SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

ABC's Dancing with the Stars sets its sights on the sports world when it returns with a special all-athletes edition in the spring of 2018. Ten athletes from all corners of the sports world will be teamed up with the show's professional dancers and compete on the ballroom floor for a chance to win the coveted Mirrorball trophy. Hosted by two-time Emmy(R)-winning host Tom Bergeron and Erin Andrews, the special all-athletes edition of Dancing with the Stars will air live. The athletes will perform choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, as well as viewer votes. This special edition will premiere in late April 2018 and last for a month, according to Tom Bergeron. American Idol will likely be airing Sunday and Monday nights this Spring, so Dancing will only air four weeks in Spring. A "regular sized" 10 week season will return in Fall 2018. More info to come when ABC announces its 2018 mid-season schedule and plans.

OWN's new Tyler Perry comedy The Paynes will have its series premiere on Tuesday, January 16 with two back-to-back episodes at 10:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. The Paynes, a spin-off of beloved Perry comedy House of Payne, follows Ella and Curtis Payne (Cassi Davis and LaVan Davis) through the ups and downs of retirement. The series also stars Emmy-winning actress Jackée Harry (227, Sister, Sister). Additionally, Perry's hit drama series The Haves and the Have Nots, starring Tika Sumpter and John Schneider, will return for a fifth season on Tuesday, January 9 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT and drama series If Loving You is Wrong will return with all-new episodes on a new day and time, Wednesday, January 10 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The Paynes (Series Premiere Tuesday, January 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT; moves to regular timeslot Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on January 20). In Tyler Perry's new comedy series, The Paynes, Cassi Davis and LaVan Davis reprise their roles as Ella and Curtis Payne, from the hit series House of Payne. As Curtis and Ella are enjoying their retirement, a death in the family takes them on the road to Florida, where Curtis is roped into a real estate deal that will tumble their lives like clothes in a dryer - with plenty of laughs and life lessons along the way. The Paynes also stars Emmy-winner Jackeé Harry, Stephanie Charles, Markice Moore, JD McCrary, Sanai Victoria and Anthony O. Dalton.