US Orders New TV Shows With Aus Soap Stars... And Luke Goss

Last week LA was abuzz as the TV networks revealed what shows were axed (final seasons of 30 Rock and Gossip Girl on the way), what shows were saved (Cougar Town was axed by ABC but nabbed by TBS) and what shows were ordered (Vanessa Huxtable, Chandler and Dharma are back*).

Amongst the most buzzed about new shows announced were five with Australian actors in their casts.

Possibly the show with the highest expectations to perform is JJ Abrams' collaboration with Jon Favreau on the sci-fi drama Revolution. The Fox network show features former Home And Away actress Anna Lise Phillips - last seen in Fox's big-budget Spielberg flop Terra Nova, and ABC1's Crownies.

Cast of Chicago Fire... it's about firemen

Also new to Fox is Chicago Fire, a firefighter drama to star ex-Neighbours cast member Jesse Spencer, fresh from an eight-year stint on Fox hit House.

The ABC network has ordered three new shows with Aussie talent in front of the camera. The biggest one being crime syndicate drama Red Widow which stars Neighbours actress Radha Mitchell alongside Bros' Luke Goss and featuring another local actor in Wil Traval (Underbelly).

ABC's also ordered sci-fantasy show 666 Park Avenue with Headland's Rachael Taylor landing on her feet after the high-profile axing of the Charlie's Angels revamp.

And, Neighbours' Dichen Lachman stars with Scott Speedman in another ABC sci-fi order, The Last Resort. Lachman's fast-becoming a fanboi pin-up after roles in a string of sci-fi faves: Being Human, Torchwood, Dollhouse.

[*Former child star of The Cosby Show, Tempestt Bledsoe returns in Jimmy Fallon-produced dad-com Guys With Kids; Friends' Chandler, aka Matthew Perry, is back in sit-com Go On; Jenna Elfman will try to shake off her Dharma & Greg past in White House comedy 1600 Penn.]