A CBS coming-of-age drama, an ABC comedy from Mel Gibson and an NBC animated series arrive this fall with an assist from the Family Friendly Programming Forum's Script Development Initiative. The sponsor-drive program, affiliated with the Association of National Advertisers, aims to increase the number of programs that families can watch together.

In recent years, the Forum has contributed money to a number of pilots. This year, ABC's "Savage," CBS' "Clubhouse" and NBC's "Father of the Pride" arrive with their seal of approval.

The FFPF has had some success getting shows on the air in the past. The first program to bear the label was The WB's "Gilmore Girls," which continues to be an anchor for the network. NBC's "American Dreams" and ABC's "8 Simple Rules" will both enter their third season, having begun with an assist from the FFPF.

Last season, though, the Forum supported The WB's "Steve Harvey's Big Time," "Like Family" and "All About the Andersons" as well as NBC's midseason entry "The Tracy Morgan Show." Of the quartet, only "Steve Harvey's Big Time" will be back for a second season and that show only returns after a major overhaul.

The Script Development Initiative was funded by the esteemed likes of FedEx Corporation, Ford Motor Company, The J.M. Smucker Co., IBM Corporation, Kellogg Company, Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer Inc, The Procter & Gamble Company, Sears, Roebuck & Company, Sprint Communications, Tyson Foods, Inc., Verizon Communications, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Wendy's International, Inc.