2007'S MOST BUZZED ABOUT: TYLER PERRY

WHY HIM Tyler Perry may stand at an imposing 6'5'' but he's always been the underdog. That is, until now. Last June, the writer-director-actor's half-hour TBS series House of Payne delivered the highest ratings ever for a basic-cable sitcom premiere. In October, his low-budget romantic dramedy Why Did I Get Married? topped the box office with $21.4 million, beating competition from George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg. Now that the Atlanta-based mogul has gotten Hollywood's attention, it's only a matter of time before he becomes a true industry giant. —Tim Stack

WHY JANET JACKSON, COSTAR OF WHY DID I GET MARRIED?, IS BUZZING ABOUT TYLER PERRY
''He's very creative. He's a wonderful writer. He knows what his audience wants. It's just a God-given thing. With each project, he's getting better and better. He's inspiring so many, especially those who haven't gone to film school, by saying, If you put your mind to it and your heart and you really want to do this, you can make it happen.''

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