OWN ANNOUNCES NEW COMEDY SERIES "THE PAYNES" FROM TYLER PERRY

Network Orders Additional Episodes of Perry's Hit Drama Series "The Haves and the Have Nots" and "If Loving You is Wrong"

Perry's Comedies "Love Thy Neighbor" and "For Better or Worse" Move to Saturday Nights for Their Final Seasons

LOS ANGELES - Continuing its successful partnership with prolific producer Tyler Perry, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today a 38-episode order for a new comedy series from Perry, "The Paynes," a spinoff of his popular series "House of Payne." The network has also ordered 44 additional episodes of Perry's hit OWN drama series "The Haves and the Have Nots" and 18 episodes of "If Loving You is Wrong."

Written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry, "The Paynes" meets back up with Curtis and Ella Payne (stars LaVan Davis and Cassi Davis reprising their roles) who are trying to enjoy their retirement in Florida only to get roped into a real estate deal that will tumble their lives like clothes in a dryer. The comedy has begun production at the new Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta and will premiere on OWN in 2018.

Additionally, the network announced the final seasons of Perry's popular comedy series "Love Thy Neighbor" and "For Better or Worse," which will both move to Saturday nights. "Love Thy Neighbor" will premiere its fourth season on Saturday, March 4 with back-to-back episodes at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. "For Better or Worse" will premiere its sixth season on Saturday, June 10 with back-to-back episodes at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. Both series will air through 2017 with 22 and 20 episodes respectively.

"Tyler has been an incredible collaborator, a great partner and has an unprecedented track record of success with his hit scripted series," said Erik Logan, president, OWN. "Tyler's shows are must see TV for his loyal audience and we are excited to offer up a brand-new comedy and more episodes of their favorite Tyler dramas on OWN. We also would like to thank the entire casts of both 'Love Thy Neighbor' and 'For Better or Worse' who have given us loads of laughs over the years. Both series have had great runs and we appreciate everyone's hard work and dedication."

The January 3 season premiere of "The Haves and the Have Nots" (Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT) delivered 3.6 million viewers (L+3) and ranked as the night's #1 cable telecast for women. The series consistently ranks as Tuesday night's #1 original cable series among women as well as primetime's #1 original series for African-American women and total viewers. In its most recent season (9/13/16 - 11/29/16), "If Loving You is Wrong" averaged 2.65 million total viewers (L+3) and was Tuesday night's #1 original cable series for W25-54.

Series descriptions and air dates below:

"THE PAYNES" (Premieres in 2018) - In this spin-off of Tyler Perry's hit comedy "House of Payne," Curtis and Ella Payne (stars LaVan Davis and Cassi Davis reprising their roles) are trying to enjoy their retirement in Florida only to get roped into a real estate deal that will tumble their lives like clothes in a dryer. The series also stars Jackée Harry, Stephanie Charles, Markice Moore, JD McCrary and Sanai Victoria.

"THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS" (Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT) - The one-hour drama follows the tangled lives of the wealthy Cryer and Harrington families and the poor Young family. In its fourth season, which premiered January 3 as the night's #1 cable telecast for women, "The Haves and the Have Nots" continues to heat up as Hanna (Crystal R. Fox), the moral conscience, is tested like never before. Hanna and her son, Benny, (Tyler Lepley) are stripped of everything they have once Candace's (Tika Sumpter) latest hustle fails miserably.

"IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG" (New Season Premieres Tuesday, March 21 at 9 p.m. ET/PT) - With a diverse cast and storylines ranging from heartfelt to scandalous, the sexy, sleek one-hour drama from Tyler Perry takes viewers into the lives of a group of husbands, wives and friends that live and love in the same middle class neighborhood. On the surface, they are true-to-life, relatable people - raising children, working jobs, finding and maintaining romance - but just below the veneer of happiness, their lives are entangled by heartbreak, deceit and lies that threaten to destroy everything. Throughout the season, "If Loving You Is Wrong" continues to follow Alex (Amanda Clayton), Kelly (Edwina Findley Dickerson), Marcie (Heather Hemmens), Esperanza (Zulay Henao) and Natalie (April Parker Jones) on their quest to find love in the midst of managing very complex lives. For these women, love is an ever-present necessity in spite of the high price that sometimes must be paid.

"LOVE THY NEIGHBOR" (Final Season Premieres Saturday, March 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT) - The half-hour comedy is 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. The series stars Palmer Williams Jr., Patrice Lovely, Kendra C. Johnson, Andre Hall, Jonathan Chase, Darmirra Brunson, Tony Grant and Leigh-Ann Rose.

"FOR BETTER OR WORSE" (Final Season Premieres Saturday, June 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT) - The popular comedy series follows the ups and downs of dating and marriage and centers on Angela Williams (Tasha Smith), the owner of a successful beauty salon, and her husband of 13 years, Marcus (Michael Jai White). The series also stars Crystle Stewart, Jason Olive, Kent Faulcon, Kiki Haynes Cocoa Brown and Brad James.

"The Paynes," "The Haves and the Have Nots," "If Loving You is Wrong," "Love Thy Neighbor" and "For Better or Worse" are created, written, directed and executive produced by Tyler Perry and produced for OWN by Tyler Perry Studios.

About Tyler Perry Studios

Tyler Perry Studios (TPS) was formed by actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry in the fall of 2008. The studio develops and produces motion picture films, in addition to drama and comedy television programming for the multi-platform U.S. television market. The 200,000-square foot studio lot is situated on the former Delta Airlines campus of more than 30 acres in the Greenbriar area of southwest Atlanta. The studio consists of five sound stages, a post production facility, a pond, a back lot, a 400-seat theater, a private screening room, and designated areas for entertaining and hosting events. Since its opening, Perry and the studio's 400 Atlanta-based employees have been hard at work in production of over fifteen films and five television series, with over 90 total episodes per year. In 2015 TPS announced plans to expand operations with the acquisition of Fort McPherson, adding another 330 acres to create another major movie production studio lot.

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