Jill Marie Jones may not have left the cast of The CW's Girlfriends after all.
The sitcom, which focuses on the lives of four African-American women (Jill Marie Jones, Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, and Persia White) had been one of the most popular shows on UPN's Monday night lineup. Now on the CW fall lineup, it had appeared that Jones (who played Toni Childs on the show) had vanished from the cast list on the CW's website for the series.
Now apparently, that may be a mistake.
According to TMZ.com, Jill Marie Jones is still with the series but has been "working on a few big screen projects." As popular as the site has gotten for its coverage of the Mel Gibson DUI arrest recently, the site failed to mention why her picture hasn't been included back in the cast list on the CW site.
Mara Brock Akil, who is the creator and one of the executive producers of the series, stated in the CW's press tour last month that Jill had left the show and that she and the cast "wish her well" according to TV Guide. Since TMZ.com's report follows shortly after the TV Guide's report on the CW press tour, it's pretty hard to figure the truth between these two.
The only confirmation perhaps for fans of the show is for them to tune into the new season, which starts October 1 on the Sunday night lineup.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Matthew Milam
One glaring error:
the site failed to mention why her picture has been included back in the cast list on the CW site
Should have been.
the site failed to mention why her picture hasn't been included back in the cast list on the CW site.
Never do articles in the morning without coffee.
2 - Matthew Milam
Alright, error fixed
3 - rosalind
Girlfriends is my favorite upn/cw show why break up such a real show. That show has helped me thru some really hard times. Jill is one of the realest characters on the show, as well as Golden. I think they should do everything in their power to keep it real and together. That's for all the real sisters that deal with real drama on a daily.
4 - kay
i love them all together. it wouldnt be girlfriends if it wasnt for self-centered toni!! please bring her back.
5 - Michael W.
This is a real shame. Girlfriends is my favorite show on UPN. It's going to be a real mess without self centered, beautiful and sexy Toni. Something, what ever it takes, should be done to get Jill back.
6 - Jackie
I rush home everyday to catch the 5:30pm and 6:30 rerun episodes of Girlfriends, not to mention the 7:00pm weekly episodes. I like to see what antics the Friends are up to. I Love them ALL (that includes my Willie). I hope to see Toni (Jill Marie) back this season. What is Girlfriends without all the Friends.
7 - Patrice
Self-centered and all, I love that Toni Childs. I hope to see all the girls together.
8 - Angelia Kaess
Please bring Toni back. She makes the show more interesting. Even thow I don't think she alaways give Joan a break in life. Thanks Akss.
9 - Bobbie Allen Coleman
I love the show!! Toni (Jill Marie Jones) and Lynn (Persia White) makes the show extremely funny and sooo REAL!! I love to watch all the reruns and now the new season. Should Toni leave the show, would there ever be another to take her place? I don't think so. Toni should stay along with the others, the show is THE SHOW to watch and William is also another that makes the show. Let them all stay!! I really hope this show continues with all of them (the originals).
Thanks so much from Houston, Texas.
10 - Donieta
I for one truly love this show. I dont know what im going to do because of the new show time on Sundays but i really dont want to see Toni go. She really makes the show. If anyone should go it needs to be Ms.Clayton or at least change her ip a bit
11 - Michelle
The show will die without Toni. She is the balance the group needs. I think without her sassy attitude and conservative wardrobe, her alter ego Joan will fade. The Show needs Toni to survive!
12 - keisha
i will not watch this show without toni.
13 - LONA
GIRLFRIENDS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT TONI, HER CHARACTER IS WHAT ALOT OF WHOM MYSELF IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND IS LIKE. I LOVE HER PRESENCE AND WHAT IT BRINGS TO THE SHOW. THE MOST EXCITING PERSON ON THIS COMEDY IS TONI,JOAN IS PREDICTABLE,MYA IS A REALIST AND PERSIA IS TOO SMART FOR HER OWN GOOD WHO WANTS TO DO ANYTHING AFTER THAT MUCH SCHOOL(5 DEGREES) AT LEAST WITH TONI YA NEVER KNOW WHAT SHE IS GOING TO SAY OR DO. THIS SHOW MAY NOT BE AS SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT HER IS MY PREDICTION IT WILL JUST BE ANOTHER LIVING SINGLE WITHOUT MAX!WE LOVE YOU JILL MARIE JONES WISHING YOU THE BEST ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE CAST!!!! THINK ABOUT YOUR DECISIONS CAREFULLY PEOPLE IT COULD MAKE OR BREAK THE BEST NEW DAY,EVENING OR NIGHT TIME DRAMA.....
