Courteney Cox starts 'Cougar Town'

Actress moves to ABC for new comedy series

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Cox

"Friends" star Courteney Cox has joined forces with "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence to concoct a new half-hour comedy for ABC.

"Cougar Town," which reps Cox’s return to the sitcom world, has been picked up to pilot by the Alphabet net. ABC Studios is behind the single-camera half-hour.

Lawrence and Cox will exec produce "Cougar Town," which stars Cox as a newly single 40-year-old mom. Lawrence is writing the pilot alongside "Scrubs" scribe Kevin Biegel.

Both Lawrence (through his Doozer banner) and Cox (through her Coquette shingle) are in the midst of development deals at ABC Studios.

"Cougar Town" would be Cox’s first series since FX’s "Dirt," which she starred in and exec produced. ABC Studios was also behind that show.

More recently, Cox shot a guest appearance on "Scrubs" — which served as a reunion of sorts for the star and scribe. Lawrence was a season one writer on "Friends" before moving on to co-create "Spin City."

Lawrence is finishing up post-production on the eighth season of "Scrubs," which moves to ABC this year.

"Cougar Town" comes as the idea of the "cougar" — a middle-aged woman who pursues younger men — continues to resonate through pop culture. TV Land, for example, has Mike Fleiss reality show "The Cougar" in the works.