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NBC is looking to make a big investment in Roseanne Barr.
The network is nearing a deal with the comedian for a starring sitcom vehicle that will go straight to series under the 10/90 model, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
A collaboration with Nurse Jackie co-creator and former co-showrunner Linda Wallem, the multicamera family comedy will mark Barr’s second play for a sitcom return in the past two years. She starred in the failed NBC pilot Downwardly Mobile.
Should the deal go through, it will be Universal TV and NBC’s first attempt at the 10/90 template most successfully employed by Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury. The distributor has seen back-90 orders for TBS’ Tyler Perry sitcoms and FX’s Charlie Sheen vehicle, Anger Management. FX also recently made 10/90 deals for series starring George Lopez, Kelsey Grammer and Martin Lawrence.
Barr, whose Emmy-winning comedy Roseanne ran for 220 episodes, is a proven syndication draw — no doubt a big factor in appeal for the back-90 option. She signed a production deal with Universal TV in January to develop a starring vehicle for NBC. The pact also saw her appear in three episodes of The Office‘s final season.
Barr is repped by Paradigm, and Wallem is with CAA.
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