday - 15 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I felt bad because I was looking forward to the show coming on. I started watching it and fell asleep. I'll try again next week.
  17. PearlLaBelle Saturday - 15 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I waited for weeks with anticipation to see this sitcom. The buildup was tantalizing---fun, colorful, clean, and sexual. The chemistry between the affluent actors looked like something I could finally relate to. I was BAMBOOZLED! The storyline was weak and I started dozing off 15 minutes into the program…SMH!!!
  18. Cbartley4 Saturday - 15 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    The show absolutely, positively SUCKED!!! Please take this off the air. I'm more annoyed that anytime "we" get a show, it has to be a comedy. Are "we" uncapable of having a drama show? The whole storyline of this show is crap. This show will not last, and I won't be mad either. P.S . Someone please take Love that Girl off like right now.
  19. Michele Williams70 Wednesday - 19 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I absolutely loved it. Look forward to each new episode.
  20. viola Wednesday - 26 / 01 / 2011 Reply
    I really like this show, it's new and fresh, i like the chemistry of the the cast, the acting is very natural and believable, i totally support this show and i hope you all will do the same, its really a good show, good job BET
  21. JustJennE Tuesday - 01 / 02 / 2011 Reply
    Cancel the show!! When you look back at old movies and watch actors, it looks like "acting." Not real just entertainment. The actors on Let's Stay Together looks like they are acting. Maybe they should try a new cast. I don't know. Whatever is to be done should be done quickly...The show is going down in a ball of flames.
  22. Cocoabuttertwice Wednesday - 02 / 02 / 2011 Reply
    BORING...the chemistry is just not there - the semi-ghetto way of speaking from the little sister is a little off-putting as well, like something just does not fit. And this may be a little nit-picky but the background is too sterile, looks like a set - instead of a real home. dont see any promise either. unfortunately.
    • Crystal Thursday - 03 / 03 / 2011 Reply
      I agree about the chemistry on the first episode, mainly because the lawyer guy seemed forced. I really like it at this point, though. But the lawyer dude is still the least developed character.
  23. Deion Thursday - 03 / 03 / 2011 Reply
    This show is great. I'm a divorced African American male in my 30s. I get the humor and realism. It pisses me off how BET is making Kita so ghetto. Let's Stay Together represents black couples and women in a funny, entertaining light that deserves credit. (especially more credit than The Game!)
  24. Ajunior08 Sunday - 06 / 03 / 2011 Reply
    I blame BET for putting this show on. I love the show. I watch every episode online since I don't have cable. Most of BET's core audience want to see a mixture of comedy and ghettoness. This show is not it. BTW.. I fell out of love with The Game. It looks a reality show gone bad. Appreciate the show for what it is, a comedy. We are so extra hard on our black shows. Why? The lives of black Americans are not the same. We look for that one show to be the representation of how we live. Impossible, because our lives are so different. This show may be more how we want to live. Face it. When was the last time you've seen a comedy show with a black doctor and lawyer in the starring cast? Some people may think they talk too proper. Some are pissed off the Kita sounds too ghetto. Where do we draw the line? We are just human. Get rid of the constructs. Unlike Will Smith's All of Us, the show does not appeal to youth and teenage crowd because there are no children or teens in the show. All of US had children tuning in because of Bobby; he had birthday party every week. It did nothing more that teach them how to be inappropriate with the new girlfriend and baby mama drama, which unfornately is a very real reality for most of us. Let's stay Together is missing something. I like the acting and want to see the characters develop. Tips Introduce a recurring child or teen character who is funny Introduce one of their Parents as recurring, will get more laughs Kim Whitley or Tichina Arnold should be recurring Give the Lawyer's wife a Purpose PLEASE! Do a show that focuses on Erica-the "ghetto one" as fine she is I havent seen her with a man yet.. thats unrealistic... I like that she can "throw down" in the kitchen with that Gumbo lol About stupid shows Do you know that CBS has a show called #*$* (SHYT MY DAD SAYS)? We have truly reached a new low. This is what white execs will greenlit. Its shocking, but appeals to the humor of the average white adult male. The bottom line is people will be watching. We should be protesting the sponsors of that show.
  25. Sandy Franks Friday - 11 / 03 / 2011 Reply
    From I saw the first episode I knew the show would not last. There is nothing exciting going on to draw a viewer in, the sister (not sure of her name) is a cliche ghetto sounding young african american female, the married couple has nothing much going on but some kids and an overjealous wife and the newly engaged couple are just boring. Where is the WOW factor...where is the humor?? The show just won't hold anyones attention.