Now this could be interesting -- Lifetime is looking at adapting British soap Mile High. The original series was known for the luxurious location shoots where we watched the steamy adventures of flight attendants who worked for a budget airline. Among them was Will O'Brien, a witty gay man who didn't sit on the sidelines, but was just as sexually active and scandalous as his co-workers.

It'll be interesting to see how this version goes, since Mile High felt like three different series during its two-season run, with only a handful of actors staying consistent throughout the series (and the dark turn in final few episodes almost felt like a fourth series). Mile High doesn't match my idea of Lifetime programming at all, with all the bad behavior and reckless drug use and its many unlikable female characters. (Now Oxygen, on the other hand...) It'll be interesting if this gets toned down in translation.

I once called Mile High "The worst show I wouldn't miss an episode of." It wasn't a quality series in the slightest, with plot holes and inconsistent characterization, but it was incredibly addictive -- and even not in a "so bad it's good way," it was just fun despite the many problems. Maybe it was the show's stylish visual sense, maybe it was the catchy opening which made effective use of Hooverphonic's "The World is Mine" or maybe it was a constantly likable cast that smoothed-over the show's faults.

Anyway, the challenge of playing casting director is a little too hard to resist in this case. Let's try to cast the major players, shall we?

Janis Steel

Janis requires a bit of range, as a ball buster managing an irresponsible crew she requires an actress able to mix toughness with vulnerability. At first I started thinking of women who've managed that combination in meaty soap roles like Fiona Hutchinson, Cynthia Watros and Kimberlin Brown but the show needs at least one name to headline the series. To that end, I can easily see Jasmine Guy fulfilling the role and bringing some star power, as well. After her role on Arrested Development, I could also see Justine Bateman in charge of the Fresh! Air crew. However, if Lifetime wants to get the attention Anglophile soap fans, Footballers' Wives' Laila Rouass could really sink her teeth into the role of Janis. (Then again, maybe I'm saying that because Rouass is really rocking the fifth season of Footballers' Wives currently airing on BBC America.)

Marco Bailey

Marco is another character who requires a bit of range, he switches from naive, bumbling and foolish to sweet and smokin' hot from one scene to the next. David Smith captured a similar dynamic in my winter guilty pleasure, Wicked Wicked Games (otherwise known as the poor American's The Life and Loves of a She-Devil). Smith could easily switch between the easily-overlooked boy next door to someone who's picture belongs in an Abercrombie & Fitch window. JD Pardo also comes to mind, having recently played a good son with occasional dark edges in Drive. Justin Mentell spent his season on Boston Legal looking overwhelmed by almost every case he handled, looking at some pictures of Mentell shows he can handle Marco's steamy moments as well.

Lehann Evans

To be honest, Lehann wasn't such an exceptional character. She rarely got written much better than the crew mates who came and went in the series. What made the character really work was the charisma of actress Naomi Ryan... so why not bring Ryan back to re-create the character? Other possibilities that come to mind include Joy Osmanski who was one of the few bright spots in the unfunny sitcom The Loop, as well as Tessa Thompson who was a great addition to Veronica Mars's second season.

Will O'Brien

Will requires a sly comedic touch, he's shallow, selfish and an inept schemer but it's also clear why people form friendships with him. Will is a character who gets the audience to spend equal time laughing with and laughing at him; wanting to hang out with him and wanting to slap him silly. Michael Muhney displayed half of that dynamic on Veronica Mars. I'd love to see him combine Sheriff Lamb's foolishness in a role that also makes use of Muhney's sexiness and charisma. I could also see Wonderfalls' Tyron Leitso bringing Will's goofiness and his strong-willed nature to life. I thought Chris Carmack was poorly used as The OC's first season was wrapping up, as Carmack showed the kind of verve that made Will so irresistible. Mix that energy with the bad boy he played on The OC and you've got Will.

Check out Mile High's opening sequence, which fits the show quite perfectly:

And here's a longer clip that nicely captures the whole Will/Marco/Janis dynamic. There's some NSFW bits to this one.