Pair planted in NBC's 'Backyards'

Rob Estes, a veteran of "Melrose Place," "CSI: Miami" and several other shows, will join the "Women's Murder Club" in the fall.

Well, not the actual club, seeing as he's a dude. But he will join the ABC drama in a recurring part, playing the ex-husband of Angie Harmon's character.

Elsewhere, Richard Ruccolo and Casey LaBow have signed onto NBC's pilot "Backyards & Bullets," according to The Hollywood Reporter, and CBS has ordered a pilot from one-time "Friends" writer Mike Sikowitz.

In "Women's Murder Club," based on the James Patterson novels, Estes will play a San Francisco police lieutenant who used to be married to Harmon's homicide detective. The two carry on a not-entirely-healthy relationship despite their divorce.

Estes was a regular on "Melrose Place" for several seasons and also starred in the CBS/USA series "Silk Stalkings." More recently he's appeared on "CSI: Miami," "Gilmore Girls" and ABC's short-lived "The Evidence."

At NBC, former "Two Guys and a Girl" star Ruccolo has joined "Backyards & Bullets" (aka "The Watch"), about a suburban neighborhood-watch group that takes its duties very seriously. He'll play the husband of a committed member of the group (Abigail Spencer, "Angela's Eyes"). LaBow will play the daughter of a watch leader.

CBS, meanwhile, has jumped back into the development fray with "My Best Friend's Girl," about two close friends whose relationship becomes strained when one starts dating the other's ex-wife. Sony Pictures TV is producing the project.

Sikowitz has written for "Friends," "Grounded for Life" and "The Class," among others. He's also an executive producer of FOX's midseason comedy "Unhitched" (formerly "The Rules for Starting Over").