Lifetime picks up Shepherd comedy

Actress Sherri Shepherd arrives for the BET Comedy Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, September 25, 2005.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "The View" co-host Sherri Shepherd is adding a primetime starring role to her resume with a comedy series on Lifetime.

The cable network has picked up the comedy pilot "Sherri," ordering 12 episodes.

Shepherd is expected to announce the pickup on the ABC talk show Tuesday morning. She will continue her duties on "View" while starring on the Lifetime series.

The sitcom, loosely based on Shepherd's experiences, centers on a woman who deals with her husband's infidelity by allowing her husband's girlfriend and their child to move in with them.

The cast also includes Tammy Townsend ("Lincoln Heights"), Kali Rocha ("Grey's Anatomy"), Elizabeth Regen ("The Black Donnellys") and Kate Reinders ("Ugly Betty").

"Sherri" was one of three comedy pilots Lifetime was considering, along with "Alligator Point," starring Cybill Shepherd, and an untitled project starring Valerie Bertinelli.

With the order for "Sherri," the other two are not going forward.

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)