CBS has earned a reputation for rarely shaking up its steadfast formula (easy to follow procedurals, simple three-camera sitcoms, Survivor), but it’s now putting into development one hell of a head-scratcher.  Deadline reports that the network is developing a medical drama called Dorothy, which will “lift characters and themes” from L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  Described as a medical soap, the project comes from Elementary producers Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman and takes place in New York City.  Emily Fox (Ghost Whisperer) will write the script and executive produce the pilot.

I’m morbidly curious to see just how Beverly and Timberman plan to make this work.  Scrubs did an excellent Wizard of Oz homage in the Zach Braff-directed episode “My Way Home,” but it seems like the adaptation works better within the comedy genre.  How clear will the parallels to the source material be?  Does the lion character have big, wavy hair?  Will our protagonist always wear red shoes?  Do Dorothy and Scarecrow have an on-again off-again relationship?  It sounds so terrible in theory that I just have see what this looks like.