Meagan Good and Laz Alonso in a scene from NBC’s “Deception”
*The fat lady is warming up her pipes for NBC’s Meagan Good drama “Deception,” with poor viewership for the freshman series contributing to the peacock’s overall record-low midseason ratings.
But with Monday’s episode came a sliver of hope. The show had been more or less shedding viewers since premiering to 5.62 million on Jan 7. On Feb. 4, it hit a season low with just 3.08 million tuning in. However, the Feb. 11 effort saw an 18 percent uptick in viewers to 3.23 million — which is still not good.
“Deception” comes off as NBC’s attempt to have its own version of ABC’s runaway hits “Scandal,” (a black female lead) and “Revenge” (a young woman going undercover in a wealthy family to expose secrets) all wrapped in one show.
“No,” says the show’s creator and executive producer Liz Heldens, who claims it was actually three movies that served as her inspiration.
“Two of my favorite movies are ‘Donnie Brasco’ and ‘The Departed,’ and then I was sort of thinking about how could you do an undercover show with a female protagonist, and at the same time NBC was looking for a soap. And so then I sort of thought could ‘Donnie Brasco’ and the movie ‘Sabrina’ have a baby? And so they did. So that was how it happened.”
Still, critics believe “Revenge” is “Deception’s” twin sister – the only difference being Emily Thorne’s infiltration of the Graysons is a lone operation with the help of an expert hacker, while Good’s Joanna Locasto hits the Bowers with FBI backing, and the help of her handler/ex-boyfriend Agent Will Moreno (Laz Alonso).
Good, who started shooting “Deception” just six days after she was cast, says the experience so far has been “really humbling.”
“I really love playing this character, and I’ve really enjoyed being able to do so many things in one character, you know, with action, the drama and the love affair, and it’s just a lot, and it’s very satisfying creatively,” she said.
Below, Good and Alonso recall their reaction upon learning they had booked the lead roles.
“Deception” airs Mondays at 10 p.m. on NBC. Watch a featurette below.
If only we had our OWN network, or this network would put the SAME money in marketing etc…. behind “this” show, that they ALWAYS do…”others” In short…the same game is played in TV, as is played in the “movie” game. No/little money behind Black projects,which causes low ratings, that then gives them the “excuse” to NOT invest in futre projects. A sabotage CREATED by the very entity, that “looks for success IN these projects. Twisted, bias,racist BS
I agree with the Taurusingr, but at the same time I do not believe that Black people are showing up to support this show. Its almost like they feel they cant support more than one show (Scandal) with a Black lead. They fail to see that if we only support one show with a Black lead, then one show is all we are ever going to get
IMO?, that’s a marketing issue & what I mean! Like….if We were reminded “OF” this show, like the ABC show?, we’d be watching it waaaaaay more. See…it’s hard to support something, you don’t know/are not reminded about, diiiiiiiiiiig? And also having Shondra Rhimes as the writer/creator of Scandal!??, sheeeeeit, of COURSE it gets some…”attention”.
Are folks reminded about those tragic reality shows? Nope!
Umm….reality shows tap into the human characteristic of…voyerism. So…WTH needs to be “reminded” they are…nosey/how to respond like a human!? And FYI?, “we” were discussing..”scripted shows”, & the two are not applicable ok?, but thaaaaaaaaanks “boo”. Yarn.
The problem with the show is Megan Goode. She’s not a lead actress and can’t carry the show. It’s painful. i tried 3 x’s and it didn’t keep my attention.
Also I have to question the intelligence of anyone who compares the show to scandal. Scandal is set in the world of politics, and the lead is political fixer. Scandal is closer to revenge if anything and even those two shows are totally different. The only link between deception is scandal is that the lead is black, but we dont compare shows with white leads based on race we compare based on content and what the shows are about so again, I question the intelligence of people who make that comparison
In regards to my above statement i MEAN Deception is closer to revenge not scandal
If Deception is cancelled, I suggest Scandal’s casting director get on the phone with Laz Alonso’s agent and book him as Olivia’s love interest. Nothing against bruthaman who played Edison, but he and Olivia had no heat. Laz might give Fitz a run for Olivia’s heart.
Yeah but ….”that” shyt will NEVVA happen. The whole thang that made Scandal even get “greenlit”, was her NOT having a romantic relationship, with a…”Black” man. As in MOST Black characters in TV/movies….”We” ar usually the ONLY one of our kind, & when there are others around?, We cain’t/don’t even “SMELL” the other!, no looks, no dialogue, not even a…”whaddup”. And dude is a major “threat” to YT, as most Black men are, so….”dream on, lady…..dreeeeeeeam onnnnnnn” SMH!
Her last love interest was black — Edison. So that ain’t true. I do admit that white executives have a problem showcasing black love on screen. If anyone can change that paradigm, it’s Shonda Rhimes. It may be a while before Olivia’s paired with another black man because they now are throwing Scott Foley at her. But, give Shonda some time.
My lady watches this more than I?, but “that’s” my point!, the last Black man will prolly BE the “last”. They haaaaad to “throw it out thurr” & “get it over with”! And notice…WTH is wrong with a “sista” character WANTING a “Black” man!? Seems they ALWAYS put sistas with WB’s, & she always has to be….. “open to it”! While a Black man?, sistas rarely “go after him”/or SEE him (unless it’s a “Black” show/comedy ie..”The Game” etc..) & haaaaaayil naaaaaw, a “Becky”? NEVVA has lines reflecting how she’s “feelin Tyrone”!, puuuuleeeeeeeze! It’s the same in mostly EVERY show out thurr! And BTW..Shondra originally wrote GA, with the lead as “I.Washington”, but they made her change “that”, to get it greenlit!, & “that’s” whyyyyy IW had issue with ole boy…P.Demsey. (along with PD holding up production being consistently late!) But again….”Blacks being together” or “2″ being the leads (ie “this” show!) is a hella issue for H_Town! Just think……why NOT put Denzel & Halle “together”, after both winning a Oscar!!??? WTF/GTFOH!