14 - Sisquo
I think Monica is being considered to becoming a regular to take Toni's place but there is nor will there ever be a replacement good enough for Toni. I really hope Jill returns to the show. This is becoming a bit Kim Catrall. I think the women of Girlfriends balance each other out. Why destroy something so good for something as petty as money. This show is a milestone! Jill you are missed!
15 - girlfriends fan
according to wikipedia, toni is being replaced by christina vidal. From the link you can click on cast changes
16 - Marri
I LOVE Toni, and I think it's awfull that you would remove her from the show. If you could keep "Friends", "Sinfeld", and the "Sopranos" together. I konw a much smaller cast of minorities such as "Girlfriends" deserves just as much effort to keep the fans happy until it's run it's course.
17 - Caren
please bring back Jill Marie Jones (Toni) she is what makes the show, I am a huge girlfriends fan and the show is not the same with out Toni, she makes it!!!!!!!!!!!!! no one can take the place of JILL MARIE JONES, The one and only TONI !!!!!
18 - Jatia
U All Should Be A Shame Of Ur Self.how Could U Take One Of The Best Characters Off The Show.u Should Have Done Ur Best To Keep Her.was It Money.if So U Should Have Gave It To Her.toni Made The Show.with Toni Being Off The Show,the Show Is Going To Loose Alot Of Ratings.u Showed Rethink Your Decision
19 - Connie
Toni Childs (Jill Marie Jones)was my favorite character. I tried watching tonight, but It's just not the same without her smart mouth! The show is too unbalanced without her. And the character is irreplaceable. I have noticed that the storylines on the show have been kind of blah in recent years; without the Toni Childs character, I hate to say I will no longer watch the show. And I agree with the person who said that Girlfriends without Toni Childs is like Living Single without "Maxine Shaw, Attorney at Law."
20 - ki-ki-
i can't believe it! I came back from europe after 3 weeks and toni is gone!!!!!!! toni made the show. christina vidal cannot replace her. toni's extreme narcissism was so funny and she was the only character with enough personality to keep it becoming the joan show. and with persia and tracee both being mixed having jill marie added the necessary contrast needed. I have watched three episodes on my tivo and it just isn't the same. this show is just the walking dead now.
21 - CAL01
THIS IS BULLSH%T AND THE CW KNOWS IT. I REALLY THINK THE CW COULD CARELESS ABOUT THE ACTUAL VIEWERS OPINION,THEN THE NETWORK HAD THE TANASTY TO PUT 7HEAVEN AND GIL-WHORE GIRLS ON.(ARE THEY SERIOUS?) THE CW HAS REALLY SHI*TTED ON THE VIEWERS THAT THE UPN NETWORK HAS WORKED REALLY HARD TO CREATE. JUST WHEN I THOUGHT THERE WAS A NETWORK THAT REALLY CARED ABOUT CASTING AFRICAN AMERICANS IN ANOTHER LIGHT OTHER THAN RAPPERS PROSTITUES AND DRUG DEALERS, THIS HAPPENS. THEY EVEN TOOK HALF&HALF, EVE OFF AIR WHEN THE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CANCELING VERONICA MARS (SHE SUCKS). FRAISER PLEASE STANDUP AND LET YOUR NUTTS HANG.
22 - CAL01
IF ANYTHING THEY COULD PROBLY USE STACY DASH OR KENYA (1993 MISS USA)MOORE AS A REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER THE REAL TONI CHILDS CHARACTOR WILL BE FOREVER/SORELY MISSED.
23 - Angela, BHAM < AL
Girlfrinds is truly a great show and I think that losing a major charcter like TONI is like friends without Jennifer Anniston. I truly believe that if Toni doesn't come back, I will stick to watching the reruns because the show would have lost its appeal.
24 - Shamzy
Girlfriends is one of my FAVORITE TV shows and without Jill...it just isn't Girlfriends! Yeah, it is still funny, but Jill was hilarious! She was my favorite! I really hope she comes back because the show isnt anything without her!
25 - Frankie M Gordon
Yvonne is okay, she has her style, but Toni Childes Garrett, SHE completed Girlfriends. Get her back......pleeeeese.