Bravo is known for drama on its reality shows like the “Real Housewives” franchise and “Top Chef” — but come next year it will have a drama of the scripted variety on its schedule.
The network just greenlit “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,” starring Lisa Edelstein, as its first foray into the genre. The series is set to premiere in 2015.
In the 13-episode dramedy — based on the book series by Vicki Iovine — Edelstein (“House”) plays Abby, a self-help book author in her early 40s who hides the fact that she’s separated from her husband. As she embarks on her new life as a single woman in LA, she ends up seeking advice from her divorced friends, including entertainment lawyer Lyla (Jeneane Garofalo) and former model Phoebe (Beau Garrett).
Bravo execs had been looking for the perfect first scripted project for nearly three years, and finally chose “Girlfriends’ Guide” because it has a similar mix of drama and comedy — and subject matter — found in many of its reality series.
“We felt like it spoke to many of the same characteristics and tones and moods that we have in our shows,” Frances Berwick, president of Bravo and Oxygen Media told The Post. “We’ve developed a few shows in the divorce space that . . . there was never any way to do in an unscripted environment.”
Berwick says Edelstein “owns the role” of Abby, who she expects to be a very relatable character for the audience, with the country’s divorce rate hovering at 50 percent.
Bravo has no premiere date in mind except to say that “Girlfriends” will launch sometime next season. But Berwick sees the drama being able to pair with a number of reality shows on its schedule.
“We have a lot of shows that could potentially launch a scripted show,” she says. “Because of the way we produce our shows where they’re arced storylines over a number of episodes . . . those same viewing benefits will definitely transfer over.”
And by the time it does debut, the network could have even more scripted shows announced.
“We’re in active development right now on a number of other projects at different stages. This is a first step,” Berwick says.
“We’re really looking to diversify our program slate. Stay tuned.”