Lifetime Orders Marc Cherry's 'Devious Maids' to Series

Drama was originally developed at ABC; will launch in 2013

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/22/2012 3:58:55 PM

Lifetime has picked up new drama Devious Maids from Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry, the cabler announced Friday.

The network has ordered 13 episodes of the ABC Studios series, which co-stars soap icon Susan Lucci, for a 2013 premiere.

Devious Maids, about the lives of five ambitious maids who work for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills, is based on the hit Mexican telenovela Ellas son la Alegría del Hogar and was originally developed at ABC for the 2012-13 season, but the network ultimately passed on picking up the pilot.

Cherry will executive-produce along with Sabrina Wind, Eva Longoria, Paul McGuigan, Larry Shuman, David Lonner, John Mass, Paul Presburger and Michael Garcia.

Devious Maids will join Lifetime's going slate of scripted dramas which includes the recently renewed Jennifer Love Hewitt starrer The Client List, Drop Dead Diva and the long-running Army Wives.