OWN adds two scripted series for spring

The Oprah Winfrey Network had a better second year than a first, and it’s hoping that its first venture into scripted programming will strengthen its third.

Winfrey scored a coup by wooing Tyler Perry from TBS to OWN last year, and the popular TV and film star will unveil his first OWN series in May.

His first drama, “The Haves and the Have Nots,” will premiere on May 29, the network said during the Television Critics Association tour over the weekend.

And his latest comedy, “Love Thy Neighbor,” will also bow that night.

Perry had success with first-run syndicated series “House of Payne” and “Meet the Browns” on TBS, the top scripted shows among African Americans on cable.

Winfrey, OWN’s CEO, hopes Perry’s shows will further boost the network’s total audience, which was up 28 percent in 2012 over 2011.

One of the biggest criticisms of the network has been its lack of original programming, a concern OWN has been trying to address.

In addition to the two Perry shows, OWN has ordered four other new series: “Blackboard Wars,” focusing on New Orleans’ John McDonogh High School; “Raising Whitley,” following actress and comedienne Kym Whitley; “Golden Sisters,” about three older women who gained fame through a web video showing them watching a celebrity sex tape; and “Dogfellas,” about a mobster who opens a dog grooming business.

It will also continue airing original episodes of “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” its highest-rated series, on Sunday nights at 9 p.m.

“Oprah’s Master Class” and “Oprah: Where Are They Now?” will both return in March, while “Iyanla: Fix My Life” will be back this spring.

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