Being Mary Jane

List of episodes

Season 1 (2013–14)

Guest stars: Lesley-Ann Brandt, Sheila Frazier, Brely Evans

Guest stars: Kelly Rutherford, Lorraine Toussaint, Darrin Dewitt Henson

Guest stars: Wayne Brady

Guest star: Chris "Ludacris" Bridges

Guest star: Dorian Missick

Guest stars: Ava DuVernay, Keith Boykin

Season 2 (2015)

Guest Starring: Salli Richardson

Guest Starring: Greg Alan Williams, S. Epatha Merkerson

Guest starring: Kyle Massey

Guest starring: Gayle King, Kyle Massey

Guest starring: Salli Richardson, Gary Dourdan

Guest starring: Gary Dourdan, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Mark Anthony Neal, India Arie, Bevy Smith, Michaela Angela Davis

Guest starring: Gary Dourdan, Kelly Rutherford, Christina Vidal, Don Lemon

Season 3 (2015)

Season 4 (2017)

Special Appearances: U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Dave East (credited as Dave Brewster)

Television film (2019)

Guest starring: Morris Chestnut

Cast and characters

Main

• Gabrielle Union as Pauletta ("Mary Jane Paul") Patterson: a successful TV news anchor for Satellite News Channel (SNC) who remains devoted to a family that does not share her motivation as she juggles her life, her relationships, her work, and commitments. In season four, Mary Jane leaves Atlanta after getting fired from SNC and moves to New York City to work at Great Day USA as a national news correspondent. She eventually works her way up to get back on the anchor chair.
• Lisa Vidal as Kara Lynch: the executive producer of Talk Back (Mary Jane's show) at SNC and Mary Jane's best friend.
• Margaret Avery as Helen Patterson: Mary Jane's overprotective mother, who is battling lupus.
• Latarsha Rose as Dr. Lisa Hudson (seasons 1–3): Mary Jane's best friend since elementary school, an OB/GYN.
• Aaron D. Spears as Mark Bradley (seasons 1–3): a co-anchor at the newsroom and the closeted gay friend of Mary Jane.
• Richard Brooks as Patrick Patterson: Mary Jane's older, less-motivated brother.
• B. J. Britt as Paul Patterson Jr.: Mary Jane's responsible younger brother.
• Raven Goodwin as Niecy Patterson: Mary Jane's niece; Patrick Patterson's daughter, who is also a mother.
• Richard Roundtree as Paul Patterson Sr.: Mary Jane's compassionate father.
• Omari Hardwick as Andre Daniels (season 1): Mary Jane's married love interest
• Stephen Bishop as David Paulk (recurring, season 1; main, seasons 2–3): Mary Jane's playboy love interest.

Recurring

• Robinne Lee as Avery Daniels (season 1): Andre's wife, who learns of her husband's affair with Mary Jane.
• Tatom Pender as Tracy: Patrick's girlfriend and mother of their child.
• Brely Evans as Nichelle: Mary Jane's friend and publicist to the stars.
• Kelly Rutherford as Cynthia Phillips (seasons 1–2)
• Navia Robinson (seasons 1–2) and Madison Alsobrook (season 4) as D'Asia: Patrick and Tracy's daughter
• Ryan Homchick as Lance (seasons 1–3)
• Salli Richardson as Valerie (season 2) one of Mary Jane's friends who is a doctor.
• Gary Dourdan as Sheldon (season 2)
• Kyle Massey as Cameron (season 2) Niecy's ex and the father of their son Treyvion.
• Loretta Devine as Cece (season 3)
• Daniella Alonso as Marisol Esparza (season 3)
• Thomas Jones as Brandon (season 3) one of Mary Jane's lovers
• Paul Rolfes as Aaron Felty (seasons 3–4) one of the lead co-hosts on Good Day USA
• Rita Rucker as Chante (seasons 3–4)
• Michael Ealy as Justin Talbot (season 4) Mary Jane's colleague at Good Day USA and boyfriend and later husband
• Chiké Okonkwo as Lee Truitt (season 4) Mary Jane's ex-boyfriend
• Valarie Pettiford as Ronda Sales (season 4) one of the lead co-hosts on Good Day USA
• Ashton Holmes as Garrett (season 4) the executive producer of Good Day USA
• Julian Walker as Ty (season 4) Mary Jane's stylist
• Cesar Cipriano as Dante (season 4) Niecy's ex and father to their daughter Isbell
• Tian Richards as Jovan (season 4) a mentee to Patrick
• Nicholas Gonzalez as Orlando Lagos (season 4) Kara's fiancé

