Jill Marie Jones, who played Toni Childs, decided to leave regardless of which way the axe fell.
When the WB and UPN decided to merge into the CW, it must have occured to all of the actors and actresses of Girlfriends that they may not be back. Jill Marie Jones, who played Toni Childs, decided to leave regardless of which way the axe fell.…
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— go to most recent comments26 - Paris
I am so sorry to see Girlfriends change this way. Like many people that have posted messages, it was my favorite show also. I loved all of the characters because they are all different and they accepted one another. The show truly showed afro-american women and men in a positive light. It showed that we do not just have Attitudes and fight all the time and that we do have careers and feelings and dreams and ambitions. I cannot say enough how saddened I am to see the disgusting, vulgar, disrespectful things that were written here about Jill Marie Jones. she is a wonderful actress, and yes she brought alot of talent and variety to the show. The fact that those sexually charged comments were made is sickening. It is very sickening because I know they were written by men of color. I cannot express how sad I am about that. I think that the people that wrote those things should come back on here and apologize to Ms. Jones. If you are really a fan don't you think that she would be hurt by the things said? I am sure that Ms. Jones became an actress for the love of the art not so that people will look at her body and make crude comments. That is something "Toni" would like and remember that is just the character she plays. I am sure Ms. Jones would want everyone to want her back for her talents, not for that kind of foolishness. I will never look at these comments again. To all of the people that wrote appropriate encouraging comments that is wonderful, but to the demeaning ones it is very sad. Hopefully, Ms. Jones will be back if not I will miss her too.
27 - into the light
It is like when Fox first started, they had mostly black shows then when they made a name for themselves they cancelled most of the shows. Same here. They are going to incoroporate the girl from sister sister (twin) to take toni's place. On one epsoide she was joan's cousin. Remember she dated the basketball rookie. Toni will be missed she was my girl because she was so self center and full of drama it was funny.
28 - into the light
I say BRING TONI CHILDS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It won't be the same without here!
29 - soulchild
toni and joan are the show. how they gonnaa take her off? white folks..... but i heard she left
30 - Disappointed
I am very disappointed to see that Toni (Jill Marie Jones) has left the show. As others have stated, all the women protrayed a sense of having something different to the show. These women showed black women that we are different but we strive to have the best. I love this show. I think with Jones gone, it will lose some of it's ratings. The others are good, but the four were a package. The show needs to continue to illustrate what the package begin with. As it demonstrates the ups and downs in being in friendships and relationships it should continue to show how friendships can bounce back. Please re-evaluate your casting for this show. Another thought, the change in schedule was a definitely wrong choice.......I really think you will lose many ratings for this network. Bad collobaration.
Very Disappointed!
31 - Deekaye
it's a shame Toni Childs was the best charater and why didn't they get rid of William or Lynn there is no point to these charaters they don't do anything and they have never really had a episode that was revoled around him/her
its stupid
im on a boycott im not watching Girlfriends, i mean really what are they going to talk about now
32 - Angie whitt
Received the article below by email. Is this true?
Can CBS Put ‘The Girlfriends’ Back Together Again?
By Aubrey Helbrect, entertainment writer for The Daily News .
June 15, 2006
The CBS Corporation announced today that, in response to the outrage viewers expressed upon learning of Jill Marie Jones’ possible departure from Girlfriends, the show will be moved to the CBS television network.
Reportedly, the Girlfriends cast members were informed earlier this year that the show’s budget would have to be cut in order for the show to be picked up by rookie network The CW in the fall. The CW is a new television network set to debut in the fall of 2006, which will feature programming from both UPN and the WB.
The four stars of the show, Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, and Jones, alledgedly agreed that they would stand together and refuse the network’s lowball offer. A report from mediatakeout.com claims that the other three actresses cracked under pressure from the network, but Jones held firm, eventually declining to return for the show’s seventh season.
A spokesperson for the CBS corporation says, “The fans of the show [Girlfriends] have rallied in support of the show and shown great admiration for the actresses who portray the girlfriends.” In response to an outpouring of criticism from fans across the nation, the CBS corporation will attempt to secure more advertising dollars per thirty-second ad in hopes of maintaining current salaries for the actresses, and possibly raising their salaries in the future.
Girlfriends will be one of few African-American programs to air on a major television network since the establishment of UPN and The WB in 1995.
