First original drama for NBCU cable channel

NBCUniversal’s female-skewed cable network Bravo has commissioned its first original drama.

The greenlight of 13-part series Girlfriends: Guide to Divorce follows a trend that has seen numerous US cable channels move into original scripted shows in recent years.

Girlfriends will come from NBCU-owned Universal Cable Productions and is based on Vicki Iovine’s book series Girlfriends’ Guides.

It will follow Lisa Edelstein (House), who plays an LA self-help book author separated from her husband. Janeane Garofalo and Beau Garrett also star.

Marti Noxon, who is attached to write A+E Networks’ first fully-financed drama Un-Real, is writer and executive producer, with Iovine, Dawn Olmstead, Meryl Poster and Adam Brooks also performing the latter function.

“For our first scripted show, we wanted something that was sophisticated, funny and honest. We’re thrilled to have the talented Marti Noxon breaking this new ground with Bravo,” said Andrew Wang, VP, scripted development and production, Bravo.

The series is set to premiere in 2015.