'House of Payne' ending; TBS orders new Tyler Perry comedy series based on movie

TBS just picked up a new Tyler Perry comedy series — and announced that another will end its run.

After five successful years on the network, Perry’s groundbreaking cable sitcom House of Payne is concluding after 222 episodes. To help replace the show, TBS has picked up a new Perry comedy, For Better or Worse, based on Perry’s Why Did I Get Married films.

“Even though it will be sad to say goodbye to House of Payne, I’m really looking forward to exploring new territory with For Better or Worse,” Perry said in a statement. “Working on House of Payne taught me a lot about what it takes to make a successful television series and I’m looking forward to applying that experience to For Better or Worse.”

The new show chronicles the life of a married couple, with Michael Jai White (The Dark Knight) and Tasha Smith (Couples Retreat) reprising their roles as television anchor Marcus and salon owner Angela. Unlike Perry’s other two family-driven TBS comedies, Payne and Meet the Browns, For Better or Worse will target young adults.

Payne debuted on TBS in 2006, at a time when sitcoms in general and African American comedies in particular were vanishing from the broadcast airwaves. Its enormous success both reestablished the genre in the TV marketplace, plus created a unique new business model from distributor Debmar-Mercury where a network orders 10 initial episodes and, if they’re successful, commits to a full multi-year run rather than doling out renewals every season. The show will air its final episode later this year.