Lifetime Orders Production of 'Side Order of Life,' a New One-Hour Drama Series From Academy Award(R) Winners Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen ('American Beauty'), Margaret Nagle (HBO's 'Warm Springs') and Warner Horizon Television
New Drama Series Joins 'Army Wives' and 'State of Mind' as Third Original
Series to Premiere This Summer on Lifetime
'Life is the main course, the appetizer and the dessert. So get the
dressing on the salad and no side orders.'
LOS ANGELES, March 6 -- Lifetime Television has ordered
production of 13 episodes of "Side Order of Life," a quirky,
thought-provoking and comedic new drama series centering on a young
magazine photographer who suddenly re-evaluates her life and impending
nuptials after receiving "a wake-up call from the universe." The
announcement was made today by Susanne Daniels, President, Entertainment,
Lifetime Entertainment Services. "Side Order of Life" premieres this July
on Lifetime Television. It joins previously announced dramas "Army Wives,"
starring Kim Delaney and Catherine Bell, premiering in June and "State of
Mind," starring Lili Taylor, also premiering in July, as the Network's
third new original scripted drama series to premiere this summer.
Filmed in Los Angeles, the series stars Marisa Coughlan, Jason
Priestley, Christopher Gartin and Diana-Maria Riva. Academy
Award(R)-winning producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen ("American Beauty") of
The Jinks/Cohen Company serve as executive producers. The pilot, directed
by James Frawley ("Ally McBeal"), was written by Margaret Nagle (HBO's
"Warm Springs"), who created the series and serves as co-executive
producer. The series is produced by The Jinks/Cohen Company in association
with Warner Horizon Television for Lifetime Television.
"We're ecstatic to have this fresh and relevant show on Lifetime that
declares 'make every day of your life count,'" said Daniels in making the
announcement. Adding, "Margaret Nagle has truly created unconventional and
relatable characters. The cast, led by breakout star Marisa Coughlan and
the popular Jason Priestley, make the consummate ensemble."
"The best part of life is the connection we make with others," said
Nagle. "It is that disconnect which we've become used to in our daily lives
that I wanted to address."
In "Side Order of Life," 30-year-old Jenny McIntyre (Coughlan, "Boston
Legal"), is a photographer for a national magazine. Disconnected from the
world, Jenny's life has been purely superficial, including planning every
precise detail of her upcoming wedding to her fiance Ian (Priestley,
"Beverly Hills, 90210"), a hotshot businessman with more style than
substance.
In an instant, Jenny's perfectly mapped-out life veers off course when
she learns life-altering news from her brash and outspoken best friend,
Vivy (Riva, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"). This news serves as a wake-up
call -- and rebirth -- for Jenny, who instantly begins to open herself up
to the power of life. At work, Jenny's boss, Rick (Christopher Gartin,
"House"), believes in her as a potential reporter and gives her the
opportunity to cover an important story to test her mettle.
With fresh eyes looking through the lens of her camera, Jenny begins to
see that everyone in the world is somehow connected -- and soon reassesses
her relationship with Ian ... and her life.
Founded by Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, The Jinks/Cohen Company produced
the Academy Award(R)-winning "American Beauty" and the successful films
"Down With Love," "Big Fish" and "The Forgotten." In television,
Jinks/Cohen is behind the upcoming ABC drama series "Traveler," from Warner
Bros. Television, and is in production on an ABC/WBTV pilot called "Pushing
Daisies."
Warner Horizon Television was founded to produce lower-budget scripted
and reality primetime series for network and cable marketplaces. This
additional production entity allows the Warner Bros. Television Group to
expand its programming offering and explore creative options made possible
under a new business model.
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 Television
http://www.lifetimetv.com
|