Lifetime renews vows with "Army Wives"

By Kimberly Nordyke

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Lifetime has picked up "Army Wives" for a third season with an 18-episode order.

The announcement, made Friday during the TV Critics Assn.'s summer press tour in Beverly Hills, comes only five weeks into the drama's second season, which also consists of 18 episodes. Season 3 is set to bow next year.

"Wives," which has set records for Lifetime since its premiere in summer 2007, revolves around a group of women -- and one man -- living with their spouses and families on an active Army post. The cast includes Kim Delaney, Catherine Bell and Sally Pressman.

This season, "Wives" ranks as ad-supported basic cable's No. 1 drama among Lifetime's key demos of women 18-49 and women 25-54. The series is based on the book "Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Military Marriage" by Tanya Biank, who serves as a consultant.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter