ABC's top fall contenders

FOOTBALL WIVES
We're game for the American version of this sudsy Brit drama, written by Ugly Betty's Marco Pennette, about the spoiled spouses (including Lucy Lawless) of rising pro athletes.

THE THICK OF IT
Here's a platform we like: Christopher Guest will direct this sitcom about congressional office underlings (based on the BBC series), from Arrested Development scribes Mitch Hurwitz and Richard Day.

LIFE ON MARS
Hitmaker David E. Kelley is behind this cop drama, based on yet another British show (we're onto your tricks, ABC!). It follows a detective who's mysteriously transported back to the 1970s.

CASHMERE MAFIA
This comedy from Sex and the City exec producer Darren Star centers on thirtysomething gal pals (including Miranda Otto) juggling career, family, and, one assumes, fairly steep dry-cleaning bills.

DIRTY SEXY MONEY
A young attorney inherits a rich, wacky family as clients after his lawyer dad suddenly dies. Sure, star Peter Krause was Emmy-nominated for Six Feet Under...but honestly, they had us with the title.

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