Army Wives' top lieutenant is stepping down. Show-runner Dee Johnson was relieved of her duties over the weekend, sources confirm to me exclusively. Johnson's ouster — the result of creative differences with producer ABC Studios — marks the third show-runner change the Lifetime drama has weathered in a little over a year. Samantha Corbin-Miller was the first to go AWOL in Dec. 06. She was replaced a few months later by Jeff Melvoin (Alias), who stuck around until last August, at which point Johnson took over. This latest exec shuffle couldn't have come at a worse time: Army Wives — which ranks as Lifetime's No. 1-rated drama series of all time — is only two weeks into production on its highly anticipated 18-episode second season.
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Sure, all the headlines have been about the backstage power-shifts going on at ABC's Commander in Chief (Thursdays at 10 pm/ET), but there's a whopper of an on-screen power grab on the horizon. (Three words: Templeton in charge!) On the way to work yesterday, Natasha Henstridge, who plays the silver fox's chief of staff, Jayne Murray, spoke with TVGuide.com about Chief's never-boring term.
TVGuide.com: The fact that you're on your way to the set kind of answers my first question about whether new show-runner Dee Johnson is working you.Natasha Henstr
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You may wonder, as I do, just what Rebecca Calloway's problem is on ABC's Commander in Chief (returning tonight at 9 pm/ET). I mean, wouldn't it be the bee's knees to be the president's daughter? Even though she left us hanging for a full day, TVGuide.com was more than happy to talk — prehiatus, mind you — with the first daughter, aka Caitlin Wachs (pronounced "wax"), about life in the White House, a pregnancy shocker to come and that older costar she's been calling "sexy."
TVGuide.com: So, you blew off the hotshot TV Guide reporter....Caitlin Wachs: Oh, no! [Laughs] Maybe I'll win you back.
TVGuide.com: Out late partying, I
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Broadcasting & Cable reports that Stephen Bochco, who took over show-running duties from Commander in Chief creator Rod Lurie in the fall, has possibly parted ways with the currently-on-hiatus series, the result of what is being deemed a "bad fit." "Bochco just wasn't about to take notes from [ABC]," a source tells the mag. Exec producer Dee Johnson has had the helm since Bochco went into preproduction on his pilot, Hollis & Rae — and that was always the plan, ABC tells B&C, denying that Bochco is a goner. The magazine also says it remains unclear whether Commander will return on April 18, as previously announced.
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