“Ambitions” creator and executive producer Jamey Giddens has been named head writer for the upcoming eighth season of “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” on BET, premiering Wednesday, October 16 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
The news of Giddens’ promotion comes the same day the network unveiled new key art and a first look promo for Season 8 and comes on the heels of a successful Season 7, which is when Giddens joined the show as a staff writer.
Courtesy of Kris10 Photography via Jamey Giddens
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Giddens said, “Earlier this year, I was honored to be asked to take over the writers’ room for @SistasOnBET as Head Writer.” In a separate post he said, “It isn’t lost on me that as so many of my entertainment industry peers still struggle to come back from the pandemic and 2 strikes, I’ve been blessed to pull double duty for @DaysPeacock & @SistasOnBET. Never give up on God or your dreams.”
According to Nielsen, for the second consecutive season “Tyler Perry’s Sistas” was the #1 series on television among Black viewers in the Adults 18-49 demographic and was the #1 series on cable among Black viewers aged 2+ and Black Adults 25-54.
In a statement, the network notes, “‘Tyer Perry’s Sistas’ increased fandom is a testament to BET’s strategic collaboration and expansive creativity with Tyler Perry Studios and the ‘Sistas’ cast, which creates entertaining stories reflecting the Black experience.”
“Tyler Perry’s Sistas” follows a group of single Black females navigating love in their 30s, self-discovery, careers, and friendships through the ups and downs of living in a modern world of social media and unrealistic relationship goals. The series stars KJ Smith, Mignon, Ebony Obsidian, Novi Brown, Crystal Renee’ Hayslett, Devale Ellis, Chido Nwokocha, Brian Jordan Jr., Angela “Angie” Beyincé, Branden Wellington and Kevin A. Walton.
Check out the Season 8 teaser trailer below.
In addition to creating “Ambitions,” which aired for one season on OWN and starred Robin Givens in the lead role, Giddens has been a breakdown writer at “Days of our Lives” off and on since 2020. He also wrote for the spinoff series “Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem” and episodes of ALLBLK’s “The Rich and the Ruthless.”
Before his television work, Giddens made a name for himself as the editorial director for Daytime Confidential, a popular TV news destination featuring breaking news on soaps, talk shows and game shows, daily recaps and spoilers. In 2009, he co-hosted “The 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Pre-Show” alongside former Soap Opera Digest editor-in-chief Stephanie Sloane and the late Canadian journalist Nelson Branco.