Fox fixes on standup pair

Net picks up 'Frangela' pilot

By JOSEF ADALIAN

Fox has given an early thumbs up to "Frangela," a half-hour laffer based on the comedy act of Angela Shelton and Francis Callier.

David Zuckerman ("Family Guy") will write and exec produce the project, which hails from Touchstone Television-based Brillstein Grey Entertainment. Shelton and Callier will produce, write and star in the laffer. Dan Pasternack, Peter Traugott, Sandy Wernick and Marc Gurvitz also are onboard as exec producers.

"Frangela" is being described as an African-American female buddy comedy.

Fox began developing the project during the 2005-06 season. After a rewrite and a table read last week, net decided to pick up a pilot late Monday.

Callier and Shelton's Web site describes their current act -- the "Afro-Saxons" -- as the result of "what happens when two funny black women decide enough is enough" and decide to release their "inner black bitch." Duo are both Second City alums and supplied voices to the Oxygen/BET animated laffer "Hey Monie!"

Zuckerman has spent the last decade working on a number of Fox animated laffers, starting with "King of the Hill." Most recently, he served as co-exec producer of "American Dad." He got his start on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."