In Tyler Perry's House of Payne, Allen Payne plays CJ, a passionate husband and father of two who is challenged with keeping his sanity and humor alive when tragedy strikes his immediate family, and he is forced to move his family into the home of his Aunt Ella and Uncle Curtis. Although he loves his uncle, who raised him after his father’s death, it is hard for CJ to accept his parental guidance and outrageous methods of discipline. His personal challenges spill over into his professional life at the local fire station where his uncle serves as his boss and fire chief. Whenever he believes his life is improving, another life-altering situation occurs and he falls right back down, although the consequences are touching and funny.