George Clooney-produced cop show gets go-ahead

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - A drama pilot executive produced by George Clooney has TNT singing the "Delta Blues."

The cable network has green-lighted "Delta," from Clooney and Grant Heslov's Smokehouse Pictures and Warner Horizon. Written by Liz Garcia ("Cold Case") and Josh Harto, it centers on an outstanding but unusual Memphis cop who moonlights as an Elvis impersonator and lives with his mother.

"Delta" was put in development at TNT about a year and a half ago and was included in the cable network's development slate during its May 2008 "upfront" presentation to advertisers. Since then Clooney and Heslov moved their production company from Warner Bros. to Sony.

"Delta" marks the first pilot for Smokehouse. With previous producing partner Steven Soderbergh, Clooney fielded two improvisational series, "K Street" and "Unscripted." Both shows had 10-episode runs on HBO.

TNT has been high on cop dramas, programing such series as "The Closer," "Saving Grace" and, most recently, "Dark Blue." The network, which runs repeats of crime procedurals "Law & Order," "CSI: NY," "Cold Case," "Numbers," "Without a Trace" and "Bones," also has been in talks to acquire the recently canceled NBC police drama "Southland."

(Editing by SheriLinden at Reuters)