TBS Orders 35 Episodes of Top-Rated Sitcom "Tyler Perry's For Better Or Worse"

TBS has ordered 35 additional episodes of the top-rated sitcom Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse, which finished its first season as basic cable's #1 sitcom of 2011. The series from writer-director-executive producer Tyler Perry focuses on three couples at various stages of their relationships. The ensemble cast includes Tasha Smith (Why Did I Get Married Too?, Couples Retreat), Michael Jai White (Why Did I Get Married Too?, Spawn), Crystle Stewart (Miss USA 2008), Kent Faulcon (American Beauty), Kiki Haynes (Nora's Hair Salon) and Jason Olive (Melrose Place, Raising Helen). Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse will return to its Friday night timeslot this summer.

"Tyler Perry's shows have proven to be a popular draw for TBS on Friday nights," said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "We're very happy to keep that trend going by ordering more episodes of Tyler Perry's For Better Or Worse."

Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse is produced by Tyler Perry Studios and distributed by Debmar-Mercury. The show premiered on TBS Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, averaging 2.9 million viewers and 1.6 million adults 18-49 for its 10-episode debut season. It finished the year as basic cable's #1 sitcom of 2011 and the #1 show on all of television with African-American adults.

Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse follows the ups-and-downs of marriage and dating. The show centers on Angela Williams (Smith), the owner of a successful beauty salon, and her husband of 13 years, Marcus (White). Marcus is a former professional football player who has recently partnered with Richard Ellington (Faulcon) and Joseph Jetson (Olive) on a new sports news program called C-Sports Now.

Marcus's business relationship with Richard and Joseph is complicated, however, by the fact that Richard is dating Keisha (Haynes), Marcus's ex-girlfriend and the mother of his teenage daughter. In addition, Joseph's girlfriend, successful real estate agent Leslie (Stewart), is Angela's best friend, which sometimes makes it difficult for the couples to keep their business and private lives from mingling.

In addition to its episode order for Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse, TBS recently announced that this summer, the network will premiere the new sitcoms Men at Work, starring Danny Masterson, James Lesure, Michael Cassidy and Adam Busch, and Sullivan and Son, starring comedian Steve Byrne. Also this year, TBS will launch The Wedding Band, a new comedy series starring Brian Austin Green, Harold Perrineau, Peter Cambor and Derek Miller, Melora Hardin, Jenny Wade and Kathryn Fiore.

About Debmar-Mercury

Debmar-Mercury, a leading media company specializing in syndication, network, cable and ancillary markets, produces and distributes The Wendy Williams Show; produces (with ITV Studios America) and distributes The Jeremy Kyle Show, debuting in September 2011; distributes Tyler Perry's House of Payne and spinoff Meet the Browns;distributes Are We There Yet?, from Revolution Studios' Joe Roth and Cube Vision, starring Ice Cube, debuting in national syndication in fall 2012; distributesstrips Hell's Kitchen, Family Feud, South Park and True Hollywood Story; and distributes a movie library featuring titles from Revolution Studios. Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the leading next-generation studio.

About TBS

TBS, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television's top-rated comedy network and is available in 100 million households. It serves as home to the Emmy(R)-nominated late-night series CONAN, starring Conan O'Brien; and original primetime comedy series like the upcoming Men at Work, Sullivan and Son and The Wedding Band. TBS also features an outstanding slate of contemporary comedies, such as The Big Bang Theory, Family Guy and The Office, as well as blockbuster movies and championship sports. In addition, TBS produces special live comedy events, including the star-studded comedy festival held each year in Chicago.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.