Actress Gabrielle Union said her new role in BET’s “Being Mary Jane” is “better than ‘Scandal'” — the role she lost to actress Kerry Washington. In a recent interview to promote ‘Mary Jane,’ Union suggested that the ‘Scandal’ role was not up to her usual standards.
“I didn’t get ‘Scandal,’ but I got something better — which is my own show,” Union said. “It’s all about building a legacy. This new opportunity is something I feel that can grow.”
While her words may sound like sour grapes, Union is grateful for Washington’s success in ‘Scandal’ because it means more work for black actresses like her.
“I said to myself, ‘Oh my God, these roles are out there,’” Union said. “It showed me that you don’t have to settle. Luckily, the success of her and the show bred more work.”
Union plays a beautiful, but lonely, news anchor in the TV movie “Being Mary Jane,” which premieres Tonight on BET. She said the role is a departure from the typical roles that her fans have grown accustomed to seeing her play.
“If you loved me for one thing and may not have liked me in something else, this role gives the audience a chance to see that I can do more than one thing,” she said.
To prepare for her role in “Being Mary Jane,” Union spent time studying under biracial news anchor Soledad O’Brien, who the series is loosely based on.
O’Brien, who was fired from CNN, was known for hosting CNN’s award-winning documentary TV series “Black in America.”
“Being Mary Jane” will air as a TV series on BET beginning in January 2014.
Photos: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
I like it better when she was referred to as >Industry Bicycle Gabrielle Union..
I doubt if it will be better than scandal
“Her own show” will be canceled after a season. I’m certain.
NO she said “I didn’t get Scandal, but I got something better…my own series.”
Translation: I got a better opportunity for myself
Sigh…well that’s my take on it
I’ve never seen 5mins of Scandal so, I can’t say if it’s better or not. Either way, I wish her the best.
That’s not what she said.
I doubt she gives us anything more than she usually does as far as her acting range but I will still tune in all the same.
Greetings
SN – Anybody been keeping up with G. Zimmermans trial?
IONO she did a little better in Cadillac Records. Honestly, it’s not like she ever tends to get DEEP roles anyway. Maybe she’ll surprise us.
No I haven’t. Any good news?
<—My mother kept my baby dress all these years
Good Morning Family,
I just wanted to pop in and say thanks for all your prayers and words of encouragement for me and my family during this time. Your love was felt.
Talk to you all soon!
<—My mother kept my baby dress all these years
Good Morning Family,
I just wanted to pop in and say thanks for all your prayers and words of encouragement for me and my family during this time. Your love was felt.
Talk to you all soon!
Listening to the trail
Gabby I hope this works for you. BET is doing a lot of pub for this
Girl, the only people riding for you and giving you best wishes are homewrecking heaux who don’t see anything wrong with your homewrecking ways. I try to support black people and their endeavors, but this ratchet bish here, nope, I’ll pass on that one. Not interested.
Will Gabby ever play anyone else except the same character in every movie?
Her usual standard? “Think Like A Man”, “Good Deeds”, “The Honemooners”, “Deliver Us From Eva”, “Two Can Play That Game”, “She’s All That” & “Bring It On”… Yeah, with Oscar-quality body of work.. How dare they offer her a pissy role like Olivia Pope!
I’ll watch but I doubt if it is better than Scandal
Carrington says:

Her usual standard? “Think Like A Man”, “Good Deeds”, “The Honemooners”, “Deliver Us From Eva”, “Two Can Play That Game”, “She’s All That” & “Bring It On”… Yeah, with Oscar-quality body of work.. How dare they offer her a pissy role like Olivia Pope!
__________________
I wasn’t going to go there
Mouths
NOT!
“I didn’t get ‘Scandal,’ but I got something better — which is my own show,” Union said. “It’s all about building a legacy. This new opportunity is something I feel that can grow.”
@Daisy says:
SN – Anybody been keeping up with G. Zimmermans trial?
_________________
I try to, but those witnesses make me want to through my computer out my window.
This trick need to have several
matta fact i aint eem gone watch her show for blaspheme. ole hatin azz!
girls compete w/each other, women empower each other
#Getcholifegabby
This role is no different than Deliver Us from Eva. But do you boo. Do you.
She was good in Neo Ned. But um there is only one show better than Scandal and thats GOT.
not that i was gone watch after that stunt she pulled on Dwade’s ex wife
gm SR
& ROSES!
<—remote to change the channel & not watch this show
Bytch got a show on the negro channel..
Keri got a show on the sprite man channel…and was renewed for another season.
We know how BET does when it comes to their shows..them shyts crash and burn. Be careful Gabby wet lips..be very careful.
Wut :hugs:
@Mz, Yes, she showed a little more range in Cadillac Records. She’s a cute girl never been my FAV actresses though.
@ Carrington….That’s what I meant about her never having any DEEP work. I can’t say she’ll be awful because i’ve only seen her ass act ONCE!
This witness for the defense Porky’s best friend wroe a book on what occured and he said he left the bad cuss words Trayvon said to Porky because they were bad words and the publisher didn’t want them in there? BS! And how are you writing a book if you weren’t there trick. Oh let me guess you ghost wrote it like Pilar’s friends.
I think everybody tried out for the role of Olivia Pope
Scandal would not have as good of ratings if she was Oliva Pope #ijs
@ Daisy….She’s not even an actress I like! She’s right up there with Elise Neal and Tamala Jones in my book. Well, atleast Tamala is funny.
Fayla
hey purty lady
I hope the show gets cancelled during its airing. This bytch ain’t chit. Keep your legs closed to married men, Gabby! Your old, but young looking azz think it’s ok to treat Siovaughn any type of way. Home wrecking wretched slore.
It’s not even unusual for Gabby to treat other women poorly. Doubt the bytch has friends. She may go after their men too. She knows no boundaries.
She’s jelly of Scandal because the sprite people didn’t want her nonacting azz on their show.
Hey Fam
Well she’s about a bitter, tooth-sucking, Monchichi faced bish inn’t she?
I have never cared for her. And I don’t think I am alone when I say that the Scandal fam would not have liked her as Olivia Pope. Kerry has some mystery about her. This bish is Sigma Six certified in all things whore-ish.
She’s lying to herself and others. Isn’t that morally corrupt?
We ARE talm’bout Gabrielle “Schwinn” Union.
But oh!
DIMPZ!
gm mami
Smonae!
gm lovely one! how the heck are ya?
kahmmillion, I love you today and forever.

