Fox has 'Frye' in the fire

By JENNY HONTZ

Fox Broadcasting Co. has picked up the Universal TV comedy pilot "The 900 Lives of Jackie Frye," which was developed and passed on by ABC earlier this year.

The sitcom, executive produced by writer Jeff Nathanson ("Speed 2" and "The Flintstones 2") and managed by Gavin Polone, is about two brothers who work in the greeting card business, one of whom finds solace through vivid daydreams.

The ABC pilot starred James LeGros and Peter MacNicol, but Fox is expected to recast the sitcom before shooting the new pilot. Fox has kept an eye on the project since its inception, but Universal TV president Ken Solomon was instrumental in resurrecting it.

Separately, Warner Bros. has inked a deal with comedian Paul Rodriguez, and the studio is close to selling a family sitcom pilot to the WB Network. Bill Masters ("Murphy Brown" and "Seinfeld") is in talks to produce the project, which would also star Rodriguez's son Paul Rodriguez Jr., and actress Aida Maris.

Rodriguez's managers will also produce, and Barnett Kellman is in talks to direct. The deal was made by Writers & Artists agents David Brownstein and Norman Aladjem.