LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- FOX has added another drama to its 2009-10 season roster while ABC is on track to renew its comedies "Samantha Who?" and "Scrubs."
"Past Life," formerly known as "Reincarnationist," has landed a 13-episode order from FOX. The Warner Bros. Television-based hour, from David Hudgins ("Friday Night Lights"), revolves around investigators who try to resolve their clients' current woes by solving the mysteries encountered in their previous lives.
Kelli Giddish, Nick Bishop, Ravi Patel and Richard Schiff co-starred in the pilot, which was helmed by Deran Sarafian. Lou Pitt and MJ Rose serve as executive producers alongside Hudgins.
The newcomer joins previous pickups "Human Target," "Sons of Tucson," "Glee" and "The Cleveland Show."
Meanwhile over at the Alphabet, news broke this morning that "Scrubs" co-stars Zach Braff has closed a deal and Sarah Chalke is in talks to appear in at least six episodes of a potential ninth season. Donald Faison, John C. McGinley and Neil Flynn likewise are on board as regulars in second position to their pilots, ABC's "The Law," CBS's "Back" and ABC's "The Middle," respectively.
The series, which aired its potential swan song last week, will undergo a format change to accommodate the reduced workload by Braff and Chalke as well as the cost-cutting demands of producer ABC Studios. Various trade publications have suggested the show may switch to a hybrid single/multi-camera style (a la "How I Met Your Mother") to reduce its production overhead.
As for "Samantha," the single-camera show is facing similar demands from the studio as it nears a third season pickup by its corporate sibling. But while some behind-the-scenes tweaks are expected, including adding an extra camera, an outright switch to the traditional multi-camera format isn't likely. And with seven completed installments from its second season still on the shelf, the Alphabet's additional investment would only have to be around a dozen more episodes.
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