Nanny, Con Man Help USA Build Character

Zap2It.com | March 26, 2008

Jeff Wachtel, Executive VP of Original Programming, USA Network

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Network has taken on four additional projects for the 2008-'09 season

USA Network, where the motto is "Characters Welcome," plans to welcome more new characters into the fold.

The cable network is developing four character-centered projects for the 2008-'09 season, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"Our current development slate makes clear that we're committed to strengthening our brand as the 'character network,'" says USA executive vp original programming Jeff Wachtel.

"The Nanny Files" will revolve around the adventures of a 26-year-old nanny who cares for the kids of a widower police chief. With her network of nannies, dog walkers, gardeners and neighbors, she will work without her employer's knowledge in order to solve his cases. "The Brady Bunch Movie" scribe Rick Copp will executive produce with Joann Moore ("A Walk on the Moon") as co-exec producer.

"Royal Pains" (working title) centers on a young doctor who loses everything after making a critical decision in the ER. When he visits the Hamptons, he reluctantly becomes a concierge doctor to the wealthy and elite. Rich and Paul Frank are executive producers on the project, which will be written by co-exec producer Andrew Lenchewski.

"Shirleyville," aka "Welcome Homeland" is from Leo Geter and Jim Leonard, writers for "Close to Home." The show focuses on a soldier who wants to get settled back with his family after two tours of duty in Afghanistan. He gets more than he bargained for, however, when he finds himself stepping into the shoes of his small town's recently deceased mayor.

Finally, Fox Television Studios and writer/executive producer Jeff Eastin's working title show "White Collar" revolves around a con man who breaks free of a maximum-security prison, but is pressed into becoming a consultant to catch other criminals when his FBI nemesis tracks him down.

Other projects are already in the works at USA, including "Thank You for Smoking," "Life Insurance," "American Girl," "The Oldest Rookie," "Halo," "The Expert" and "Citizen's Arrest."