Oprah’s network OWN took over Mist Harlem on Tuesday. The uptown restaurant and event space was packed with fans eager to meet and greet with the cast of OWN’s most popular shows If Loving You is Wrong and Tyler Perry’s The Haves and The Have Nots. It was also a celebration for the premiere of The Paynes.
The event was also hosted by New York City-based radio station WBLS. The station’s midday host Shaila Scott moderated a screening followed by a Q and A session. Guests excitedly watched premiere clips of The Paynes and If Loving You is Wrong and saw the entire first episode of Tyler Perry’s The Haves and The Have Nots.
After the premiere, cast members from each show such as Tika Sumpter, Cassi Davis, and Tyler Lepley graced the stage with Scott. The audience was given the chance to ask their favorite cast members questions about the roles they played. The audience did not hold back when it came to asking questions about homosexuality featured in Tyler Perry’s The Haves and The Have Nots, the love triangles in If Loving You is Wrong or about the resurgence of The Paynes.
Fans were excited to learn The Paynes will be back with a new show and new cast. The show will be a spin-off featuring the leads Curtis and Ella. It will also welcome new characters such as comedian and actor Jackée Harris. Audience members screamed out “Jackée we love you” in excitement as Scott announced she will be playing Joanne, a first cousin to the casts lead actor Curtis.
Scott asked Harris what should audience members expect from her character, “She’s a crook, a cougar, and a predator,” said Harris.
New episodes of If Loving You is Wrong and Tyler Perry’s The Haves and The Have Nots premiered last week but The Paynes premieres January 16th.