33 - Matthew Milam
I'll look this up, but if it is true, I'll do a follow up.
34 - BRANDON
WHAT THE HELL IS Y'ALL PROBLEM.REMOVING TONI FROM THE SHOW SHE'S THE FINEST OUT OF ALL THE WOMEN, THE ONE THAY SHOULD OF REPLACED WAZ WILLIAM. WE WILL MISS TONI BUT WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES ANOTHER WILL OPEN LET'S PROTEST
35 - TexasDRO
Whoa! Girlfriends on CBS........what's next....Hogan Knows Best on BET.
P.S. Ya'll give my nigga William some credit, he did manage to stay around long enough to smash on Lynn, AND Joan!
36 - Jules
Girlfriends and Half and Half were the only shows I watched on the UPN Network. With "Toni " leaving it just upsets the groups dynamics. Most of the African-American based shows have been dunped by the merger of upn/wb.The only good thing is the bought to the cw is "Smallville" and "Supernatural". Was there talk of "Girlfriends" going to cbs.
37 - Pamelicious
Girlfriends is gone....TONI CHILDS was the main reason I liked that show. I can not believe that EVE is gone and Love, Inc (Holly-Robinson Peete) I swear I'm so sick of lily white Hollywood I could scream!!!!!!!!! Looks like cable is required to watch CW....that counts me out...Not a cable subscriber....I guess I'll be watching the NFL on NBC on Sunday nights instead!!!!
38 - ACE
If Toni Childs go, I won't be watching "Girlfriends"anymore. She made the show!!
39 - gworthy
Love Toni. Hope they find a way to keep her on the show. I wish Half and Half was renewed also. I really loved that show as well.
40 - Antoinette
How is that majority of all of the african-american shows got cancelled (cuts, eve, one on one, Bernie Mac, half and half) these shows made you laugh, but you keep these problem shows that have drama and disrespectful kids with outragous problems like on Gilmore Girls and then that far fetched Veronica Mars! There is enough drama and problems is the world let us laugh at something. And please get Jill Marie Jones back(and not a replacement)the show will get cancelled without her.
41 - renee
it is so disappointing that Toni will not be back. Those four girls together had the best chemistry ever.I was always there on Monday nights waiting to see my "crew." Please don't let that spark die. We love you Jill Marie Jones.
42 - Sharon D.
I love Girlfriends! and Toni Child's was one of the main reasons why. I hope that CBS does pick up girlfriends and bring the whole cast back. It is an awesome show and the dynamcics between the women are great!. There is no need to mess up the greatness!!. KEEP THE SHOW TOGETHER AND GIVE WILLIAM A LARGER ROLE!!!!!
43 - Mrs. D.C. Jones
Toni Chiles leaves the show?
"WHAT A HOTT STANKY MESS!"
The Show will never ever be the same.
Every character on the show has a special part of the equation.
Without Toni Chiles, the equation WILL NOT balance.
I LOVE GIRLFRIENDS, AND I THINK THAT THE RATINGS WILL DROP TREMENDOUSLY WITHOUT JILL MARIE JONES.
SHE IS MY FAVORITE CHARACTER ON THE SHOW.
I WILL LOVE TO SEE HER RETURN.
44 - #44 shanda
i can't believe my only favorite show in the whole wide world is losing a character. I loved toni's outfits. I'm so fucking pissed off.
45 - M. Mace
Jill Marie Jones made the show for me. Period. She is not only the best looking woman on there, her character is the most complex and entertaining. I won't be tuning in next season.
46 - Addie loves Grilfriends
Oh my goodness, I just found out today. That doesnt make me happy at all. I was wondering why every girlfriends commercial I saw didnt have Jill. Bringing her back would be best for the show. FFFRREEE JIIILLL!!!!
47 - Mr. Toni Childs
I am highly upset that Girlfriends will be losing Miss Toni Childs/ Jill Marie Jones. I am so pissed! Like many others have said it will not be a show without her!!! My friends refer to me as the male version of Toni Childs. She had me highly amused and was the finest out of all of them. Why cant black people have SOMETHING. No one took the characters of "FRIENDS" away. I don't care if you have to take away another SHOW AS LONG AS YOU KEEP JILL MARIE JONES!!!!
