Jessica Simpson will star in an NBC-produced sitcom based on her life, a la “I Love Lucy.” Universal Television and Electus will co-produce the pilot, based on a pitch developed by Robin and Nick Bakay, reported The San Jose Mercury-News.
“We are thrilled to team up with the multitalented Jessica Simpson to bring this new sitcom to life on NBC as she is truly a modern-day Lucy with incredible comedic chops,” Electus founder and chairman Silverman said. “From running a fashion empire to wrangling her public image as a new mom, we see Jessica’s character approach a variety of ‘everyday’ circumstances that will get audiences laughing out loud.”
Added Simpson: “I am so excited to work with Ben and NBC again, this time on a scripted comedy. I often find myself thinking that no one could ever make up the things that actually happen in my life, so between the real-life elements and a great team of writers, I think we’ll have people laughing.”
This is actually Simpson’s second attempt at scripted comedy. In 2004, ABC ordered a pilot titled “Jessica,” which starred the singer-actress as a pop star-turned-TV news anchor. But the show was not picked up to series.
Simpson’s acting credits include the movies “Employee of the Month” and “The Dukes of Hazzard” and on television on “Entourage” and “That 70’s Show.”
Simpson signed with Tommy Mottola and Columbia Records at 16. At 19, her first studio album reached No. 25 on the Billboard 200. The singer’s marriage to former 98 Degrees frontman Nick Lachey was documented in “MTV’s Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica,” which ran for three seasons on the network (they later divorced).
See the San Jose Mercury-News story here
