Bobb’n & Bounce’n to the Courthouse

A few months ago, we brought you’re a story about BET announcing a reality show starring David and Tamela Mann, tentatively titled, “Meet The Manns.”

Aside from the possibility of crickets, one can think of a few reasons why we like Tyler Perry’s favorite married couple. They are down with the King, they don’t fight, fuss, cuss or wig pull and genuinely love each other. The fussing, cussing, fighting and wig pulling are unfortunate requirements on a short list of the elements catering to lowest common denominator BET viewer( don’t get it twisted Bravo, WE, TV One and several other Viacom channels are equally as guilty). Sadly, “the starched suits” in the boardroom have brainwashed us to believe “total bad bone” is necessary for a successful program.

Any reality show starring the Manns may not see the light of day for some time to come since another reality TV show featuring David and Tamela Mann is at the center of a new lawsuit against Bobbcat Films, the company founded by Tyler Perry’s former EVP, Roger Bobb. The lawsuit was actually filed earlier this year in Georgia Superior Court by Bounce TV, owned by former Atlanta Mayor, Andrew Young and Martin Luther King III, accusing Bobbcat of “breach of contract and tortious interference with business relations by damaging Bounce’s reputation and goodwill in the industry.” It cites a show that was pitched by Bobbcat Films to Bounce TV last December called “Mann & Wife.” The two sides agreed to a deal, which was confirmed in an email sent by Bobbcat to Bounce February 7^th ordering ten episodes of the show scheduled to air in 2015.

According to the suit, Bounce began selling advertising for “Mann & Wife” with images, logos from the show and a video preview provided by Bobbcat Films. A press release announcing the partnership followed on May 5. “In good faith reliance on the February agreement,” Bounce wrote in the lawsuit, “Bounce not only invested significant time and money to the marketing campaign, but also passed up other attractive projects.”

The lawsuit noted that the February agreement was confirmed in a “Production Services Agreement” that Bobbcat signed off on May 12. Eight days later on May 20, the situation allegedly became complicated when Bounce TV President Ryan Glover received a call from Mr. Bobb, telling him they were going to do a reality show featuring the Manns on BET instead. According to a BET spokesperson, the network committed to an eight episode run the reality show, titled “Meet the Manns.” A premiere date for the series has not been set at this time.

Bounce TV, which is requesting a trial by jury, wants Bobbcat to stop doing business with BET “unless and until Bobbcat fully performs its obligations to Bounce with respect to the Show.” The company would like damages determined at trial as well as punitive damages.

Neither party nor David and Tamela Mann has issued a comment on the matter so I shall. Maybe the Manns are not the fodder for a TV show, the “Bounce vs Bobb” Show may be the ticket.