TVSquad

TBS started the 100-episode order with the Tyler Perry family of sitcoms. And now they're at it again with a similar offer on the table for a television adaptation of Ice Cube's film Are We There Yet? Even better, they've nabbed Everybody Hates Chris' Terry Crews to play Nick, the role Ice Cube played in the film and its sequel.

Crews was always the funniest character on Everybody Hates Chris, and seeing him as the fish out of water marrying into an instant family should give him plenty of opportunity for laughs. It's nice to see that shows featuring predominantly African American casts are still being developed somewhere since they've left network television completely now with the cancellation of The CW's comedies.

Bless Oprah Winfrey's soul for all the good work she does in the name of bettering humanity. She gets people to read, she gives poor kids scholarships, she reaches out to victims of environmental disaster, and, of course, there was that time she gave a new car to everyone in her audience. She's a money fairy out to save the world, and we applaud her for it.

But then there are times when Oprah's weird side comes out, when that unique connection she so strongly maintains with her audience - both in the studio and viewers at home - is broken in favor of reminders that, oh yeah, Planet Oprah might not be such a crazy notion. The lady probably uses $100 bills to clean her teeth. And, in case you'd forgotten, she and buddies Gayle King and Tyler Perry will remind you, as they did while palling around on Friday's show, on which Oprah retold a super-nauseating story about Perry giving her the most incredibly unnecessary gift a media mogul could ever not hope for.

Tyler Perry, the man behind the popular films Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea's Family Reunion is coming to television with a new syndicated show called House of Payne. Unlike his films, however, Perry won't be appearing on this show, which will focus on a multigenerational family living in the same house. Perry will serve as an executive producer, writer, and director. He might possibly appear in future episodes in a guest role. Perry chose to go the syndication route in order to maintain creative control. The first ten episodes will be available in select markets with national distribution set for 2007.