
EXCLUSIVE: The Dukes Of Hazzard and Smallville alum John Schneider is set to star in Tyler Perry’s drama series for OWN, The Haves And The Have Nots, while six actors, including Jonathan Chase and Palmer Williams, have been cast in Perry’s comedy series for the cable network, Love Thy Neighbor. Both shows, written, directed and Produced by Perry through his Tyler Perry Studios, are set to premiere at the end of May.
The Haves And The Have Nots follows the dynamics of the affluent Cryer family and the impoverished family of Hanna, their housekeeper, and the obstacles and secrets that exist within both families. Innovative-repped Schneider will play Jim Cryer, the Cryer family patriarch.

Love Thy Neighbor is set at Love’s Diner, where every day the menu serves up good food, great laughs, valuable life lessons and a whole lot of love for its zany neighbors. Patrice Lovely of Perry’s A Madea Christmas, will play Hattie, the diner’s owner. Kendra C. Johnson (Phat Girlz) will play her daughter Linda who lives with her mother and works at the diner. Andre Hall will play Linda’s son Danny who moves back with his mother and grandmother to grieve the dissolution of his marriage. Jonathan Chase (One On One), repped by Domain and Main Title, plays Danny’s co-worker and best friend. Newcomer Darmirra Brunson, who won Tyler Perry’s talent search contest, will play Amber, Sam’s neighbor. Also cast in the series is Palmer Williams (House Of Payne) as Floyd.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.


John Schneider can’t escape the daddy roles! But I bet he don’t mind.
These shows sound great! …. NOT! More CRAP from the TP factory. Sorry, but its the truth. If he underwent one aota of development his stuff could be SO much better.
No, I think he needs a FEW iotas…..LOL
TP comes up again with a great premise, but he is better off handing this to more capable writers/directors. For the pittance this would cost him, he would have much better product. Why be so greedy?
he is handing it off to other writers….and they’re usually inexperienced writers who are just happy to get a check for writing, as opposed to the ones who’d like to be paid WGA minimums. He just takes the credit like Kelley or Sorkin or McGruder
I thought since OWN launched that the one thing they were missing was scripted programming, but this sounds too much like the shows Perry is already putting out on other channels. I said on many forums that there is a book series out there by the late Nora DeLoach that would be such a natural fit for Perry – an African American mother and daughter mystery team. Its the “Mama and Simone” books, check it out. I bet Perry could option it for a song.
A Tyler Perry version of “Alice”? A down home version of “Upstairs Downstairs”? C’mon.
III — true, but he’s really good at them! Playing to one’s strengths is usually a good idea.
So… when Oprah decides to go with scripted TV to try to save her failing network she goes with Tyler Perry’s creations???
Oprah, where did your business sense go???
They’re lucky to get the always wonderful Jonathan Chase