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Debmar-Mercury to Launch ‘Payne’ in Select Markets for Spring

Apr 27, 2006  •  Post A Comment

The first 10 episodes of Tyler Perry’s first-run syndicated sitcom “House of Payne” will start running this spring and summer in select markets, the distributor’s co-presidents, Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein, announced Thursday.

Additional episodes will be available for national distribution in fall 2007. “Payne’s” markets include New York, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, Baltimore and Raleigh, N.C. WWOR-TV in New York and KTXH-TV in Houston will be the first stations to air the show, beginning May 8.

Other stations slated to air the first 10 episodes of “Payne” include WCIU-TV in Chicago, WPHL-TV in Philadelphia, WBDC-TV in Washington, WTBS-TV in Atlanta, KTXA-TV in Dallas, WBFS-TV in Miami, WNUV-TV in Baltimore and WRDC-TV in Raleigh.

“Payne” profiles an African American firefighter in Atlanta who moves into his parents’ home with his two children. Mr. Perry created the series and directed the episodes.

The series marks the first television outing for Mr. Perry, who produced, wrote, directed and starred in the feature films “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” and “Madea’s Family Reunion.” His stage plays have brought in more than $100 million in ticket sales and $30 million in home video sales.