Lifetime Orders Production of 'Side Order of Life,' a New One-Hour Drama Series From Academy Award(R) Winners Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen ('American Beauty'), Margaret Nagle (HBO's 'Warm Springs') and Warner Horizon Television

New Drama Series Joins 'Army Wives' and 'State of Mind' as Third Original Series to Premiere This Summer on Lifetime 'Life is the main course, the appetizer and the dessert. So get the dressing on the salad and no side orders.'

LOS ANGELES, March 6 -- Lifetime Television has ordered production of 13 episodes of "Side Order of Life," a quirky, thought-provoking and comedic new drama series centering on a young magazine photographer who suddenly re-evaluates her life and impending nuptials after receiving "a wake-up call from the universe." The announcement was made today by Susanne Daniels, President, Entertainment, Lifetime Entertainment Services. "Side Order of Life" premieres this July on Lifetime Television. It joins previously announced dramas "Army Wives," starring Kim Delaney and Catherine Bell, premiering in June and "State of Mind," starring Lili Taylor, also premiering in July, as the Network's third new original scripted drama series to premiere this summer.

Filmed in Los Angeles, the series stars Marisa Coughlan, Jason Priestley, Christopher Gartin and Diana-Maria Riva. Academy Award(R)-winning producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen ("American Beauty") of The Jinks/Cohen Company serve as executive producers. The pilot, directed by James Frawley ("Ally McBeal"), was written by Margaret Nagle (HBO's "Warm Springs"), who created the series and serves as co-executive producer. The series is produced by The Jinks/Cohen Company in association with Warner Horizon Television for Lifetime Television.

"We're ecstatic to have this fresh and relevant show on Lifetime that declares 'make every day of your life count,'" said Daniels in making the announcement. Adding, "Margaret Nagle has truly created unconventional and relatable characters. The cast, led by breakout star Marisa Coughlan and the popular Jason Priestley, make the consummate ensemble."

"The best part of life is the connection we make with others," said Nagle. "It is that disconnect which we've become used to in our daily lives that I wanted to address."

In "Side Order of Life," 30-year-old Jenny McIntyre (Coughlan, "Boston Legal"), is a photographer for a national magazine. Disconnected from the world, Jenny's life has been purely superficial, including planning every precise detail of her upcoming wedding to her fiance Ian (Priestley, "Beverly Hills, 90210"), a hotshot businessman with more style than substance. In an instant, Jenny's perfectly mapped-out life veers off course when she learns life-altering news from her brash and outspoken best friend, Vivy (Riva, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip"). This news serves as a wake-up call -- and rebirth -- for Jenny, who instantly begins to open herself up to the power of life. At work, Jenny's boss, Rick (Christopher Gartin, "House"), believes in her as a potential reporter and gives her the opportunity to cover an important story to test her mettle.

With fresh eyes looking through the lens of her camera, Jenny begins to see that everyone in the world is somehow connected -- and soon reassesses her relationship with Ian ... and her life.

Founded by Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, The Jinks/Cohen Company produced the Academy Award(R)-winning "American Beauty" and the successful films "Down With Love," "Big Fish" and "The Forgotten." In television, Jinks/Cohen is behind the upcoming ABC drama series "Traveler," from Warner Bros. Television, and is in production on an ABC/WBTV pilot called "Pushing Daisies."

Warner Horizon Television was founded to produce lower-budget scripted and reality primetime series for network and cable marketplaces. This additional production entity allows the Warner Bros. Television Group to expand its programming offering and explore creative options made possible under a new business model.

Lifetime is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, Lifetime is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment and Lifetime Online (http://www.lifetimetv.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

SOURCE Lifetime Television
http://www.lifetimetv.com