Guest stars

• Jasmine Dustin as Ana Hoem (season 1)
• Lesley-Ann Brandt as Tamiko Roberts (season 1)
• Sheila Frazier as Catherine Stafford (season 1)
• Darrin Dewitt Henson (season 1)
• Lorraine Toussaint as Aunt Toni, Paul's younger sister and Mary Jane's aunt (season 1)
• Wayne Brady as Sean Anders (season 1)
• Ludacris as Terrence Mitchell (season 1)
• Dorian Missick as Detective Cedric Rawlins (season 1)
• Frances Burnett as Dana Shultz (season 1)
• Ava DuVernay (season 1)
• India Arie as herself (season 2)
• Christina Vidal as Lilly, the sister of KaraChristina Vidal plays the sister of Kara, played by her real-life sister Lisa Vidal. (season 2)
• Nina Parker (season 3, episode 6)
• Jill Scott (season 3, episode 5)
• Kelly Rowland as Robin (season 3, episode 6)
• Tamar Braxton as Herself (season 3, episode 10)
• Tamera Mowry as Herself (season 3, episode 10)
• Loni Love as Herself (season 3, episode 10)
• Jeannie Mai as Herself (season 3, episode 10)
• Adrienne Bailon as Herself (season 3, episode 10)
• Robert Crayton as Lloyd (season 4)
• Cardi B (season 4)
• Loren "Lo London" Jordan (season 4)
• Dave East (season 4)
• Morris Chestnut as Beau (season 4) ;Notes

Production

The show was originally to be called Single Black Female. The series centers on successful broadcast journalist Mary Jane Paul (played by Gabrielle Union) and her professional and private family life while searching for "Mr. Right":

The series was created and produced by Mara Brock Akil, who also created and produced the hit sitcoms Girlfriends and The Game. The pilot episode was filmed in April 2012 at 780 N. Highland Ave. in the Virginia Highland neighborhood of Atlanta.

After the third season, creator Mara Brock Akil left the series and Erica Shelton Kodish was hired as the show's new showrunner for the fourth season. Kodish had previously worked as a writer and producer on shows like CSI: NY, Cold Case and The Good Wife. Speaking about her approach to taking over the show to BuzzFeed, Kodish stated that she wasn't afraid to shake things up. "I was anxious about how viewers were going to react to change in general — any kind of change. But I felt like it really had to happen". The casting during the fourth season had been done in part by Winsome Sinclair.

Controversy

In 2016, Gabrielle Union sued BET over compensation.

Streaming

The complete series is available to stream on Hulu, Paramount+, and BET+ in the United States.

Reception

Critical response

The second and third seasons received positive reviews, specifically praising Gabrielle Union's leading performance, Mara Brock Akil's writing, and directing work by Regina King.

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season earned an approval rating of 80% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the pilot a score of 78 out of 100 based on 4 critics reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Accolades

