Johnston close to 'Fabulous'

Actress in talks to join Fox sitcom

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Kristen Johnston ("3rd Rock From the Sun") is in talks to star in Fox's new take on Britcom "Absolutely Fabulous."

Johnston table-read the "AbFab" script for Fox execs on Friday; the net picked up the project to pilot shortly after that.

Other thesps participating in the pre-pickup table read included Kathryn Hahn ("Revolutionary Road").

There's no guarantee that any of the actors that participated in the read will move on to the pilot, but if she does continue, Hahn would play boozy fashion publicist Edina, while Johnston would play her best friend Patsy.

The original "AbFab" starred creator Jennifer Saunders as Edina, while Joanna Lumley played Patsy.

As for Johnston, the actress two Emmys for her role as Sally Solomon on "3rd Rock," which ran from 1995 to 2001. More recently, she recurred on "ER" and "Sex and the City." Johnston also appeared in the feature "Strangers With Candy" and is in "Bride Wars."

Christine Zander is the writer on "AbFab," and is exec producing with Sanders, Ian Moffitt, Mitch Hurwitz, Eric Tannenbaum and Kim Tannebaum. Sony TV, Tantamount and BBC Worldwide Americas will produce.

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