WB TV, thesp Cox ink deal
Netlet building comedy vehicle
Warner Bros. TV will develop at least one show starring Cox, the first one for the WB, which has ordered a comedy pilot for fall 1999. This is expected to be the final season for "Unhappily Ever After."
Anticipating a minimal return on its investment, the sitcom's producer, Touchstone TV, has over the past couple of years been reluctant to continue producing the show beyond the number of episodes necessary for its syndication sale. "Unhappily" was recently sold on an all-barter deal to the Fox O&Os.
Cox was considered to be the strongest element of "Unhappily," and the actress is hoping to revamp her image in much the same way that former "Married ... With Children" star Christina Applegate has done with NBC's upcoming comedy "Jesse."
"Nikki wants to reinvent herself and her persona," said Warner Bros. TV prexy Tony Jonas. "She's intelligent, funny, beautiful and sexy, and the challenge is to get all of those into a character."
Aside from "Unhappily," Cox had roles in the series "Someone Like Me," telefilms "The Ryan White Story" and "She Cried No" and features "The Glimmer Man" and "Terminator 2: Judgment Day."
Cox was repped by UTA's Gail Fanaro and Madeline Ryan.
