• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, January 5, 2011

TV Land will look to enhance hit "Hot in Cleveland" through a link with an ABC soap, while the network launches a second original comedy this month. Separately, fellow Viacom network CMT has teed up its first original sitcom, featuring Ed Asner. 

Next month, the TV Land stunt has a story line threaded into both "Hot in Cleveland" and ABC's "All My Children." It will play out in two episodes of the TV Land comedy and an episode of the ABC daytime show.

The twist involves ABC's Susan Lucci appearing on "Hot in Cleveland" as herself on Feb. 16 and 23, while Wendie Malick of "Cleveland" will be on the longtime soap Feb. 24.

TV Land looks to appeal to adults 40-plus, many of whom have followed Lucci for years. Season two of "Cleveland" comes later this month with 20 episodes. With Betty White as a top-liner, it set a TV Land record for its premiere with 4.75 million viewers last year.

TV Land's second original comedy, "Retired at 35," will debut in the half-hour after the season two start of "Hot in Cleveland" on Jan. 19. TV Land also has three other comedies in development.

By one measure, TV Land has seen a 28% rise in ratings this broadcast season in its target adult 25-to-54 demo.

Launching Jan. 28, CMT's "Working Class" has Asner, known for his role on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," playing a curmudgeonly neighbor/ friend to a single mom searching for a better life in an upscale suburb. That character, "Carli Mitchell," played by Melissa Peterman, wants her three kids to have improved surroundings, but when she moves, she finds her own life is difficult.

CMT has committed to 12 episodes.

By one measure, CMT's ratings in the 18-to-49 demo are down 13% this season.