TBS is expanding the network’s groundbreaking partnership with Tyler Perry and Debmar-Mercury by ordering an additional 20 episodes of the powerhouse comedy Tyler Perry’s HOUSE OF PAYNE. The order will bring the number of episodes in the series to 172, a remarkable total for any sitcom. HOUSE OF PAYNE, along with Tyler Perry’s MEET THE BROWNS, continue to rank as the top sitcoms on cable.
"We have a terrific relationship with Tyler Perry, and this deal means new episodes of HOUSE OF PAYNE will continue to air on TBS well into the future," said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "Tyler stands alone in the entertainment business today as an entrepreneur who knows his audience. It’s great to continue working with Tyler and our partners at Debmar-Mercury."
HOUSE OF PAYNE
and MEET THE BROWNS rank as ad-supported cable’s top two original sitcoms of all time among adults 18-49, viewers and households. So far in 2009, the shows are television’s top two series in delivery of African-American adults 18-34. MEET THE BROWNS also ranks as television’s #1 program among African-American viewers and adults 18-49. This year, new episodes of MEET THE BROWNS have averaged 3.2 million viewers, while new episodes of HOUSE OF PAYNE have averaged 3 million viewers.
"Tyler Perry has created the first sitcom in history to reach this many episodes in just two years, an amazing achievement that only a handful of top comedies have been able to achieve after many, many years," Debmar-Mercury Co-President Mort Marcus said.
"TBS’s extension of this great program affirms the value of this groundbreaking sitcom model, which Tyler quickly turned from a dream into a phenomenal success," added Debmar-Mercury Co-President Ira Bernstein.
HOUSE OF PAYNE
– which is owned by Perry, distributed by Debmar-Mercury and licensed by TBS – debuted in 2006 with a test run of 10 episodes. After early results showed promise, TBS ordered a then-unprecedented 100 episodes. TBS later ordered an additional 26 episodes, followed by a deal for 26 more and the 20-episode order being announced today.
HOUSE OF PAYNE
is set in Atlanta and features LaVan Davis as fireman Curtis "Pops" Payne, a man who believes his house should be his castle, he the king and his wife, Ella (Cassi Davis), the queen. Unfortunately, their castle has turned into Grand Central Terminal, thanks to the constant comings and goings of immediate and extended family members. Lance Gross, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Allen Payne, Demetria McKinney, Larramie "Doc" Shaw and China McCain co-star.
MEET THE BROWNS,
a sitcom based on characters from Perry’s popular play and hit movie, MEET THE BROWNS, stars David Mann as the fun-loving, fashion-challenged "Downtown" Leroy Brown, who also appeared in several episodes of HOUSE OF PAYNE on TBS. In the series, Brown tries to fulfill his father’s dying wish by opening a retirement home. Tamela Mann, Lamman Rucker, Denise Boutte, Jeanette Sousa and Antonio Jaramillo co-star. TBS has ordered 80 episodes of MEET THE BROWNS.
