Oprah Winfrey launched the OWN Network on January 1, 2011, but I have to admit that I didn’t know what channel it was on nor what shows were being featured.  That has since changed with the introduction of  Tyler Perry’s two new hit shows, The Haves and The Have Nots on Tuesday nights and Love Thy Neighbor on Wednesday nights.  My television cable box is now locked on VerizonFios Channel 161!

Tyler Perry, the genius behind the “Madea” stage plays and movies, had made his mark on the small screen with the TBS sitcoms House of Payne, Meet The Browns and For Better or Worse, which was based on his movie Why Did I Get Married?, but he has taken it to a whole new level with The Haves and The Have Nots!

Think of Dynasty, Falcon Crest and Dallas all rolled up for the 21st century, where the deceit and duplicity is doubled, but praying and thanking Jesus is the foundation.  Not only is prayer and a strong belief in God prominently displayed in these shows, it is also what makes Tyler Perry the man that he is today.  I honestly believe that his mother is sitting in Heaven on the right side of God, nudging him, saying, “see…see…that’s my boy…watch him work!”

Love Thy Neighbor is a sitcom featuring Mama Hattie, a strong woman running a diner, working hard and trying to keep her recently divorced daughter off her couch, because she just got her recently employed grandson off of it!  I love Hattie’s feistiness and warm heart, and her voice will you have sitting upright.  It seems as though all the cast members work extremely well together, each bringing their own style and flair.  The stand outs are  Tika Sumpter, who plays Candace, the beautiful devil diva in The Haves and The Have Nots, and Jonathon Chase, who plays Sam in Love Thy Neighbor, a hilarious man-child whose comedic timing and mannerisms reminds me of a young Jim Carrey!

If you haven’t seen The Haves and The Have Nots or Love Thy Neighbor, I urge you to check them out, I know once you start you’ll be hooked.  When you do, make sure to join in on the weekly Twitter Chats because you never know, your tweet just might be retweeted by Oprah or Tyler – mine were!