Jessica Simpson To Star In NBC Comedy Pilot Presentation Inspired By Her Life
NBC has ordered a comedy pilot presentation starring Jessica Simpson. The single-camera project, inspired by Simpson’s life, is based on a pitch developed by Robin and Nick Bakay, with Nick Bakay (Two And A Half Men) writing the pilot script. Ben Silverman’s Electus and Universal Television are producing. “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!,” Simpson said.
The comedy project expands the relationship among NBC, Simpson and Electus to the scripted side. They are also collaborating on the reality series Fashion Star, which is heading into its second season. The half-hour is executive produced by Simpson, Nick Bakay, Ben Silverman and Jessica’s father/manager Joe Simpson. Jimmy Fox from Electus is a co-executive producer. “Jessica Simpson is truly a modern-day Lucy with incredible comedic chops,” said Silverman. “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.”
This marks Simpson’s return to acting, a career that started on a sitcom, Fox’s That ’70s Show, where she did an arc. She starred in a few movies, including The Dukes Of Hazzard, before focusing on her fashion and beauty business. Simpson, who started off as a pop singer, became one of the first bona fide TV reality stars with her MTV series Newlyweds. Nick Bakay, whose feature credits include Mall Cop and Zookeeper, and Robin Bakay are repped by APA.
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