Family trouble on ‘Brothers & Sisters’

Former “Ally McBeal” star Calista Flockhart’s return to TV is looking not-so-triumphant.

Flockhart, 41, stars in “Brothers & Sisters,” ABC’s ensemble drama about several generations of a contemporary Los Angeles family. Network executives must have had positive feelings toward the show at some point, because they selected it for the plum 10 p.m. Sunday slot, right after “Desperate Housewives.” That’s the same time period that helped make “Grey’s Anatomy” a huge hit (this season, “Grey’s” is moving to Thursdays).

But “Brothers” has already run into big trouble. Executive producer Marti Noxon, the showrunner charged with managing creative matters on a day-to-day basis, abruptly exited the series Monday after a dispute over its artistic direction, two people familiar with the situation said. Noxon did not return a call Tuesday.

Studio executives are hopeful Noxon can be persuaded to return. “It’s not final,” said Charissa Gilmore, a spokeswoman for Touchstone Television, which makes the show. “Until then, she’s on the show.”

But Noxon is said to have butted heads with creator Jon Robin Baitz, a well-known playwright who’s also written for “Alias” and “The West Wing.” Just last month, Noxon and Baitz appeared side-by-side with Flockhart and the rest of the principal cast at a Pasadena press junket promoting “Brothers.”

Noxon’s departure is just the latest blow to the series. The studio earlier recast some of the actors, replacing Betty Buckley with Sally Field. As a result, substantial portions of the pilot had to be reshot, and according to the studio, no footage for any episode has been sent to the editing room yet. The premiere is set for Sept. 24.

Meanwhile, Flockhart’s PR efforts may leave something to be desired. She became a star playing a conflicted young lawyer during “Ally McBeal’s” 1997-2002 run. But her glum demeanor at the Pasadena junket had journalists buzzing (EW.com said she looked “utterly miserable”). But Gilmore said the actress has a full slate of promotional activities planned for the new show.

Channel Island is a blog about the TV industry. For the latest posting, go to latimes.com/channelisland. Contact reporter Scott Collins at channelisland@ latimes.com.