I sweater-gawd I just hollered out loud.
*scrolls back up to reread, and then to read the rest.*
caint nobody make an entrance like that damn KAY i tell ya!
hey guhl! 
Whatever, I’m finally on to scandal :woot: Love it…I could see Gabrielle playing it
I read it, and my interpretation was completely different…Congrats to her, I wish her success. I’m a fan of the Akil family.
Home wrecking wretched slore.
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Gat dayum sistah!
I didn’t like the preview that I saw with her being the only breadwinner in her family and her berating them for being losers and one girl getting pregnant all the time. Then the scene where she is in the car with her obeast family member who ALSO happens to have the multiple kids and she tells her that her being fat and “unattractive” is no excuse because she had the same chances as her. As much as I would like to say that is true :stop: let’s be honest. Pretty, skinny people traditionally get things a bit easier than over less attractive overweight ones. Gabby started her career off in modeling which opened the door to acting. Modeling is based on what? Looks.
Union plays a beautiful, but lonely, news anchor in the TV movie “Being Mary Jane,” which premieres Tonight on BET. She said the role is a departure from the typical roles that her fans have grown accustomed to seeing her play.
_________________
Still seems like her same usual role to me
Gigi26 says:
Bytch got a show on the negro channel..
*****************************
Shoot me now.
Gigi, you ain’t gone be shyt today. I just feel it in my panky toe.
That statement did come off bitter as hell, I got something better
Bish please EBT fluck up every show they get their hands on
ex: The Game
This bish is Sigma Six certified in all things whore-ish.
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TELL THE TRUTH AND SHAME THE DEVIL!!!! YAAS Lawdt
Ok folk I must have been under a rock can someone please tell me what happened why do you all call her a home wrecker did she cheat with D wade while he was with his wife.
Why fo come ya’ll leff me down stairs??????
Ya’ll ain’t chit for it neitha you know it takes me time to waddle to a new post & chit 
Hell yeah, Daisy! Cicily Tyson, Stephano Demira, Martha Reeves & Vanilla Ice would’ve been Olivia Pope if ABC would’ve let them be!
Gigi26 says:
Bytch got a show on the negro channel..
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EEERRRRMMMMAAAAGGGAAAWWWWDDDDD