48 - Precious
A Petition should be started. The show is on cliffhanger now! I still don't get it about this merger! After this so called merger what will happen to the WB and UPN? What will come on? Just a big ole' mess!!! They better get Toni back and pay her because it is one season left!!! And move it back to Monday nights!!! These networks ruin black television
49 - chris
i love all my girls but mya should have left she's the only one who's done with her life. joan needs to get married,lynn needs to do something with her career and get a man, toni needs to get child support or get married and some money,and william needs a female!!!
50 - a real girlfriend
I think Toni was a lousy girlfriend. If I had a friend like her I wouldn't be her friend. I enjoy the show because I like the character Joan. She's the only real friend on the show.
51 - Cindy
Toni was my role model. Its over now. I guess I will be watching more reality shows
52 - Roxanne
Toni leaving Girlfriends would be like Samantha leaving Sex & The City. Girlfriends for me meant more than Sex & the City meant to white women. It showed black women in a positive light & how we live & love each other. It also displayed how black women struggle in relationships between each other & w/ men, but also showed that at the end of the day, it is best to have your best girlfriend(s) around.
53 - paula
I cannot believe that they are taking tony off. this show will be nothing without her. the four of them had chemistry. these four black women showed black women that we can be friends and trust one another. society think black women cannot be friends like the women on sex and the city
54 - Puzzled
And WHY isn't a single season of Girlfriends available on dvd yet??????
55 - ERICKA
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH UPN? WHY THE HELL WILL THEY LET TONY GO SHE WAS THE SHOW IN MY OPINION THEY SHOULD OF LET JOAN,MAYA,LINN AND WILLIAM GO AND TONI HAVE HER OWN SITCOM BEING A SINGLE MOTHER RAISING HER BABY IF SHE IS NOT BACK ON THE SHOW I WILL NEVER WATCH IT AGAIN AND I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE FELL THE SAME WAY I DO. NOW I HAVE NOTHING TO WATCH SINCE THEY ARE CANCELING ALL THE BLACK SHOWS. P.S UPN WB CW WHATEVER THE NAME IS GET IT TOGETHER BEFORE YOU ARE BANKRUPT
56 - Paige
I hope the powers that be at CW read these comments regarding Jill Marie Jones. Please bring her back. I think taking her off is going to result in poor ratings for the show & you know that means cancellation. This show is important to black women.
57 - MsDyme
I love Girlfriends. It is one of the few positive black shows we have now. Toni was my girl!! She was shallow, but real. She always knew what to say, and no matter how bitchy it sounded, it was usually true. This show will not stand on this new white network without this shinning star. What the hell were they thinking? And where the he IS a Girlfriends DVD collection? Most long running shows on all of the other networks have DVD collections, why not Girlfriends? I am upset and very disappointed.
58 - Banilla
I also can't believe Toni is leaving. I would must rather sacrificing Lynn. HEr storyline is getting old with her still trying to find herself. Toni was the only character who women in the 30 year old bracket could relate to. At least her life was in order unlike the other characters. Please reconsider letting Toni go. Lord, what will we do.
59 - Debbie
I'm very sad to see Toni exit what used to be my favorite show on TV. I watched it from the very beginning, told all my friends about it, and was able to persuade my friends to switch from Aly McBeal (which was on another network at the same time)to 'Girlfriends' instead. I even got my husband to watch it with me each week. Now, I think Girlfriends' plots have become stale. After 6 years, I look forward to this being the last season. I'll miss Eve more....
60 - FELICE
AS IF GIRLFRIENDS COULD STAND TO LOOSE VIEWERS, LETTING JILL MARIE JONES GO WAS AN ACT OF STUPIDITY. SORRY, BUT THE SHOW HAS NOW LOST ANOTHER FAN - ME!!
61 - Male Fan
"Girlfriends" has great potential and Jill Marie Jones's character underlies this potential. Besides her wit, timing, and presence, Jill's character on the show is important because she is evolving and growing (e.g., entreprenuer, single mom, growing apart from her best and longest held friend, while growing closer to Lynn and Maya.) Perhaps this provides a natural opening for Maya's character to further evolve and mature (without losing her edge.) Character growth on a sitcom is a feat rarely seen on modern sitcoms but the writers and actresses on this show have begun to achieve this growth while maintaining the humor. This combination ultimately makes the show more appealing and ripe for longevity. Please do not allow this journey to end allowing Jill to move on prematurely. Her departure will severely blunt if not derail the show's trajectory.
