Portia de Rossi, of Ally McBeal and Better Off Ted fame, is headed back to television in the fall of 2012.

NBC has laid claim to a pilot that will be produced by Portia’s wife, Ellen DeGeneres, through her company A Very Good Production.  All four broadcast networks were reportedly interested in the project.

Unlike some pilots that never end up airing, Ellen’s production company has a contract in place that all but guarantees the project will make the cut or NBC will be contractually obliged to pay a costly penalty to AVGP.

The storyline will feature de Rossi as one of two sisters who are often at odds.  Ellen will be executive producer of the multi-camera comedy and Don Todd, of Samantha Who fame, will write the script.

DeGeneres and de Rossi wed in August 2008.  The passage of Proposition 8 cast doubt on the legal status of their union until a California Supreme Court judgment validated the marriage because it occurred before Nov 4, 2008 – see wedding photo.

Photo:  WENN

Filed under: Celebrities, Ellen DeGeneres