For Better or Worse (2011 TV series)

***For Better or Worse*** is an American television sitcom created, written and executive produced by Tyler Perry, based on and acting as a spin-off to his 2007 film *Why Did I Get Married?* and its sequel *Why Did I Get Married Too?*. Characters introduced in the films return, with the actors reprising their respective roles. The show aired for two seasons on TBS from 2011 to 2012, after which the network declined to renew the series. Afterwards, it was picked up by the Oprah Winfrey Network, where it ran for an additional four seasons from 2013 to 2017.

## Premise

The show is a not-so-subtle situation comedy following the zany and sometimes tumultuous relationship of a lovesick married couple, Marcus and Angela Williams. Marcus is a football player turned sports commentator who owns his own sports show, while Angela is his edgy and outspoken wife who is dedicated to her husband and children. The show also follows the lives of Marcus and Angela's friends as well.

## Cast

* Tasha Smith as Angela Williams - Marcus' sparkplug of a wife, the affluent and successful owner of *Lady Angie's* hair salon and hair care products; she is originally from Camden, New Jersey and has a degree in chemistry. She has a hatred for Marcus' ex-girlfriend Keisha throughout the entire series.
* Michael Jae Williams as Marcus Williams - Angela's husband, a former football player and owner of a highly rated sports show *C-Sports Now*. Season 1 focuses on his infidelity struggles with Angela, confirming his innocence by the beginning of season 2. It is revealed in Season 4 that he had unknowingly fathered another child.
* Jason Olive as Joseph Jetson - Marcus' partner at *C-Sports Now* and best friend since college, a former tennis player and Leslie's husband-to-be. He and Leslie break up at the end of season 2 over their sexual attraction with each other and feelings for marriage, but he still has feelings for her and tries winning her back throughout season 3, after which they get back together.
* Crystale Stewart as Leslie Morris - Angela's best friend since college, a real estate agent and Joseph Jetson's fiancé. Leslie breaks off her relationship with Joseph at the end of season 2; she later grows attracted to high school friend Chris, whom she marries in the season 2 finale and season 3 premiere. In season 3, she begins to have conflicted feelings towards Joseph, after which she and Chris divorce after he finds out about this.
* Kent Faulcon as Richard Ellington - Marcus' partner and CFO at *C-Sports Now*, and other best friend since college. He previously dated Keisha, a former baseball player and Marcus' assumed babymama, but broke up with her after finding out what kind of person she was and has anger management issues with her in season 4. He is dating Jennifer in season 5.
* Cocoa Brown as Jennifer - Angela's comedic best friend from childhood, also from Camden, New Jersey and stylist at *Lady Angie's*. She has two kids. In season 5, she develops a relationship with Richard.
* Bobbe J. Thompson as Marcus "M.J." Williams, Jr. (Seasons 1-2) - Marcus and Angela's son.
* Brad James as Todderick "Todd" Andrews - A former baseball player and intern at *C-Sports Now* who can be a good and irritating friend to Marcus, Joseph, and Richard. In season 5, he learns that he fathered a child with a woman named Shawn.
* Chandra Bulley as Miss V (Seasons 1-2, 4-6; recurring season 3) - Marcus and Angela's housekeeper.
* Bobbi Kristina Brown as Tina (Season 2) - Jennifer's college-aged daughter.
* Kiki Haynes as Ro'Keisha Jones (Seasons 2-6; recurring season 1) - Marcus' troublesome ex-girlfriend, who ignites bitter feuds with Angela throughout the series. She dated Richard and has a degree in accounting, after which they married and divorced. In season 4, after the divorce settlement, she is working with Marcus, Joseph, Richard, and Todd at *C-Sports Now*.

### Recurring

* Teka Brandon as Dominique Williams (Seasons 1-3) - Keisha's daughter, believed to be Marcus' daughter until Season 2.
* Jermaine L. Brantley (Season 1) and Cedric Stewart (Season 2) as Tyrik - A contractor and Angela's old flame in college.
* Rhyon Nicole Brown as Pam (Season 4) - Marcus' 17-year-old daughter, who he unknowingly fathered.
* Dorsey Levens as Benny (Season 6) - Marcus' ex-teammate and friend who once shared an intimate past with Angela and still has feelings for her.

## Episodes

Main article: *List of For Better or Worse episodes*

## Reception

*For Better or Worse* received generally mixed reviews from critics. The *Boston Herald* described it as being "an upscale *Dynasty* crossed with *Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* with a dash of urban sass," which "knocks you back with a bracing does of its characters' resentments and rages." Joshua Alston of *The A.V. Club* felt that *For Better or Worse* felt more "mature" and less "over-the-top" than Perry's other programs (comparing it, in particular, to BET's *The Game*), but the pilot episode's attempts at humor fell flat.