Gabriel “Tempur-Pedic” Union
@Luvyn I’d those tixs… girl poor Toni done fell off… You can get front row floor seats for $265 that’s the cheapest I’ve ever seen.
$265!!!
girl
im caller 10!
You know I was gonna give Gabby wet lips a pass but she done came for Keri who has a WIDE RANGE of SPECTACULAR FILMS
Lift-where she played a shoplifter of luxury goods (when I first fell in love with her)
Save the Last Dance-don’t yall judge me. Her wash n go was errythang!
That movie where she played a lipstick lesby and Anthony Mackie was shooting awf in errybody..
And last but not least, Ray.
Gabby if you ever. Shut your tangled remy ass sew in ass up! I seent that shyt on Sunday boo. More than one occasion. Got some of Dwade’s babies stuck in that shyt huh
gbellab says:
“Her own show” will be canceled after a season. I’m certain.
________________
Why such hate? Why can’t we congratulate the sista?
30.I think everybody tried out for the role of Olivia Pope
They did. Including a few non union actors. Very few work for Black women. They throw one roll out there and sit back and watch them brawl over it. Welcome to Hwood. Don’t expect things to change any time soon though. Ita hard for actors to demand respect, when the audience doesn’t even care
@ Beta….IONO and i’m not condoning her actions at all if she did but, she catches more hell than him and HIS ass was the one that was married not her. I don’t get the Homewrecker comments about anyone male or female when someone leaves their spouse to be with them. If i’m married and my man leaves me to be with someone else, HIS ASS is the one that did me dirty. Unless that broad is in my life personally as well, she doesn’t owe me shyt.
thursday august 29th at the james L Knight Center
I won em!!
@Miany
But let’s be clear I don’t think just because you aren’t a supermodel or thin you are doomed for failure. I just mean that sometimes when the person delivering the message has a brazen delivery AND has no experience in what the other person’s struggle is it comes off as phony or insensitive. That’s like me telling Tink Tink that if he just lift his legs a little higher he could have run the hurdles.
Hey Fay-Bay, and all my other Boo’s too! Dimpz and my Bad-Bad, and Jenie, and MissTaken, and Brendan, and WUT-WUT anyone else I miss, charge it to my head and not my heart, what up doe.
Betamax82 says:
Ok folk I must have been under a rock can someone please tell me what happened why do you all call her a home wrecker did she cheat with D wade while he was with his wife.
__________________
Pretty much
word is he was still married, (exasperated) but still married when he started dating Gabs
Chile meant separated
Bren Tails

@ Betamax82: That’s the rumor. But you know what they say about rumors.
Why such hate?
Because you elicited such by misleading the audience with your interpretation of what she said.
Gabby if you ever. Shut your tangled remy ass sew in ass up!
************************************
Are we related? I swear fo’ neckbones I can’t stand yo’ azz today.

@ Dimpz thats right he was married why is she catching all the backlash
Oh Gabby gets the flack she does because that bytch was malicious whore! Bytch ain’t give two shyts about nobody and she herself said it was a “Mean Girl.” Don’t let the smile fool you….
But if GOD can deliver Dwade’s parents from a DEA raided home and they got all they teef, he can do the same for ole Gabby wet lips.
Won’t he do it?
@ Beta…No idea!
Dude is going to get off, when I saw testimony from those cops yesterday. He is going to walk free. In my opinion though starting to believe Travon didn’t lay a finger on Zimmerman, those wounds are self inflicted wounds
but of course the jury will say other wise. This trial is nothing but a hush trial IMO. Just to shut the masses up, cause folks was raising hell bout not arresting this dude 
oh. is that BRENDEN?
Ya’ll is going IN on gabby
I CANT
But she does sound BITTER AS HELL RIGHT NOW. YOU GOT YOUR OWN SHOW ON THE FOOD STAMPS NETWORK… SO DID T.J. HOLMES, TRACY ELLIS ROSS, and THEO and how did that TURN OUT MADAM
Hah gabby, try agane
Killa got a friend on the stand, who wrote a bunch lies is on the stand who is happens to be a ex deputy testifying for George. NONSENSENCIAL BULLCHIT
Im not feeling good about this trial the prosecutor is not hitting hard enough
He is not asking the right questions IMO 
____________
:wave: Roses & Thorns
Hey Tyddy bear
Gabby ain’t the only one that sounds bitter
I’ll be watching looks interesting BUT she played a similar character on “Deliver Us From Eva”
therapist1911 says:
Gabby ain’t the only one that sounds bitter
______________________
Aint that the truth…If we based our watching tv,movies or listening to movies based on what ppl did we would be reading all day. Let all that is without sin cast the first stone…
Gabby is not a ‘strong’ actress so…..anyway.
I may check it out but I’m not staying up to 10:30 to watch it I like I did Scandal. I will set my DVR.
Ididntreallymeanit says:
I doubt if it will be better than scandal
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AGREED
Plz. Had she gotten scandal, it would be cancelled by now. She has no depth or range as an actress ive said this many times.
She can’t carry a show. I can already tell it will be DOO DOO. It’s be canceled just like Read Between the Lines was.
Oh ok.. is this just a wack AZZ BET movie?
Did anyone catch D Wade give Official Shade in the audience at the BET Awards when she was on stage saying about she got a ‘Younger Man?’. Camera panned to him and he was like ’emotionless’ then made up for it when he got the achievement award. LOL Gabby would not have been a good Olivia Pope. #ijs
And just last week she was telling Oprah and the sistahs how she “used to be a mean girl.” Whatever Gabby. Your bitterness seeps from your pores into every role I’ve ever seen you play. You can’t help it. Best of luck with that…and that fake relationship you’re in–I caught that shade too Fieryearthchild.
I don’t care what any of you say!!! Gabby is doing it BIG!!!! I support her and will be watching “Being Mary Jane”. I am loving it!!! The majority of BET sitcoms are on point!!!! “Loves” it!!!!
Gabby is a lie! This mess is awful — writing, acting, and producing.