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Lifetime Orders Production of 'Army Wives,' from The Mark Gordon Company and Touchstone Television
New Ensemble Drama Series Starring Kim Delaney ('NYPD Blue') and Catherine
Bell ('Jag') to Premiere March 2007 on Lifetime Television
13 Episodes Ordered from Creative Team behind 'Grey's Anatomy' and
'Criminal Minds'
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30 -- Lifetime Television has ordered
production of 13 episodes of "Army Wives" from The Mark Gordon Company and
Touchstone Television. Premiering in March 2007, the new ensemble drama
series about the struggles, dreams and friendships of a diverse group of
women -- and one man -- living with their spouses and families on an active
army post and the pressures and traditions of the military on those who are
left behind while their partners serve their country was announced today by
Susanne Daniels, President, Entertainment, Lifetime Networks.
Filmed on location in Charleston, South Carolina, the series stars Kim
Delaney ("NYPD Blue"), Sally Pressman ("Shark"), Brigid Brannagh ("Over
There"), Brian McNamara ("The O.C."), Sterling K. Brown ("Starved"), Wendy
Davis ("Commander in Chief"), Drew Fuller ("Charmed") and Catherine Bell
("JAG"). Mark Gordon ("Grey's Anatomy," "Criminal Minds") and The Mark
Gordon Company's President of Production, Deborah Spera ("Criminal Minds")
serve as executive producers. The pilot, directed by Ben Younger ("Prime"),
was written by Katherine Fugate ("The Prince & Me"), who created the series
and also serves as executive producer. The series is based on the book
Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives by Tanya Biank, who
serves as a consultant. "Army Wives" is produced by Touchstone Television.
"We're pleased to bring an entertaining and relevant drama series in
'Army Wives' to our viewers. This show will resonate strongly with our
audience as Mark, Deb and Katherine have created authentic, relatable and
powerful characters set in a highly charged and complex environment," said
Daniels in making the announcement.
"Building on Touchstone Television's cable business model and growth
strategy to produce on all platforms, this deal is a key opportunity to
expose the studio's quality content to new audiences," said Mark Pedowitz,
president, Touchstone Television. Adding, "Lifetime has proven a crucial
partner in the expansion of Touchstone's hits 'Desperate Housewives' and
'Grey's Anatomy' into syndication and we plan to aggressively develop this
engrossing original drama into a franchise success for the network."
In "Army Wives," an unlikely tribe is formed when four women and one
man create a bond based on one common theme: they all love a soldier who
could die at any moment. Yet, they are all isolated by secrets that buck
the armed forces system. They include: Claudia Joy Holden (Delaney), strong
and respected wife of Colonel Michael Holden (McNamara), who the other
women admire; Denise Sherwood (Bell), a devoted homemaker to her Major
husband and teenage son, who harbors a shocking secret; Pamela Moran
(Brannagh), a former cop, now earning money as a surrogate, who must keep
her secret or face blackballing by the other women in their tight knit
community; Roxy LeBlanc (Pressman), a feisty woman from the wrong side of
the tracks who marries a soldier, Trevor (Fuller), after only knowing him
for a few days. Now instantly living with her children on the post, she
quickly experiences the politics of being housed in an ultra competitive
environment. The "wives" also includes one husband, Roland Burton (Brown),
who is trying to adapt to his Lieutenant Colonel wife's (Davis)
post-traumatic stress syndrome after her return from the war.
Executive Producer Mark Gordon stated, "All of our shows are driven by
characters that audiences fall in love with and look forward to immersing
themselves in every week. Katherine Fugate has created a show that moves
you to laugh, cry, and thoroughly entertain the audience."
Said Creator/Executive Producer Katherine Fugate, "This entire
experience has been magic-filled, starting with the opportunity to tell the
often-untold and unseen stories of female (and male) empowerment from the
'Army Wives' point of view, rather than that of the soldiers at war. Then,
working with Mark Gordon, Deb Spera and Marshall Persinger, as well as the
executives at Touchstone Television and finally Lifetime Television, all of
whom have been so nurturing and highly supportive in our shared vision to
tell the best stories we can tell. Lastly, I cannot be more thrilled with
the cast we've assembled, all unique in their voice and talent. This truly
is an opportunity of a lifetime and I can't wait for it all to unfold."
Touchstone Television has established itself as one of Hollywood's
leading production companies, producing critically acclaimed, quality
entertainment to the television industry. Since the Touchstone banner first
appeared on the sitcom "Golden Girls" over 20 years ago, the studio has
produced many of the most recognizable television programs in the world.
Currently, "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" are
international sensations while "Ugly Betty" and "Brothers & Sisters" have
launched as two of the most popular new series this season. Touchstone is
currently in production on an additional 13 programs including fan
favorites "According to Jim" and "Scrubs..." both in their sixth year on
television, the popular CBS dramas "Criminal Minds" and "Ghost Whisperer,"
ABC Family's most watched original series "Kyle XY," and ABC's late-night
talk show "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Touchstone Television is part of Disney-ABC
Television Group, a division of The Walt Disney Company.
Lifetime is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated
basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, Lifetime
is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information
programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and
their families. Lifetime Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime
Home Entertainment and Lifetime Online (http://www.lifetimetv.com) are part of
Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst
Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.
SOURCE Lifetime
http://www.lifetimetv.com
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