McKellar to star in movies, webisodes for Lifetime

Lifetime is looking to bridge the TV and online worlds, and it's tapped former "Wonder Years" star Danica McKellar to help with the crossover.

McKellar, who played Winnie Cooper on the classic coming-of-age comedy, will star in a movie for the cable network called "Inspector Mom." The film will then launch a series of 10 webisodes that continue the character's story; another movie is also in the cards.

As the title implies, "Inspector Mom" will focus on the dual life of McKellar's character, Maddie Monroe. Maddie's raising her two young children in suburbia, and in her spare time she solves mysteries. The first movie will set up Maddie's world and serve as an introduction to the web-based show, set for fall.

Each webisode will feature a new case for the character. Five webisodes will follow the first TV movie, and following that a second movie will lead into the remaining five online mysteries. Brad Keller is executive producing the series, which will film in Texas.

McKellar, who has a degree in mathematics from UCLA, has written and directed several short films in recent years in addition to her acting career. Recent on-screen credits include guest spots on "NCIS," "How I Met Your Mother" and the series finale of "NYPD Blue." She also had a recurring part on "The West Wing" a few seasons back.