On HBO's Development Slate, Ladies Rule, and More

HBO has greenlit a stack of new series, including several that center on women, as well as pilots for new series from David Milch and Darren Star.
The roster of female-dominated shows starts with The Ladies' No. 1 Detective Agency, a Botswana-based story adapted from Alexander McCall Smith's book series. According to Variety, filmmakers Anthony Minghella and Richard Curtis are on for the project, which stars chanteuse/actress Jill Scott as Precious Ramostwe.
Will & Gracealumna Jhoni Marchinko, meanwhile, heads up the net's new comedy, Driving Around with Joni, the Reporter says. The series follows a 40-year-old widow who drives around Los Angeles all day with her French bulldog, seeking meaning in the wake of her husband's death.
Along with the dramedy duo, HBO's also greenlit a pilot order for Last of the Ninth, a "gritty cop drama" from David Milch. Fellow TV behemoth Darren Star is also prepping a new pilot. He and Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas are developing Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl, based on the book series by Tracy Quan.
How soon can we sample some of this fresh new fare? Not soon enough! - Anna Dimond