Mischa Barton hits CW's catwalk

* By Tim Surette
* 03/13/09 12:15 PM


Model-turned-actress will act like a model for A Beautiful Life; Scrubs' Donald
Faison joins LAPD.

Like her or loathe her, Mischa Barton is returning to television. The
23-year-old actress has signed on to play a major role in the upcoming CW drama
The Beautiful Life, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Barton gained fame as Marissa Cooper in Josh Schwartz's teen soap The O.C., but
when that show ended in 2006, Barton avoided television, opting instead to star
in various indie and low-budget films. Her star remained shiny, however, thanks
to the paparazzi, her choice in boyfriends, and a late-2007 DUI and marijuana
possession charge.

In The Beautiful Life, Barton will play a model on the verge of seeing her
career slip into decline. The premise of the show sounds like a scripted
America's Next Top Model/Real World hybrid: a group of models live together in a
New York City apartment. I think it's safe to say the program will be a drama.
The show is being produced by Ashton Kutcher (like/loathe, part two).

Actor Donald Faison has found his post-Scrubs gig. The actor, who currently
plays Dr. Chris Turk on ABC's hospital comedy, will swap his stethoscope for a
gun and badge as part of ABC's The Law with Cedric the Entertainer. The comedy
follows a group of reserve LAPD officers.