JESSICA SIMPSON - JESSICA SIMPSON GETS HER OWN SITCOM

Singing beauty JESSICA SIMPSON is merging fact and fiction in her eagerly-anticipated new sitcom - by playing a pop culture phenomenon named JESSICA SAMPSON.

The SWEETEST SIN singer - who has seen her profile rocket since appearing in MTV reality show NEWLYWEDS: NICK AND JESSICA - will be the protagonist in the upcoming ABC network show about a singleton version of herself. In the show, Jessica - who is married to pop hunk NICK LACHEY - will ditch music to become a TV reporter for a primetime news magazine show.

Jessica enthuses, "It's like reality-meets-script, kind of like how CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM was done, but not as much, because there's more script than that. But a lot of it will be just seeing how much of a fool I can make of myself. I don't mind. Laugh at yourself, you know?"

The yet-to-be-titled pilot will air in America in April (07APR04) and ABC should know by mid May (04) whether it will be picked to run as a series.