Tyler Perry Looks to Conquer TV

Zap2It.com | March 3, 2006

Tyler Perry as Madea

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'Madea' creator bringing sitcom to syndication

LOS ANGELES -- Tyler Perry, the writer-director-star of the current No. 1 movie in America, is looking to expand his brand into television. And as he's done with "Madea's Family Reunion" and "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," he's not following the conventional route.

Perry has teamed up with media company Debmar-Mercury -- which syndicates "South Park" and "Farscape," among other shows -- to distribute a first-run sitcom called "House of Pane." The show will get a test run in a handful of markets later this year, with national distribution set for 2007.

"We are thrilled to be partnered with Tyler Perry on this groundbreaking project," says Mort Marcus, co-president of Debmar-Mercury. "Perry has proven he can reach an untapped audience, and we can't wait to bring his brand of comedy to television."

For Perry, the deal allows him to retain creative control of the project, much as he did by making "Diary" and "Madea's Family Reunion" outside the studio system (Lionsgate has distributed both films). "Partnering with [Debmar-Mercury] will enable me to fully realize my creative vision and bring it to a wide audience," he says.

"House of Payne," about a multi-generational family sharing the same roof, will be the first original sitcom sold in syndication in more than a decade. As such, it could be a tough sell. On the upside for Perry, in addition to the success of his movies, is the fact that some former UPN and WB affiliates not joining new network The CW will be looking to fill their schedules.