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FOX Impanels ’Jury’ for Six Episodes (Tuesday, January 06 09:54 AM)

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - FOX has picked up a courtroom drama from "Homicide" and "Oz" collaborators Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson, and the show could be on the air before the season ends. "The Jury," written by Fontana and fellow "Homicide" alum James Yoshimura, will look at a court case through the eyes of the people on the jury. The network has ordered a total of six episodes, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Adam Busch ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Shalom Harlow ("How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"), Billy Burke ("24"), Jeff Hephner and Cote de Pablo will star in the series, formerly titled "The Circuit." Levinson directed the pilot and will guest-star as a judge.

In keeping with FOX’s new philosophy of developing shows year-round, "The Jury" could become part of the network’s midseason slate. FOX also has the comedy "Cracking Up" and dramas "Still Life" and "Wonderfalls" for midseason, along with returning shows "American Idol" and "Oliver Beene." Fontana, Yoshimura and Levinson are executive producing "The Jury" along with Jim Finnerty.

Elsewhere, ABC has ordered a comedy pilot from Warner Bros. TV and writer Suzanne Martin ("Frasier," "Maybe It’s Me"). The untitled show will follow the lives of a free-spirited wedding planner/single mom and her more straitlaced daughter.