Entertainment

Sofia meets Madea

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Tyler Perry has come to Oprah’s rescue.

The prolific filmmaker and actor (even in drag) will debut two new series on the struggling OWN network beginning this summer. “The Haves and the Have Nots,” described as a one-hour ensemble drama, premieres Tuesday, May 28 at 9 p.m. “Love Thy Neighbor,” a sitcom, bows Wednesday, May 29 at 9 p.m.

To celebrate their friendship and partnership, Winfrey and Perry recently played dress-up. Winfrey stepped into the costume she wore as Sofia in “The Color Purple” and Perry put on a sensible wool skirt, cardigan and that crazy white wig as his popular Madea character. They laughed together in the cold Atlanta outdoors.

Winfrey is getting as much mileage as she can from her association with Perry. In addition to the two series, On May 26 at 9 p.m., Winfrey will sit down with Perry on “Oprah’s Next Chapter” to discuss how he carved his own niche in Hollywood, followed at 10 p.m. by “Tyler Perry Comes Into His Own: Behind the Scenes,” which takes viewers into the workings of Perry’s Atlanta studios.