Nellie Andreeva

TBS has ordered 35 additional episodes of Tyler Perry’s latest sitcom, Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse, which revolves around three couples at various stages of their relationships. “Tyler Perry’s shows have proven to be a popular draw for TBS on Friday nights,” said TNT and TBS’ head of original programming Michael Wright. “We’re very happy to keep that trend going by ordering more episodes of Tyler Perry’s For Better Or Worse.” Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse, produced by Tyler Perry Studios and distributed by Debmar-Mercury, premiered on TBS on Nov. 25, 2011 and averaged 2.9 million viewers and 1.6 million adults 18-49 for its 10-episode first season. Despite tracking lower than Perry’s previous 2 TBS sitcoms, House Of Payne and Meet The Browns, For Better Or Worse still ranked as basic cable’s No.1 sitcom of 2011 and the No.1 show on all of television with African-American adults. The pickup means that all 3 Perry shows produced under the Debmar-Mercury 10-90 model have gone beyond the initial 10-epsiode run on TBS. However, the backup orders have varied, with the 35-episode one for For Better Or Worse being the smallest so far. It doesn’t bring the total to a syndicate amount, something Debmar-Mercury needs for broadcast syndication distribution. Based on the Perry’s Why Did I Get Married movies, For Better Or Worse features an ensemble cast that includes Tasha Smith, Michael Jai White, Crystle Stewart, Kent Faulcon, Kiki Haynes and Jason Olive. Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse will return to its Friday night timeslot this summer.

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