Dramas From 'Life Unexpected' Creator, 'Grey's Anatomy' EP Get Pilot Orders at Bravo

Liz Tigelaar and Krista Vernoff

Bravo has given pilot orders to its first scripted dramas.

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The cable network home to the Real Housewives and Top Chef has moved forward with The Joneses and Rita, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

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From Life Unexpected creator Liz Tigelaar, The Joneses was originally developed at ABC under her overall deal with ABC Studios. The remake of the 2009 Demi Moore and David Duchovny indie drama of the same name was rolled to Bravo in July as it continues its push into scripted programming.

The family drama follows the all-American Joneses, a family of four that has just moved in to an upscale suburb to start a new life but have a secret they must keep from friends and neighbors: they aren't a real family at all.

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Tigelaar, who last season worked on ABC's Once Upon a Time and Revenge before moving this year to Connie Britton starrer Nashville, penned the pilot with her Life Unexpected producing partners Gary Fleder and Mary Beth Basile at Mojo Films on board to produce alongside Echo Lake, the producers of the Derrick Borte feature. Borte will also serve as an exec producer on the Bravo entry.

Rita, adapted from the Danish format by Fox Television Studios, is a family drama that centers on an acerbic and outspoken private school teacher who struggles to raise her three teen children while dealing with bureaucracy and overprotective parents at her school. 

Grey's Anatomy's Krista Vernoff will write and executive produce the project with Fuse Entertainment's Mikkel Bondesen (The Killing) and Henrik Bastin (My Generation).

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The cable network also is developing scripted dramas including a Heathers reboot from The Big C's Jenny Bicks; 22 Birthdays from Doug Liman (Suits); Blowing Sunshine from Jason Ning (Perception); as well as The Apartment, The Darlings and All American Girl.

“Both pilots give us an opportunity to explore worlds and character interactions beyond our reach with unscripted programming,” said Andrew Wang, vp scripted development and production.  “The projects feature relatable storylines and the strong, unique, aspirational characters that our Bravo audience craves.”

The network's goal is to have scripted series on the air by the end of next year.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit