Schwartzman 'Cracking Up' on FOX

[Brian]

FOX has recruited Jason Schwartzman to topline the midseason comedy "Cracking Up."
Created, written and executive produced by Mike White ("School of Rock," "Pasadena"), "Cracking Up" will star Schwartzman as Ben, a psychology grad student. When Ben takes up residence in the guest house of a wealthy Beverly Hills family, he thinks his only concern will be looking after their introverted youngest son. Instead he discovers that the entire family is in need of therapy.

Schwartzman steps into the part played by Nicholas D'Agosto ("Election") in the show's original pilot. The other stars of that presentation are returning, with Molly Shannon ("Saturday Night Live") and Christopher McDonald ("Family Law," "Happy Gilmore") playing the dysfunctional heads of the family. David Walton, Caitlin Wachs, Jake Sandvig and Nathan Norton will also be series regulars.


The son of producer Jack Schwartzman and actress Talia Shire, Schwartzman made his acting debut in Wes Anderson's 1998 feature "Rushmore." Subsequent credits have included "Slackers," "CQ" (directed by cousin Roman Coppola) and "Spun."
Schwartzman is also the drummer for the band Phantom Planet, who perform "California," the song that plays over the opening credits of FOX's teen soap "The O.C."