Tyler Perry is delivering for OWN.
The producer and director's original series attracted 1.77 million totals viewers to its premiere episode on Tuesday at 9 p.m., which makes it the cable network's most-watched series debut ever. It's also OWN's highest rated series with 1.57 million viewers in its key demo, women 25-54 years old.
The second episode, which aired as part of the two-hour premiere at 10 p.m., actually grew from the previous hour with 1.8 million viewers (1.67 million viewers in the women 25-54 demo).
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"The Have and the Have Nots" is a modern day upstairs-downstairs drama that takes place in Savannah, Ga. It stars John Schneider, Tika Sumpter, Aaron O'Connell and Angela Robinson, among others.
"Iyana: Fix My Life" was previously the cable channel's highest rated show in the women 25-54 year old demo. And "Life With La Toya" was previously its most-watched show among total viewers.
Perry, a personal friend of OWN chairwoman and CEO Oprah Winfrey, also produces a new comedy for the network called "Love Thy Neighbor," which debuts on Wednesday.