OWN Bolsters Lineup with New & Returning Programming

NEW YORK: OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has added two new original series to its prime-time schedule, while also lining up additional episodes of the hit shows Deion's Family Playbook, Flex & Shanice and Welcome to Sweetie Pie's.

One of the new productions is a spin-off of OWN's Iyanla: Fix My Life that will center on Jay Williams, who claims to have fathered 34 children by 17 different women. The program, tentatively known as Untitled Jay Williams Project, is set to begin airing in September. The channel has also slated Evelyn (working title), a new docuseries led by reality TV star Evelyn Lozada that is due to debut in July.

Also headed to the network are a second season of Deion's Family Playbook (premiering May 9 at 9 p.m.) and new episodes of Flex & Shanice (returning in July) and Welcome to Sweetie Pie's (Saturdays at 9 p.m.). In addition, OWN has revealed that the upcoming fifth season of Oprah's Master Class will feature appearances by such celebrities as Ellen DeGeneres, Robert Duvall, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Smokey Robinson, among others.

Erik Logan, president of OWN, remarked: "We are thrilled that OWN continues to be one of the fastest growing cable networks for women. Oprah and our team are laser-focused on development."

"We are taking our multimedia platforms to the next level with Oprah's first role in an OWN scripted show and our new network anthem sung by Grammy award-winning singers Jennifer Hudson and Jennifer Nettles," added Sheri Salata, president of OWN.