The Paynes facts for kids

The Paynes is an American sitcom (a funny TV show about everyday life). It first aired on January 16, 2018, on the Oprah Winfrey Network. The show was created, written, and directed by Tyler Perry. It's a follow-up to his earlier series, Tyler Perry's House of Payne.

What is The Paynes About?

The story of The Paynes begins with Curtis and Ella Payne. They decide it's time to retire and enjoy life. But their plans change when a family member, Uncle Robert, passes away. This leads the whole family to travel to Sun Coast, Florida, for the funeral.

Their trip takes an unexpected turn. Ella and Curtis get involved in a real estate deal. This leads them to a new community with a new church and family members they don't know well. The show then explores the everyday challenges and life lessons the family faces in their new surroundings. Ella even finds a new business, a new home, and a new purpose in life.

LaVan Davis and Cassi Davis are the only actors who appear in every episode. In 2018, the OWN announced that the show would return for more episodes. A second season was also planned for 2019.

Meet the Characters

Main Characters

• Curtis Payne (LaVan Davis) - He is Ella's husband and JoAnn’s cousin. Without telling his wife, Curtis sells their old home. He then buys his late uncle's house and a laundromat. His cousin suggested it, but both properties are in bad shape. Curtis is mad at first. But he sees how the move helps Ella and decides to make the best of it.
• Ella Payne (Cassi Davis) - She is Curtis' wife. Ella is very upset that Curtis made such a big decision without her. However, she soon starts to enjoy their new life. She lets go of her anger and looks forward to a fresh start.
• JoAnn Payne (Jackée Harry) - She is Curtis' cousin and Ryan's mother. JoAnn convinced Curtis to buy his uncle's old, rundown house and a broken laundromat. She did this to help her church make money.
• Nyla Payne (Stephanie Charles) - She is Kenny and Lynn's mother. Nyla is a young woman who works with JoAnn at the church. She moves in with Curtis and Ella after they learn she is in a difficult situation with her boyfriend, Kendrick.
• Ryan Payne (Markice Moore) - He is JoAnn's son. Ryan works at the laundromat. He found it funny when his relatives bought the rundown place. He often argues with Curtis. But over time, he starts to see Curtis as family and they learn to get along.
• Kenny Payne (JD McCrary) - He is Nyla's son and Lynn's brother. Kenny can sometimes be a bit disrespectful to adults. He also argues with Curtis at times. But he slowly starts to like Curtis.
• Lynn Payne (Sanai Victoria) - She is Nyla's daughter and Kenny's sister. Like Kenny, she sometimes argues with Curtis. But she also starts to warm up to him.
• Terrance (Anthony O. Dalton) - He is the main contractor Ella hires to fix the laundromat. He is immediately interested in Nyla.
• Kendrick (Matthew Law) - He is Nyla's boyfriend. Their relationship has some serious problems.

Other Family Members

• Calvin Payne (Lance Gross) - He is Curtis and Ella's only son.
• CJ Payne (Allen Payne) - He is Curtis and Ella's nephew. He was adopted by Curtis' late brother.
• Janine Payne (Demetria McKinney) - She is C.J.'s wife.
• Malik Payne (Larramie "Doc" Shaw) - He is C.J. and Janine's oldest child.
• Jazmine Payne (China Anne McClain) - She is C.J. and Janine's second-oldest child.

Seasons and Episodes

The show has one full season with 38 episodes, which aired in 2018. A second season started in 2019.

Season 1 (2018)

• LaVan Davis (Curtis) and Cassi Davis (Ella) appeared in all 38 episodes.
• Jackée Harry (JoAnn) was not in ten episodes.
• Stephanie Charles (Nyla) was not in five episodes.
• Markice Moore (Ryan) was not in thirteen episodes.
• JD McCrary (Kenny), Sanai Victoria (Lynn), and Matthew Law (Kendrick) were not in seventeen episodes.
• Anthony O. Dalton (Terrance) was not in twenty-two episodes.
• Other family members like Lance Gross (Calvin), Allen Payne (CJ), Demetria McKinney (Janine), Doc Shaw (Malik), and China Anne McClain (Jazmine) made guest appearances in three episodes.

Season 2 (2019)