<P> The Haves and the Have Nots is an American crime drama and soap opera created, executive produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry . The premise of the series is based on Perry's 2011 play The Haves and the Have Nots . The show premiered on May 28, 2013 on the Oprah Winfrey Network . It is the first scripted television series to air on the network . Both the show's first and second episodes aired back - to - back on its premiere night . Each episode is one hour long . </P> <P> Variety has recognized The Haves and the Have Nots as "OWN's most popular series to date ." In addition, the drama series has been acclaimed as being "one of OWN's biggest success stories with its weekly dose of soapy fun, filled with the typical betrayals, affairs, manipulations, and a bitch slap or two ." The series set ratings record for OWN, scoring the highest ratings ever for a series premiere and the highest overall ratings in the network's history . The second season premiered on January 7, 2014 . To date, the series is still OWN's highest rated broadcast . The mid-season 2 finale, aired on March 11, 2014, was the most watched broadcast in OWN's history, and also came in first among all of cable television and number 4 among all shows on television for the night it aired . The mid-season 2 premiere aired on May 27, 2014 . The third season of the series premiered on January 6, 2015 . The second half premiered on June 30, 2015 . The fourth season of the series premiered on January 5, 2016 and the second half premiered on June 21, 2016 and aired through September 6, 2016 . The fifth season premiered on January 3, 2017 and ended with the mid-season finale on March 14, 2017 . On January 30, 2017, the series was given an additional 44 - episode order . The second half of season 5 premiered on June 20, 2017 and ended with the season finale on September 12, 2017 . </P> <P> On November 21, 2017, the series was renewed for a sixth season, which premiered on January 9, 2018 . </P> <P> The series follows three families and their lifestyles as they intersect with one another in Savannah, Georgia: the rich, powerful, and locally very public Cryer and Harrington families (dubbed "The Haves") and the poor and destitute Young family (dubbed "The Have Nots"). The Young family is headed by Hanna, a single mother who works as the Cryer family's maid and also serves as the best friend and confidante of the lady of the house, Katheryn . Included as part of The Have Nots is another maid of the Cryer family's, Celine Gonzales . While the Young family versus the Cryer and Harrington families lead polar opposite lifestyles in terms of social class, economics, social status, and surroundings, they are each similar in that they lead exceedingly dysfunctional lifestyles . </P>

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