Jeffrey Bell

Lifetime orders three police procedural pilots

Projects join potential ’Army Wives’ spinoff on network’s slate

Lifetime is diving heavily into the crime drama genre, ordering three police procedural pilots from notable showrunners.

The network has picked up shows from Josh Berman ("CSI," "Bones"), Annie Brunner ("Huff") and Jeffrey Bell ("V").

"With a strong foundation in scripted programming firmly established by ’Army Wives’ and ’Drop Dead Diva,’ Lifetime is aggressively expanding its drama series development plate with powerful programs from creative auspices who have strong pedigrees in producing stand-out programming," Lifetime Networks general manager and president Nancy Dubuc said. "These pilots developed by (executive vp entertainment) JoAnn (Alfano) and her team are the first steps we will take in bringing Lifetime’s scripted strategy to the forefront."

"Against the Wall," from Brunner, is about a policewoman who causes a riff with her cop brothers when she joins Internal Affairs.

"Exit 19" is about a single mother raising kids while working as a New York City homicide detective. The project is from ABC Studios and CBS TV Studios, Bell and executive producers Nina Wass ("Sherri," "Less Than Perfect") and Gene Stein.

Finally, an untitled project from Berman and Sony Pictures TV is about two female police detectives in San Diego who investigate high-profile crimes while navigating their personal lives. Berman is also the creator of Lifetime’s dramedy "Drop Dead Diva."

The trio will contend for a spot on Lifetime’s schedule next year, along with the "embedded pilot" that will air during this season of "Army Wives" that lays the ground for a potential spinoff. The "Wives" spinoff is also a police procedural.