• by Fern Siegel , September 23, 2008

Lifetime is serious about "Rita Rocks." To prove it, the network's first original comedy series in a decade will air five episodes in a week.

The aggressive debut kicks off Oct. 20-24. "Rita Rocks" will then air each Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.

"Rita Rocks" stars Nicole Sullivan ("The King of Queens," "MADtv") as a wife and mother with a midlife crisis. She's trying to rekindle a romance with her husband (Richard Ruccolo, "Two Guys and a Girl"), while coping with her 9-year-old daughter (Tisha Campbell-Martin, "My Wife and Kids," "Martin")and a rebellious teenager (Natalie Dreyfuss, "He's Just Not That Into You.")

To combat the blues, Rita decides to form a garage band with her postal carrier and neighbor.

"Rita Rocks" will launch after "Reba" for five nights to "ensure the widest possible sampling," says JoAnn Alfano, executive vice president, entertainment, Lifetime Networks. "We hope to build a strong one-hour comedy block by pairing these two very compatible shows."

"Rita Rocks" is produced by Media Rights Capital for Lifetime Television. Stan Zimmerman and James Berg ("Gilmore Girls," "Roseanne") and Jeffrey Hodes and Nastaran Dibai ("Hope & Faith, "According to Jim") are executive producers. Zimmerman and Berg are also the creators.