Jason Schwartzman Gets FOX Sitcom

Schwartzman ‘Cracking’ Fox comedy lineup

Jason Schwartzman has been tapped to star opposite Molly Shannon and Chris McDonald in Fox Broadcasting Co.’s midseason comedy “Cracking Up,” from writer-producer Mike White, 20th Century Fox TV and Brad Grey TV.

The actor, known for his starring role in 1998’s “Rushmore,” had been in talks for the role for several months, following the network’s decision to release Nicolas D’Agosto, who played Schwartzman’s part in the pilot. Sources said the main difficulty in negotiating the deal was accommodating the production schedule for the series to Schwartzman’s commitment to star opposite Steve Martin and Claire Danes in the feature “Shopgirl,” which is slated to begin production shortly.

“Cracking Up” centers on a psychology graduate student (Schwartzman) who moves into the house of a nutty Beverly Hills family to counsel their introverted youngest son. The role of the young boy, played in the pilot by Nathan Norton, also is being recast, though Norton remains a contender to continue on in the role, sources said.

The stakes are high for “Cracking Up.” Fox has had little traction with its new fall comedy slate, which includes “A Minute With Stan Hooper,” “Arrested Development” and the already canceled “Luis.” Another new sitcom planned for Fox’s fall slate, “The Ortegas,” has been pushed back to midseason.

Following his acclaimed feature debut in the offbeat “Rushmore,” Schwartzman appeared in such movies as “Slackers,” “Simone,” “CQ” and “Spun.”

He recently finished production on David O. Russell’s comedy “I Heart Huckabee’s,” in which he stars opposite Dustin Hoffman, Naomi Watts and Jude Law.

Schwartzman is repped by UTA and attorney Don Walerstein.