lemonade mouth

'ER' star Sherry Stringfield has been tapped to star in a pilot on Lifetime from 'Drop Dead Diva' creator Josh Berman.

According to Deadline Hollywood, Stringfield will play Detective Molly Collins, a mom of two on the verge of divorce who investigates high-profile crimes in San Diego. Meanwhile, Collins' partner, Brooke Kross, is newly engaged, putting the two at the opposite ends of the relationship spectrum.

Stringfield was the first actor to leave 'ER,' only to reprise her role and rejoin the cast five seasons later. Lifetime fans may recognize Stringfield from her role in this year's TV movie 'Who is Clark Rockefeller?'

In other TV news ...

• Niecy Nash took to Twitter to announce her departure from 'Clean House.' The former 'Dancing With the Stars' contestant and 'Reno 911!' alumna has hosted the show since 2004. Nash said the show will continue without her.

• Malcolm McDowell is returning to 'The Mentalist, TV Guide Magazine reported. The actor is reprising his role as Britt Stiles, the leader of the Visualize Self-Realization Center.

The Disney Channel is puckering up for what the network hopes is another 'High School Musical'-type franchise: 'Lemonade Mouth,' an original movie based on a novel about five Rhode Island high school students who meet in detention and decide to form a garage band.

Casting for the project, which is based on the 2007 young adult novel by Mark Peter Hughes, is now underway, with Disney hoping for a 2011 release date, according to a report in The Hollywood Reporter.

With Troy and Gabrielle having been replaced by Edward and Bella in the hearts (and wallets) of gazillions of tween/teen girls, Disney has pounced on what it hopes will be its next 'High School Musical.'

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the next coming will be an original made-for-TV movie based on Mark Peter Hughes' cult fave, 'Lemonade Mouth.'

The novel, about 5 outcast "freaks" at a New England high school whose chance meeting in detention leads to them form what becomes "Rhode Island's most influential band," has been adapted by April Blair ('Christmas Caper') and will be produced by Debra Martin Chase ('The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,' 'The Cheetah Girls').