62 - MATINA
WITHOUT TONY CHILDS, THE SHOW WOULD NEVER BE THE SAME. FIND A WAY TO GET HER BACK OR ELSE THE SHOW WILL BE BOYCOTTED.
63 - MS.B
With school starting back this was definite the best Monday night RR for me. I will miss your role and I definite will not be watching. I was not happy when they skirted around the pregnancy and what seem to be was less air time for your character. If you read this best wishes in your new endeavous. This show is a wrapp!!! It's over.
To Jill go for the movies you are blessed with a gift of Entertaining Art even with the commercials you bring a real unique element.
64 - CC
I am a 55 yr old woman who gets teased everytime I rush to watch Girlfriends. Well...I guess I will not be teased anymore because I will not be watching the show this fall if the Toni Childs character is not returning. Even though she was self-centered and in your face, she added a certain something to the mix of characters that will be surely missed.
65 - MsBosyDiva
DAMN YOU CW FOR TAKING AWAY THE NUMBER 1 DIVA TONI CHILDS YOU BETTER NOT TAKE MY GIRL OFF THIS SHOW HELL JILL MARIE IS GIRLFRIENDS. I CANT GET MY PRADA ON WITH OUT HER. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEE BRING HER BACK TO THE SHOW ARE THERE WILL BE NO SHOW!!!! OH HELL NAW WE AINT HAVING THAT.
66 - Hype
we need to petition the show- Jill Marie needs to come back!!
67 - Matthew Milam
Petitions aren't going to work. For one, this decision has already happened long before any of us found out about it. Two, Mara Brock Akil already spoke of this situation while at a press conference for the CW (although briefly).
The whole thing is on tvguide.com, I don't know the exact URL to the article where this is talked about, but it shouldn't be hard to miss.
68 - Lil Mama
I really like Toni Childs. Girlfriends wont be the same without her. I dont know if the show will be as good without her. In my opion Toni was one of the ones who made the show. She has got to come back.
69 - C Ude
I never had any interest in watching TV, until I happened to see an episode of "Girlfriends" and I was hooked. The thing that I was most worried about was that the show will one day go off the air, and it terrifies me that I wont know how to deal with it when the time comes. But it never occured to me that you "bone heads" will try to shoot yourselves in the foot by meddling with the chemistry that made the show what it is.
What are you people smoking up there, how do you expect that show to be funny and exciting to watch without "Toni Childs". What will "Joan" do without Toni to exasperate her.
Ms Jones gave something very unique to "Toni" She made her the funniest and most unpredictable
of all the characters. All the girls do compliment one another.
But without Ms. Jones in the show, you should find a new name for the show because "Girlfriends" will be inapropriete. And it wont last long because it wont be funny.
Toni and the girls has become members of my family, P L E A S E don't let her go.
WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!
70 - ellie
Girlfriend is a great show that no matter who you are, you will be able to laugh and learn somthing about the dynamics different types of relationships.
71 - Bigman118
I say that if you are not going to do the show correctly then you should not be doing it at all.The cast of "Girlfriends" is by far and away the best looking women on all of t.v.and Jill Marie Jones is the is the best looking of the bunch.I will not be watching the CW.Period.
72 - Matthew Milam
If any of you want to get information on who to write to about this situation. Head over to my personal weblog attached to this comment (by clicking the URL button under my name) and I'll have the addresses for you.
73 - Naomi
they might as well cancel da damn show if their gonna take a cast member off!! it will not work it will nevea be "Girlfriends" unless they have all the orginal characters Joan,toni,maya,lynn and william !!!! if they air the show with only 3 girlfriends the show will be cancel because it will lose its fans and ratings betta figure somethin out .......
74 - drea
I about sure that every family looked foward to Monday nights to watch Girlfriends! Tony was just about the best chaceter. Losing her means losing a lot of viewers. So good luck on that. And join UPN and WB was the worst idea. UPN was a great channel with great shows. And WB also has great shows. But they're not ment to be combined. That just messes up things. A lot of shows are going OUT of business!!!
75 - browneyes
Stop it with all this nonsense about Lynn and Reggie! I love Girlfriends and I'm a faith watcher but all of them is what make the show good. If you didn't have Reggie always helping Joan or Lynn needing a place to go what will it be like. Reggie is very funny he makes alot of comments that makes you laugh. I really don't like that they took jill off. I don't know how this will work. I guess we'll have to stay tune and see.