USA picks up new series "Royal Pains"

By Kimberly Nordyke and Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - USA Network is moving forward with "Royal Pains," giving a series pickup to the show starring Mark Feuerstein as an on-call doctor to the Hamptons elite.

The cable channel has ordered 11 hourlong episodes in addition to the two-hour pilot for a potential summer launch. It is being eyed as a possible companion for "House," the off-network rights to which USA has acquired.

USA began developing shows centered on a doctor two years ago, after the network acquired the "House" rights.

"'Royal Pains' is our first doctor show," said Jeff Wachtel, executive vp original programing at USA. "And I say 'doctor' rather than 'medical' because 'doctor show' means it's more personal and offbeat, and that fits into our brand. 'Medical show' typically means more of a hospital ensemble."

Paulo Costanzo, Jill Flint and Reshma Shetty co star in "Pains." It is one of three cast-contingent 90-minute pilots USA greenlighted last summer, along with "White Collar" and "Operating Instructions," both of which are wrapping casting.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter