LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Courteney Cox, welcome to "Cougar Town." ABC has ordered a comedy pilot in which the former "Friends" star will play an attractive newly single 40-year-old mom with a 17-year-old son. It comes from "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence.

"Forty-year-old women on TV are so beautiful and perfect and wrinkle-free," said Lawrence, who first worked with Cox when he was a writer on "Friends." "People don't do the reality of it, and there is a real comedy area about a woman who is talking about Botox, about having sex with the lights on and how her body is changing."

Lawrence and co-writer Kevin Biegel, also a "Scrubs" veteran, had the idea for the show for a while, and Lawrence felt that Cox, whom he describes as "comedically fearless," would be perfect for the lead. After the actress guest-starred on the opening three episodes of the upcoming season of "Scrubs," he approached her.

Cox, who is 44 in real life, said she was "a huge fan of Bill Lawrence and his comedic sensibilities."

Lawrence drew some of the inspiration for the show from his wife, actress Christa Miller, who is a few weeks older than Cox. Miller has been recurring on "Scrubs" and also might appear on "Cougar Town."

Production is slated to begin in early January for a possible midseason launch.

Lawrence is wrapping postproduction on the eighth season -- and first on ABC -- of "Scrubs," whose finale will mark the departure of star Zach Braff. Lawrence also is expected to relinquish day-to-day responsibilities on the show but will continue to be involved if ABC opts to extend the show's run.

Cox recently starred on and exec produced the FX drama "Dirt," which was abruptly canceled earlier this year during the Hollywood writers strike.

Source: REUTERS