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.
Of course the season finale of the show last week was probably a telling sign -- in a moment of craziness, Joan (played by Ross) drank herself to death at a party and ended up missing a custody battle between Toni and her estranged husband Todd (Jason Pace). Although Toni won custody of her child Morgan, Joan felt that she had let down Toni and lost a friend forever. It was mentioned by one of the characters that all of their friendships had been growning apart -- having seen the show over the years, this did come with a bit of truth.
For further confirmation, one needed to do no more than to look at the network's web pressence for the show.
Three out of the four girls (Persia White, Golden Brooks and Tracee-Ellis Ross) have their pictures up on the CW website and are mentioned as a threesome in the related show info.
Hopefully there will be further developments as to whether she will return to the series for guest appearances. But judging by the episode and the lack of Marie Jones' picture on the site, it seemed highly doubtful that would happen anytime soon.
Posted by Matthew at May 20, 2006 11:34 AM | TrackBackThanks for a geat review.
Posted by: Sulamite3 at May 24, 2006 05:10 AMi am beyond upset at this latest rumor that jill marie jones aka "toni" is leaving the show...there is no way the show can go on the same without her... she is beautiful and talented..she convinced me that there is a toni childs in in all of our circles...her character is hilarious but real...there will be no reason to watch girlfriends without ms. jones...the other actresses are fine but she is the real reason i watched the show..not to mention most shows where there are a group of people you rely on all of them together to give you the whole of the show!...i pray this is just some misinformation...guess i'll just watch the reruns if she's no longer on...
Posted by: kim stewart at May 31, 2006 02:27 PMI'd have to agree with Kim on this one. I'm upset too at the fact that Jill is (supposedly) leaving on one hand, but from what was reported, the new network asked the actresses to take a pay cut and Jill decided against...whereas the other 3 agreed. I'm curious to see the direction they're going to go in without Jill's character, Toni seeing that her character actually made up a huge percentage of the show's success. I mean come on, from the beginning episodes to current episodes, Joan and Toni have been off and on arguing and it has created suspense and humor between the four ladies. I'm still convinced that one of the show's best episodes was when she married Todd and at the same time got into an argument with Joan but reconciled at the end.
I will definitely miss Toni's character. I must admit, her character definitely had to grow on me. I thought she was so self-centered and conceited, but over the years the writers began to show a different, more warmer side to Toni and it was refreshing. There was so much more they could've done with Toni's character, too.
I wish Jill nothing but the best in her career. I look forward to seeing her on other shows and/or on the big screen in the near future.
OK..i just read about this over at mediatakeout.com, and if the story they are telling is true, i will most certainly not be watching "Girlfriends" anymore. I don't see how they think this show can go on without Toni Childs. She is the girl everyone loves to hate..and we were starting to actually kinda like her. Shoot..if it came down to pay cuts, they coulda let William or Lynn go (nothing personal; i like both actors, but the characters are simply not as interesting as Toni's). I also wish Jill Marie Jones the best; she is a beautiful Sista, and i'm sure we will be seeing her again. Here's where you can find the story: http://www.mediatakeout.com/Exclusives/Girlfriends.html
Posted by: KayKay at June 3, 2006 06:23 AMoh my goodness...my life is over! since jill marie jones is leaving girlfriends, there is really no reason to watch. aside from joan, she is basically the main charactr of te show! i honestly feel like they should just cancel the how if all of the girlfriends are not going to be a part. it just won't be the same...there is no way that it will be nearly as successful as before. i'm so sad.
Posted by: kristen at June 7, 2006 10:28 PMbut u know what i thot they was gonna be there final season after this, cuz in chicago, sthe hughleys started being shown on channel 26 then after that the next season they had thier series final, then the parkers was on channel 26 then next season they had thier season final, girlfriends has been on channel 26 for a while now... so its only a matter of time
Posted by: soulchild at June 15, 2006 10:29 PMI HAVE WATCHED THE SHOW EVERY SINCE THE 3RD SEASON. THERE IS NO WAY, THAT THIS SHOW WILL WORK WITHOUT JILL MARIE JONES. THE SISTERS NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND UNDERSTAND THAT THEY MAY NEED TO KEEP THEIR JOB BUT THEY SHOULD NOT SELL OUT A FRIEND TO DO IT. THE SHOW WORKS WITH ALL OF THE GIRLS. IT WILL NOT WORK WITH JILL OFF THE SHOW. I GUESS AS LONG AS YOU HAVE JOB FOR ANOTHER YEAR, BECAUSE IT WILL BE CANCELLED AFTER THE SEASON WITHOUT JILL. THEY WILL LOSE A LOT OF VIEWERS. PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS DECISION.
Posted by: shelly at June 19, 2006 10:33 PMThere is no way that the show can work with out jill. I have loved her since the beginning when she and Maya had their fights. She gives homor to the show. And if she does leave then i'm not sure if i will still watch it as much as I do.
Posted by: Lynn Jameson at June 21, 2006 10:47 AMI had a comment posted at blogcritics where this article is and got a comment about CBS trying to bring back Girlfriends. It could be false, but i'm trying to verify it.
Posted by: Matthew Milam at June 21, 2006 10:56 AMI'm seriously going to miss Ms. Toni Childs, but I'm still going to watch Girlfriends, I can't wait to see the direction they move the show in without her hopefully she'll do cameo appearances.
Posted by: Rashad at July 1, 2006 11:55 PM