References

References

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2. Braxton, Greg. (May 24, 2013). "Pilot for BET's 'Being Mary Jane' gets late start time on July 2". [[Los Angeles Times]].
3. https://www.sfgate.com/tv/article/Being-Mary-Jane-review-A-complex-career-woman-4635244.php
4. (October 24, 2013). "BET Networks' First Original Scripted Series "Being Mary Jane" Starring Gabrielle Union Premieres on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 10 P.M. ET/PT". The Futon Critic.
5. (July 9, 2013). "Being Mary Jane – Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic.
6. (7 January 2014). "Being Mary Jane: Season 1".
7. Andreeva, Nellie. (September 11, 2013). "BET Preps Second Season Of 'Being Mary Jane', Cancels 'Reed Between The Lines'".
8. O'Connell, Michael. (3 July 2013). "TV Ratings: BET's 'Being Mary Jane' Scores Huge Premiere". The Hollywood Reporter.
9. "Solid Ratings Debut For BET's 'Being Mary Jane' – 4 Millions Viewers, Highest-Rating On Cable | Shadow and Act". Blogs.indiewire.com.
10. (6 January 2016). "'Being Mary Jane' Renewed for Season 4 by BET – TCA".
11. (11 October 2017). "'Being Mary Jane' To End In 2018 With 2-Hour Series Finale Movie On BET".
12. Darrisaw, Michelle. (February 6, 2019). "6 Questions We Have After Watching the Being Mary Jane Movie Teaser".
13. (April 1, 2019). "As One Saga Ends, Another Begins During a Monumental Tuesday Night on BET". [[The Futon Critic]].
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15. Kondolojy, Amanda. (January 8, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Being Mary Jane' Wins Night, 'Moonshiners', 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Justified', 'Cougar Town' & More & More". TV by the Numbers.
16. Kondolojy, Amanda. (January 15, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Being Mary Jane' Wins Night + 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Moonshiners', 'Justified' & More". TV by the Numbers.
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23. Kondolojy, Amanda. (February 11, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'The Haves and the Have Nots' Tops Night + 'Being Mary Jane', 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' & More". TV by the Numbers.
24. Bibel, Sara. (February 19, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: '19 Kids and Counting' Wins Night, 'Being Mary Jane', 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Rizzoli & Isles', 'Cougar Town' & More". TV by the Numbers.
25. Kondolojy, Amanda. (February 25, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Being Mary Jane' Tops Night + 'The Haves and the Have Nots', '19 Kids and Counting', 'Pretty Little Liars' & More". TV by the Numbers.
26. Bibel, Sara. (March 4, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: College Basketball & 'Being Mary Jane' Win NIght, 'The Haves & The Have Nots', 'Pretty Little Liars', 'Rizzoli & Isles' & More". TV by the Numbers.
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29. Kondolojy, Amanda. (March 25, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Pretty Little Liars' Tops Night + 'The Haves and the Have Nots', 'If Loving You is Wrong' & More". [[TV by the Numbers]].
30. Bibel, Sara. (April 1, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: '19 Kids and Counting' Wins Night, 'Real Housewives', 'Justified', 'Finding Carter', 'Cougar Town' & More". [[TV by the Numbers]].
31. Kondolojy, Amanda. (April 8, 2015). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Tops Night + '19 Kids and Counting', 'Tosh.0' & More".
32. "Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Deadliest Catch' Wins Night, 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills', 'Justified', 'Being Mary Jane' & More". [[TV by the Numbers]].
33. "Tuesday cable ratings: NLCS is No. 1 on all of TV, 'Being Mary Jane' returns solid - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
34. "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 100 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Update: 10.27.2015".
35. "Tuesday cable ratings: 'Family Guy' leads a slow day, plus 'Bastard Executioner,' 'Being Mary Jane' - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
36. "Tuesday cable ratings: Republican debate sets a Fox Business record". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
37. "Tuesday cable ratings: ESPN leads quiet primetime, plus 'Curse of Oak Island,' 'Being Mary Jane' - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
38. "Tuesday cable ratings: NBA on TNT leads, plus 'Chrisley Knows Best,' 'Curse of Oak Island' - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
39. "Tuesday cable ratings: It's a 'Big Bang' kind of day - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
40. "Tuesday cable ratings: 'Family Guy' leads day, 'Curse of Oak Island' and 'Moonshiners' top originals - TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
41. "Tuesday cable ratings: Republican debate delivers big numbers for CNN". TV By The Numbers by zap2it.com.
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61. Metcalf, Mitch. (September 20, 2017). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 9.19.2017". Showbuzz Daily.
62. Metcalf, Mitch. (April 24, 2019). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.23.2019". Showbuzz Daily.
63. "Being Mary Jane".
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65. (April 18, 2012). "BET unveils new programming at Upfront". Radio & Television Business Report.
66. Hirsch, Jaclyn. (April 23, 2012). "Photos: TV Pilot Filming in Virginia-Highland – 'Being Mary Jane' filming all day Monday on N. Highland Avenue". Virginia Highland-Druid Hills Patch.
67. (April 19, 2012). ""Being Mary Jane" TV Pilot filming 4/23 & 4/24". Virginia-Highland Civic Association.
68. (April 17, 2012). "Being Mary Jane Production Department letter to residents". Virginia-Highland Civic Association.
69. (13 July 2017). "Inside The New Chapter Of "Being Mary Jane"".
70. [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/winsome-sinclair-dead-casting-director-spike-lee-1235974947/ Winsome Sinclair, Casting Director Who Worked Often With Spike Lee, Dies at 58]
71. Counthios; Stone, Auriel; Natalie. (2016-10-12). "Gabrielle Union Sues BET Over Being Mary Jane For Allegedly Depriving Her of 'Agreed-Upon Compensation'". PEOPLE.com.
72. "Regina King talks directing 'Being Mary Jane' and 'Scandal'".
73. "'Being Mary Jane' season 2 premiere review".
74. "Being Mary Jane finale postmortem: Mara Brock Akil addresses policy brutality story line".
75. "Being Mary Jane premiere postmortem: Gabrielle Union on Mary Jane's car crash, beauty standards, more". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com.
76. (7 January 2014). "Being Mary Jane: Season 1".
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