'Seinfeld' scribes, Fox net plan laffer

Skein follows Peacock pact

By JOSEF ADALIAN

Former "Seinfeld" scribe-showrunners Alec Berg and Jeff Schaffer have landed a six-episode commitment from Fox Broadcasting for a new half-hour comedy that could be on the air as soon as March.

The skein, produced by DreamWorks Television as part of Berg and Schaffer's overall deal with the studio, is an offbeat buddy comedy that will focus on a social recluse who's been hiding from life by staying in grad school. After accidentally graduating, he suddenly finds himself forced to confront the real world.

A pilot for the show is scheduled to be shot in January, with veteran "Seinfeld" helmer Andy Ackerman signed to direct. Fox will then decide whether to launch the show as a midseason replacement or hold it until fall 2000.

Deal was brokered by UTA and lawyer Ken Richman.

The Fox commitment is the second major development deal for "Seinfeld" alum in the past month. NBC recently gave a 13-seg commitment to a midseason laffer produced by a trio of "Seinfeld" scribes and starring former "Seinfeld" sidekick Michael Richards.

Berg and Schaffer spent four seasons on "Seinfeld," starting out in 1994 as consultants before coming on board as exec story editors in 1995. The duo served as supervising producers during the 1996-97 season and were executive producers of the show's final season in 1997-98.

Before "Seinfeld," Berg and Schaffer spent a year as writers on NBC's "Late Night With Conan O'Brien." The two former Harvard Lampoon scribes wrote for various cable and network skeins between 1991 and 1993.

Berg and Schaffer have also been expanding into features, recently completing a rewrite on the upcoming Jim Carrey starrer "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas." The two also teamed up with scribe Dave Mandel to write "Foolproof," now in development at Universal.