Oprah doubles up on Tyler Perry series order

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has doubled the series order for Tyler Perry drama The Haves and Have Nots.

The current 16-episode run started in May on the cable net, which is a joint venture between Oprah’s Harpo and Discovery. The first series ends in September and the channel has ordered another 16 episodes, which will debut in early 2014.

The show was created, written, directed and executive produced by Perry and was the highest rated series premiere in OWN’s history. It is averaging about 1.5million viewers an episode. The series follows a rich and powerful family and their hired help.

“Naturally, it is wonderful to have the network’s first scripted series score so resoundingly,” said Sheri Salata, president, OWN. “Tyler’s fans and OWN viewers have responded to this guilty pleasure in record numbers, and we are happy to give them more of a good thing.”