TV

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) CBS is making a "Monkey" out of former "Ed" star Tom Cavanagh.

The network has ordered "Love Monkey," a light drama about a record-company executive (Cavanagh) and his group of friends, for midseason, the showbiz trade papers report. The show joins the military drama "The Unit" and comedies "Everything I Know About Men" and "Old Christine" on the network's midseason slate.

"Love Monkey," which also stars Jason Priestley ("Beverly Hills, 90210," "Tru Calling"), Judy Greer ("Arrested Development") and Larenz Tate ("Ray"), is based on a 2004 novel of the same name by Kyle Smith. It focuses on Cavanagh's character, who's single, and his friends, who are married or involved in serious relationships.

"It's a very smart, sexy, sort of male romance in the city," CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler said last month, before the show earned its pickup.

It's also a bit of a departure from the procedural-heavy lineup currently on CBS. The network is taking a couple steps away from crime dramas in the fall with "Ghost Whisperer" and the sci-fi thriller "Threshold."

Michael Rauch ("Beautiful People") wrote the "Love Monkey" pilot and will executive produce with Mark Johnson ("The Guardian"). Sony Pictures TV and Paramount Network TV are producing the show.