Production on both will begin in the spring

ABC Family has sent a Valentine's gift to its viewers in the form of new original programming.

The cable network has picked up a second season of its popular series "Greek" and ordered "Samurai Girl" as a six-hour programming event, it was announced Thursday, Feb. 14.

"Greek" centers on college freshman Rusty (Jacob Zachar), who's determined not to continue on his bookish geekiness from his high school days. His solution is to enter the Greek system, but his older sister Casey (Spencer Grammer), a sorority siren, isn't too thrilled to have her little brother encroaching on her territory.

The cast also includes Scott Foster as the charming Cappie, Jake McDorman as Evan, Paul James as Calvin, Clark Duke as Dale, Amber Stevens as Ashleigh and Dilshad Vadsaria as Rebecca. Directed by Gil Junger, "Greek" is executive produced by Shawn Piller and Lloyd Segan.

The second half of the show's first season will resume on March 24. Production on the next season will begin in early April with 12 of the episodes to air as part of the 2008-'09 season. "Greek" is the network's most-watched original series in adults 18-24.

"Samurai Girl," based on the popular young adult novels, centers on 19-year-old Heaven (Jamie Chung), a Japanese girl who learns that her adoptive father is the head of the Yakuza and possibly had her brother murdered. She leaves her family to train in the ways of the samurai and to plot against her father's evil empire with the help of her new American friends.

"We're very proud of 'Greek' and are thrilled to be bringing it back," said ABC Family President Paul Lee, "and 'Samurai Girl' is just perfect for us. We believe Jamie Chung has real break-out potential."

Chung, 24, was a cast member on "Real World: San Diego," appeared on "Days of Our Lives" and "Greek" and in the upcoming "Dragonball" movie.

"Samurai Girl" will also star Brendan Fehr, Saige Thompson, Kyle Labine, Anthony Brandon Wong, Steven Brand and Keneth Choi.