USA Orders Political Series from Greg Berlanti

Six-episode 'Political Animals' to premiere in summer 2012

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/30/2012 1:32:07 PM

USA has picked up an aptly-timed six-hour political miniseries from producers Greg Berlanti and Laurence Mark for a summer 2012 run, the network announced Monday.

Political Animals, from Warner Horizon Television, centers on Elaine Barrish, a divorced former First Lady and current Secretary of State and her unlikely friendship with a journalist who has spent her career tearing Barrish down. Berlanti wrote and directed the pilot and will executive-produce alongside Mark.

Longtime TV producer Berlanti was executive producer of Brothers & Sisters and Dirty Sexy Money and co-created/executive-produced last season's failed No Ordinary Family, Eli Stone and Jack & Bobby. He also created the WB drama series Everwood. Primarily a feature producer, Mark's credits include Dreamgirls, Jerry Maguire and As Good As It Gets.

"We've been chasing Greg for years," said USA Co-President Jeff Wachtel in a statement. "We can't think of a better partner to be working with as we expand the storytelling reach of the network."

USA's "blue sky" drama brand has led it to six consecutive years as the most-watched cable network, but Wachtel and co-president Chris McCumber have been pushing the network into other fare with recent orders for a half-hour comedy and reality series.