SO, just when we thought it was nice having a functional black family structure on TV…

Tracee Ellis Ross will not be returning for the second season of BET’s original series “Reed Between The Lines”. Ross played Dr. Carla Reed, the show’s main character, whose husband, Dr. Alex Reed, is portrayed by Malcolm Jamal Warner. According to reports, when the new season kicks off…Alex & Carla are separated. Carla has found a dream job in Atlanta (which to me makes no sense, because she already owned her own practice) and wants the family to come down with her. Alex doesn’t agree, so he and the kids stay in New York (which also doesn’t make any sense, as Carla’s character doesn’t seem like the type to run off and leave her children, especially when two out of the three aren’t Alex’s biological children.) But… whatever.

It should be noted that Tony Rock has been added to the show as a series regular. He’ll play Alex’s friend, who comes to lend a bit of support in the wake of all of these changes. Honestly they should probably go ahead and cancel it now, or… just run the spin off that they’ve already shot with R&B cutie Jacob Latimore.

As for reasoning behind Ross’ departure… I could only guess that there was a time commitment issue, as she’s been cast in an NBC pilot called “Bad Girls.” It’s a rehashing of a British show of the same title which followed an unlikely group of incarcerated women. Ross will play a successful businesswoman who put off having children to pursue her career, but is now desperate to get pregnant. The tables turn when she’s incarcerated for selling fake mortgages. Sounds interesting… and sounds like the checks are right as well.

What do you think? Will you be watching Reed Between The Lines when it returns in the fall?