I had a feeling this show would not get the viewership it needs, and watch NBC will cancel it in aweek or two or move the show around to different nights and people will forget when it comes on, there are so few shows with blacks as leads the networks need to give them a fighting chance.
Yep!…They did the same fkd UP thang to J. Smits’ show..”Outlaw”! That show was the SHYT!!, but they still…took it off! Even CBS did the same to ANOTHER J. Smits show….”Cane”! Both were hella good shows, and you KNOW Latinos were watching BOTH them shyts!! SMGDH!
Yep….it IS a hella rip off, of that show, no question! But…”that” ain’t the prollum! H-town usually allows only ONE Black ANYthang/anyONE to be “on”/get recognition” at a time! Even when the horses are “champions”!!, they will only be ‘on…”one” horse. Wah wah wah waaaaaah!
I HATE when people tell me to check my BRAIN for GREAT writing at the door and support a show (Goode/Alonso can’t act) because it has BLACK characters!!!!! Shonda Rhimes is a GREAT writer but I HATE Scandal (too much tacky pointless sex..I’m a West Wing girl) and LOVE Greys!!!
I feel you lady, truly shyt is kra! But another tactic they use to “not” allow a Black show’s success, is to not provide “good/Black writers” FOR the show, which means “We” won’t/don’t identify or watch (& understandably so b/c it’s “BS”!) therefore the show gets the low ratings neccesary to justify….cancelation. It’s just a fkd up game they play, with only one goal…..to seemingly “legitimately justify” not including Us, in the diaspora of TV/movies or society for thst matter! Again…..shyt is KRA!
I actually like this show. I think Megan is getting better. Part of what made Scandal a hit was the social media aspect … The fans of Scandal come out HARD on Twitter and FB every week, the stars of the show live tweet and the whole bit. My friends and I enjoy that kind of interaction during Scandal. That’s how they galvanized people. NBC seems to do a really poor job of marketing its shows and keeping people engaged. I think a lot of the blame rests with them.
I don’t love this show, but I watch it. It’s ok.If it’s supposed to be NBC’s response to Revenge, it’s not quite there. I don’t think the issues is people can’t watch two show with black leads. They aren’t in competing time slots. I think the issue is NBC. This is a channel notorious for weak programming. Instead of focusing on shows that are good, they choose to cancel them. They also don’t seem capable of supporting more than one or two shows at a time and hoping that those shows carry the channel. I don’t think they’ll ever figure out that their logic is why NBC is always ranked last.
If you must compare it to Scandal, for whatever reason,… Scandal does have the channel and fan support. It also has a storyline, sometimes implausible, but its engaging. I watch Scandal and actually talk about the show if the topic of tv arises. This show, not so much. But again, the show isn’t bad and compared to most of NBC’s shows, its one of this channel’s best. So, hopefully it stays around.
Maybe the problem is the actress. She’s played in a lot of show’s that’s built around action, but was devoid of good acting. Now she is being asked to carry a leading role in prime tiem that require a high degree of skill and she simply just can’t do it. We often want to blame everything but the obvious.
if this show’s gonna get any better, the writing has to be better. The plots in each epi was way too predictable. I’m still holding on to Deception, but they need to take some pointers from Shonda Rhines and the writers of ShondaLand.
This has nothing to do with race. Deception isn’t a good show point blank period. It’s predictable. Everything that has happened so far I predicted. The story line is cheesy, and tacky. This is really NBC attempt to make a another Scandal. It has nothing to do with promoting this show. Because just like Scandal got so famous is by word of mouth. Of Deception was that good of show it would speak for itself, and unfortunately it doesn’t do that. I won’t be surprised when it gets canceled.
I guess she meant “love affairs.” She’s sleeping with two different guys now on the show. Like we didn’t see that coming. She gives the phrase “doing undercover work” a whole new meaning.
To me the problem with the show is that Deception is too predictable, not really geared enough towards their older audience and my biggest problem with Meagan not being a predominate figure in the series. She’s supposed to be, but when you really look at it, the show seem to be more focused on the family and other people. Though I would never want the show to be like Scandal, this is where the strength in the show is: Its about Olivia Pop first, then her friends ,.The story lines are less predictable and less confusing. This is why Scandal is working while Deception. Its not so much that Black people not supporting the show as it is not having the right formula in making the show more attractive. That seems to be the big gripe.
I’ve been watching the show from the beginning and it is getting better. The only similarity ti Scandal is an african american female lead. Kerry Washington has more acting experience than Meagan Goode and it shows. However, she is improving and I like the pairing with Wes Brown (Julian) more so than Laz (Will). I actually think Laz is great and love his scenes with Tate Donovan. The issue is the network. NBC has done very little to promote this show. I also think they need to get fresh talent on the writing. If the show gets a second season these are the improvements I would make. They have a talented cast and the show needs som TLC from the network
I love Deception. It does have a similar formula to Revenge and Scandal, but I don’t think it’s a copycat by any means. It’s just in that same league. I think the acting and writing is great. However, Joanna is not very suave. She has her phone conversations with Will out in the open. No wonder everyone’s suspicious. If they clean that up, it will be better. I think that, given a second season and second chance, the ratings will increase.
i love deception put the show back on give it a chance