ABC takes Tyler laffer

Decter, Strauss, Ember to exec produce

By JOSEF ADALIAN

ABC has won the development rights to an Artists Television Group-produced half-hour laffer to star budding African-American comic Aisha Tyler.

Alphabet has bought a premium script for the project. Frontier Pictures' Ed Decter and John J. Strauss ("There's Something About Mary," "Odd Man Out") and Matt Ember are exec producing.

Skein will be based on Tyler's life as a Dartmouth College grad who married her Irish Catholic college sweetheart.

"Aisha's got a great point of view: She's intelligent, funny and not afraid to make fun of herself. She's got this wonderful real-life love story that just begs to be told," said Decter.

Tyler's standup comedy career began in her hometown of San Francisco. She began working the Los Angeles comedy scene relatively recently.

Deal was brokered by Endeavor and attorney Craig Jacobson of Hanson, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman and Warren. Tyler is managed by Jamie Masada.