'Soup' scribe tests 'Water'

Rafferty Tess Rafferty ("The Soup") has set up comedy feature script "Thicker Than Water," with director-producer Scott Freeman and his partner Adam Grossman. The story deals with a dysfunctional family of social climbers overcoming infidelity and divorce to come together. It will be produced by Grossman and Wayne Carmona ("Entourage"). Rafferty's also sold publication rights to "Recipes for Disaster," a collection of comedic stories about life in an industry town and what it really means to entertain, to Katie Gilligan at Thomas Dunne Books. The book is to be published in fall 2012. Holly Root at the Waxman Literary Agency handled the deal. Rafferty is the only female writer-supervising producer on E! Entertainment's comedy show, "The Soup." She performs stand-up comedy around Los Angeles, including her recent show at the Comedy Central Stage "Why I'm Not Married." Rafferty is repped by New Wave Entertainment, and attorney Chad Christopher at Stone, Meyer, Genow, Smelkinson & Binder. Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com