OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK DOUBLES EPISODE ORDER OF TYLER PERRY'S POPULAR COMEDY "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR"

Los Angeles, CA - OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today that it has ordered an additional 26 episodes of the network's popular comedy from Tyler Perry "Love Thy Neighbor" (Wednesdays at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.) bringing the total season order to 52 episodes.

The current cycle will have its two-episode finale tonight with the new episodes premiering in January 2014. As previously announced, Tyler Perry's sitcom "For Better or Worse" will take over the timeslot beginning Wednesday, September 18 with two back-to-back half hour episodes at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. "For Better or Worse" comes to OWN with all new episodes for season three.

"Love Thy Neighbor" is set at a family-run diner, where feisty matriarch Hattie Mae Love (Patrice Lovely) has her hands full not only managing her customers but also her family drama. Since its debut on May 29, the series is averaging over 1 million total viewers, a .88 W25-54 and is Wednesday night's #1 original series on all of television for African American viewers.

In addition, the network has ordered an additional four episodes of the Tyler Perry drama "The Haves and the Have Nots" on top of the 16 additional episodes ordered in June. This brings the total order for "The Haves and the Have Nots" to 36 episodes for its first season. The series continues to break ratings records each week with its most recent broadcast on Tuesday, August 20 scoring its highest rated episode to-date in the network's key demo of women 25-54 (1.76 rating).

About "Love Thy Neighbor"

Written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry, "Love Thy Neighbor" is a half-hour comedy set at The Love Train Diner a family run restaurant where every day the menu serves up good food, great laughs, valuable life lessons and a whole lot of love. Diner owner and feisty family matriarch Hattie Mae Love (Patrice Lovely, "A Madea Christmas") has her hands full not only managing her customers but her family drama, too. Her daughter Linda (Kendra C. Johnson, "Phat Girlz") splits her time between Hattie's home and the apartment she shares with her philandering husband. Linda's son Danny (Andre Hall, "Goodbye LA"), a recent college grad, moves into a bachelor pad with his best friend Sam (Jonathan Chase, "Chemistry") and lands a job at a hot internet design firm. He quickly establishes himself as a rising star... that's when he's not distracted by Sam's hard-partying ways and their beautiful co-workers Marianna (Zulay Henao, "The Fighter") and Drew (Darmirra Brunson, "Sunset Junction"). Meanwhile, Uncle Floyd (Palmer Williams, "House of Payne") is an ever-present thorn in the Love family's side. Like old luggage, they can never seem to get rid of him. "Love Thy Neighbor" is produced for OWN by Tyler Perry Studios. Join the conversation on Twitter using #LoveThyNeighbor and visit the show online at http://www.oprah.com/own-love-thy-neighbor/love-thy-neighbor.html

About "The Haves and the Have Nots"

"The Haves and the Have Nots" follows the complicated dynamic between the rich and powerful Cryer family and the hired help who work in their opulent Savannah, Georgia mansion. From the outside, the Cryers are the enviable face of success and wealth, but behind the veil, the family's dysfunction threatens to destroy their world of privilege. Cryer family patriarch Jim Cryer (John Schneider, "Dukes of Hazzard") is a powerful judge whose double-life, including tawdry affairs with high-priced escorts, puts his family and political ambitions at risk. His wife, Katheryn Cryer (Renée Lawless, "Wicked"), is the ultimate matriarch portraying a loving and dutiful wife, but she is willing to do anything to protect her family's status. Their son Wyatt (Aaron O'Connell) is a troubled angry jock who cares little for his own image and finds himself in and out of rehab. His sister Amanda (Jacyln Betham), a struggling law student, tries harder to live up to her parents' expectations, but unknowingly has befriended a scurrilous young woman, Candace Young, with the power to ruin the entire family. Hanna Young (Crystal Fox) is the Cryer's maid and the matriarch of her family. Despite having no money, she has found other types of wealth through religion and virtue. She prides herself on her dutiful son Benny (Tyler Lepley), the glue who helps keep the family together. Hanna does have one dark secret, however, her estranged daughter Candace (Tika Sumpter, "Gossip Girl") --- a manipulative opportunist who will stop at nothing to get what she wants. In a bizarre coincidence, Candace is shocked to find out that her newfound friend Amanda's father is Jim Cryer, the very man who has been paying her for sex and who also employs Candace's mother as his family's maid. Other characters in the series include the Cryer's maid Celine (Eva Tamargo, "Passions"), their wealthy friends Veronica (Angela Robinson) and David Harrington (Peter Parros) and son Wyatt's rehabilitation counselor, Jeffery Harrington (Gavin Houston). "The Haves and the Have Nots" is produced for OWN by Tyler Perry Studios. It is created, written, directed and executive produced by Tyler Perry. Join the conversation on Twitter using #HavesandHaveNots and visit the show online at www.oprah.com/havesandhavenots

About OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network is the first and only network named for, and inspired by, a single iconic leader. Oprah Winfrey's heart and creative instincts inform the brand - and the magnetism of the channel. Winfrey provides leadership in programming and attracts superstar talent to join her in primetime, building a global community of like-minded viewers and leading that community to connect on social media and beyond. OWN is a singular destination on cable. Depth with edge. Heart. Star power. Connection. And endless possibilities. OWN is a joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery Communications. The network debuted on January 1, 2011 and is available in 85 million homes. The venture also includes the award-winning digital platform Oprah.com.