NBC is close to a deal that will bring Roseanne Barr back to broadcast prime time, with an agreement that marks a departure from tradition for a broadcast network, reports our good friend Nellie Andreeva in an exclusive story for Deadline.com.

Writes Andreeva, "I hear the project, a multi-camera family comedy, is intended as going straight to series under the 10/90 model used by Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury for the Tyler Perry sitcoms on TBS and most recently ‘Anger Management’ at FX."

Andreeva continues, "Universal TV is producing in what would be the studio’s first stab at the 10/90 template. This also would mark the first broadcast network to take on the model, which involves a straight-to-series 10-episode order that triggers a 90-episode back order if a ratings mark is hit."

The story notes that the project is being co-written by Barr and "Nurse Jackie" co-creator and former co-showrunner Linda Wallem.

The risk in using the 10/90 model is that while the initial ratings may be good, in subsequent seasons the ratings may drop precipitously.