Following the success of classic sitcoms like Girlfriends and The Game, the legendary Mara Brock Akil added to her illustrious resume by creating Being Mary Jane, the first drama series BET. Starring Gabrielle Union, the series revolved around the personal and professional life of Mary Jane Paul, an acclaimed television news anchor. The series, which ran from 2013 to 2019, earned acclaim for Akil’s writing and Union’s lead performance.
Being Mary Jane would eventually emerge as BET’s highest-rated show during its tenure for five seasons. Aside from Union, Being Mary Jane also starred Lisa Vidal, Omari Hardwick, Raven Goodwin, Aaron D. Spears, B.J. Britt and Margaret Avery.
By some accounts, Being Mary Jane has gone on to become a fan favorite among viewers. In a 2019 piece for Shadow and Act, writer Nikeisha Williams wrote about the show’s legacy. “Being Mary Jane has tackled many topics” politics, police brutality, addiction, depression, suicide, mental illness, racism, ageism, sexism, hair and breast cancer. As a whole, Being Mary Jane was subtle and nuanced. The series normalized black womanhood without being antagonistic, high-handed, or relying on stereotypes that did more to other us than include.”
But where can fans stream Being Mary Jane? You can stream the show on both Hulu and Paramount+. Being Mary Jane is just one of many television shows from BET streaming on Paramount+. Among other BET shows and movies airing on the streaming on the platform include American Soul, The Real Husbands of Hollywood and The Bobby Brown Story.
Go back and time and watch one of the many trailers for Being Mary Jane below.
