Wilmer Valderrama returns to Fox

Actor to co-exec produce and star in 'Ernesto'

By DANIEL FRANKEL

Fox is getting back into business with "That '70s Show" co-star Wilmer Valderrama, making a production commitment for one-hour comedy pilot "The Emancipation of Ernesto."

Acquired as a spec script with Valderrama attached, the project will be produced through 20th Century Fox TV. Emily Kapnek ("Emily's Reasons Why Not") will serve as exec producer, with Valderrama listed as co-exec producer in addition to star.

"Ernesto" revolves around a man who manages to avoid the temptations of his adopted city, Los Angeles, while embarking on a search to find his father.

Series marks the return to series TV for Valderrama, who played foreign exchange student Fez on "That '70s Show" from 1998-2006.

As for Fox, show reps the first-ever hourlong to come out of the net's comedy department.

"We've been talking about doing more hourlong comedies -- look at the shows winning the Emmy for best comedy, and they're all one-hours," said Fox laffer topper Susan Levison. "And Wilmer is a TV star. He's got more range than people think he does."

Valderrama will star in two features set for release later this year: the urban drama "Days of Wrath" alongside Laurence Fishburne and the crime thriller "Columbus Day" alongside Val Kilmer.

Kapnek was most recently consulting producer on the CW's recently cancelled "Aliens in America." She created and produced ABC laffer "Emily's Reasons Why Not," as well as Nickelodeon series "As Told by Ginger," a three-time Emmy nominee.

Kapnek said she wrote "Ernesto" with Valderamma specifically in mind, so she lucked out that he responded.

"And this time around, I swear I've got at least two good episodes in me," added Kapnek, whose "Emily's Reasons Why Not" joined the TV trivia books as one of a handful of primetime skeins canceled after just one airing.

Read the full article at:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117987702.html

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