Spectrum Originals & BET Pick Up Women’s Basketball Drama

Spectrum Originals and BET have picked up the women’s basketball drama series Long Slow Exhale, produced by Paramount Television Studios.

The series follows J.C. Abernathy (Rose Rollins), a successful head coach of a competitive women’s college basketball team, who finds herself in the middle of a potentially career-shattering sexual abuse scandal. Sorting through the secrets to unravel the truth, she is forced to make decisions that will affect her, her family and the young female athletes that depend on her. After a nine-month exclusive run for Spectrum, Long Slow Exhale will air with a second window on BET.

Long Slow Exhale comes from executive producer, showrunner and creator Pam Veasey (L.A.’s Finest, CSI: NY), director and executive producer Anton Cropper (L.A.’s Finest, black-ish) and John Dove (L.A.’s Finest, Chicago P.D.). Bruna Papandrea (Big Little Lies, The Undoing) and Casey Haver (Tell Me Your Secrets) will executive produce for Made Up Stories.

Katherine Pope, head of Spectrum Originals, said: “I’m so happy that Pam and Anton are back home at Spectrum Originals—along with Bruna, they are a true dream team. We couldn’t be happier to welcome Rose into the family—her strength, empathy and brilliance convinced us all that she was our J.C.”

Traci Blackwell, executive VP of scripted programming at BET, said: “We look forward to partnering with Spectrum Originals and our sister brand Paramount Television Studios to give viewers more of the premium content and dynamic storytelling they love and expect from the brand. We are excited to have Rose join the BET family and, with this series, continue to expand the dimensions of Black women in leading roles on screen.”

Paramount Television Studios President Nicole Clemens said: “We’re thrilled to be joining forces with Pam, Anton, Bruna, John, Casey and Rose in telling this story, which beyond its appeal as a compelling mystery drama, also explores so many issues at the forefront of our culture, told in the high-stakes, adrenaline-filled arena of elite women’s college basketball.”