Prime-time television may have found its next Fresh Prince.
Nelly is in negotiations to star in a sitcom produced by Paramount Network Television, whose shows include “7th Heaven” and “Ed.”
Claude Brooks, who created the former MTV sketch comedy show “The Lyricist Lounge Show,” is producing the show.
A spokesperson for Paramount could not reveal any details about the show since it is still in the development stage.
If the deal goes through, Nelly will follow in the footsteps of Will Smith, who stepped out of a cab in 1990 (telling the driver, “Yo, homey, smell you later”) into the hit “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and a lucrative acting career. LL Cool J also made the move to prime time, starring in “In the House” from 1995-1999.
Nelly is not entirely new to acting. He starred in the 2001 thriller “Snipes” alongside Zoe Saldana (“Crossroads”).
The rapper’s second album, Nellyville, has sold more then 1 million copies after two weeks atop the Billboard 200 album charts (see “Nelly Hangs Onto #1, Murder Inc. Crew Makes Big Debut On Albums Chart”).
