Greg Berlanti
lends a hand to Brothers & Sisters

The writers on ABC-Touchstone TV's upcoming drama Brothers & Sisters are getting help from within the Touchstone family. Studio-based Everwood creator Greg Berlanti has been spending a lot of time in the Brothers & Sisters writers' room, lending a hand with the show after the departure of executive producer-show runner Marti Noxon last week.

There is no formal deal in place for Berlanti's services on the series, a soap about adult siblings, but he is said to be getting along great with the writers and producers on the show.

"Everybody is thrilled about this collaboration," a Touchstone TV spokeswoman said.

While Touchstone TV officially is still weighing its options on a replacement for Noxon, Berlanti is considered a great fit, given his experience running his critically praised WB Network family drama Everwood for four seasons.

Berlanti knows a thing or two about sibling rivalry too. He cocreated and executive-produced WB's critically praised drama series Jack & Bobby, which centered on two teen brothers, one of them destined to become president of the United States.

Brothers & Sisters, which stars Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, and Sally Field, remained in production after Noxon exited the show Tuesday after weeks of rumblings about friction between her and series creator-executive producer Jon Robin Baitz.

The series is slated for the Sunday 10 p.m. slot, following Desperate Housewives. (Reuters)