OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today via press release that it has ordered an additional 16 episodes of the its freshman drama series from Tyler Perry, The Haves and the Have Nots, bringing the total season order to 32 episodes.

Sorry guys. It looks like the show’s a hit!

The show’s current cycle will air through September 3, with the new episodes premiering in early 2014.

Its May 28 premiere was the highest rated series premiere in OWN history (then again, OWN is still very young, and hasn’t exactly had many original series of its own to compare this one to). 

Since its launch, the series has averaged over 1.5 million total viewers. 

In addition, The Haves and the Have Nots is the #1 television show on Tuesday nights (non-sports) for all African American women. You see – blame it on the ladies. It’s their fault. I’m joking!!!!

I can say that none of the African American women I know are watching the series – unless they’re doing so incogNegro.

“Naturally, it is wonderful to have the network’s first scripted series score so resoundingly… 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,” said Sheri Salata, president, OWN.

I guess that’s just it – a “guilty pleasure” for those who are fans. 

I remember Shonda Rhimes saying that, while she didn’t care why fans of Scandal watched the show, she was vehemently opposed to it being called a “guilty pleasure.” Just something I remembered…