Network TV May Not Want Black Women to Star in Hour-Long Shows, But VH1 Does

There is only one — yes, one currently-running hour-long scripted network TV show starring a black woman: Scandal. But VH1’s Single Ladies has a predominantly black female cast, and with an average of 3.1 million total viewers, VH1 is looking to hang on to that audience: The network has just announced it’s greenlighted a second hour-long scripted show, Bounce. Newcomer Taylour Paige (above, right) will star, alongside The Secret Circle‘s Logan Browning, Kimberly Elise and Dean Cain.

According to a press release from the network:

“Bounce” is a series that follows the alluring lives and loves of the Los Angeles Devil Girls, the premiere dance team in all of professional basketball. The Los Angeles Devils are the number one team in the league. When the stadium lights go up at night all of Hollywood comes out to support the million dollar players; but in this city these men share the fame, adrenalin, money, sex and power with their dancers, the Devil Girls. At the heart of “Bounce” is Ahsha (Taylour Paige), a sheltered young woman who joins the team against the wishes of her mother Sloane (Kimberly Elise), who knows this treacherous, tempting world all too well having been an original Devil’s Girl herself. Olivia (Charlotte Ross) is the shrewd squad manager, Jelena (Logan Browning) is the ruthless star captain of the dance team who won’t let anyone outshine her and Pete Davenport (Dean Cain) is the former All-Star who’s come back to coach his old team only to have to contend with the girls both stealing the spotlight and distracting his players.

You know what that means, right? Dance numbers! And a nice alternative to VH1’s reality show screech-fests like Love & Hip Hop and Basketball Wives.

[Deadline, VH1]