Sometimes you can tell the importance of a pilot by who the network chooses to direct it. In the case of the Hamish Linklater script, The Prince of Motor City, ABC Studios has inked Jack Bender, a Lost helmer, to direct the pilot. To me, that means action and drama, not to mention enthusiasm from the parent company.

The Prince of Motor City was written -- as I said -- by Hamish Linklater who plays Matthew on The New Adventures of Old Christine. He is not leaving Christine, fortunately. However, he must be thrilled that his pilot has a top director. Bender (pictured above with Jason Ritter and Laura Owens) has been directing Lost recently -- winning an Emmy for directing in 2007 -- but also Alias, The Sopranos, Dirty Sexy Money, Carnivale, Boomtown and Judging Amy among others.

According the ABC, The Prince of Motor City is set in Detroit and is inspired by Shakespeare's Hamlet. Philosophy lecturer Billy Hamilton is the Hamlet character, questioning whether to take over his father's business after his scion dad is murdered.

Coming home for the funeral, Billy is shocked to discover that his father left him everything. But Billy's not sure if he wants it. The firm's CFO is pissed to be passed over, and Billy's mother and Uncle Charlie are too close for Billy's taste. Do you see all the connections to Hamlet here? There's even a ghost! The hour drama begins shooting in early June. The cast includes Andie MacDowell, Piper Peradbo, Aunjanue Ellis and Warren Christie thus far.