MUMBAI: After a year and a half of bidding adieu to Wisteria Lane, Desperate Housewives alum Marcia Cross is returning to television in the form of the female lead role in Fox’s new TV comedy, Fatrick. Fatrick centers on Patrick, a 30-something man who realises that his life isn't quite where it should be. The former fat kid is forced to face the damage caused by years of being "Fatrick," a chubby little kid just trying to survive.

The comedy will take place in the past - showing "Fatrick" at school and at home - as well as in the present. In the series, Marcia Cross would play Patrick’s mother Arlene, a fit, energetic nutritionist who is rigid and intense when it comes to her family’s eating habits. Proud of her skinny daughter, she’s not quite as keen on her “plumper” offspring. Arlene means well when it comes to her family, but she has a little filter problem.

This marks the biggest half-hour commitment for EMMY and Golden Globe nominee Cross, who had largely done drama series before her turn in the comedic one-hour Desperate Housewives. She took a break after the end of the ABC series to spend time with her twin girls, born while Cross was on the show, and is now making her return to TV.

“Fatrick” is written by Nahnatchka Khan (Don’t Trust the B - in Apt 23) and Corey Nickerson. It will mark the TV directing debut for Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, who won the 2012 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the George Clooney starring film The Descendants. The show was ordered last month. Desperate Housewives has been a ratings hit in India for Star World over the past few years.