After writing a number of episodes for the debut season of Army Wives, Dee Johnson has been made a full-time member of the drama series production team.  Her new deal with ABC Studios has afforded her one more year on the show, and will have her serving as an executive producer/showrunner.

Johnson is the third showrunner on Army Wives.  In December, Samantha Corbin-Miller (Crossing Jordan, The Practice) was named executive producer/showrunner, but a few months later, was replaced by Jeff Melvoin (Alias, Picket Fences).  Now, Johnson is taking over the series for Melvoin.


Prior to Army Wives, Johnson also served as the third showrunner of the short-lived ABC drama series, Commander in Chief.  She replaced Steven Bochco (NYPD Blue, LA Law), who succeeded Rod Lurie (Capital City, Line of Fire).

Johnson, whose other production credits include the shows Profiler, ER and Melrose Place, is represented by Creative Arts Agency and attorney Jamie Mandelbaum.

Created by Katherine Fugate, Army Wives was recently renewed for a second season with an 18-episode order.  The show, which features a stellar cast that includes Catherine Bell (JAG), Kim Delaney (Philly, The OC), Wendy Davis (Commander in Chief, Grey's Anatomy), Sally Pressman (Shark) and Brigid Brannagh (Over There, Standoff), continues to be one of Lifetime's highest-rated series.  Since its premiere on June 3, the series has drawn in average of 3.5 million total viewers.

Side Order of Life, led by Marisa Coughlan (Boston Legal), Jason Priestly (Tru Calling, Beverly Hills 90210) Diana-Maria Riva (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) and Christopher Gartin (CSI, House), and State of Mind, led by Lili Taylor (Six Feet Under), serve as the lead-ins for Army Wives.  Together, all three Lifetime originals have continuously helped to capture the Sunday night crown for the cable network.

The first season finale of Army Wives is scheduled to air on August 26 at 10pm on Lifetime.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: TV Week
(Image Courtesy of Lifetime)