Post by Gardez on Oct 13, 2003 19:33:45 GMT -5
Hannigan Charms New Hubby
by Lia Haberman
Oct 13, 2003, 1:15 PM PT
Buffy's former spell-wielding sidekick has finally come into her own.
Alyson Hannigan married her longtime beau, Angel's Alexis Denisof, this weekend, E! News Live has confirmed.
On top of that, she's just inked a deal with NBC to star in her own sitcom, the network confirmed Monday. (Beats a five-piece place setting off the registry.)
No details on the Hannigan-Denisof nuptials were released, but it's the first marriage for both.
Denisof proposed last January while winsome twosome were visiting California's wine country. The union was a long time coming. Though he and Hannigan originally met on the set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer during the 1999-2000 season, the two didn't become an item right away.
"Actually, I had a crush on him from the moment he showed up on set, and he was the good one who said, 'Not while we're working together...' blah blah blah, whatever," Hannigan once told E! Online.
"So we became friends for a couple of years, and I was dating somebody else [Marilyn Manson drummer Ginger Fish], and when that didn't work out, he was on Angel and we just started dating.
We had always had a very flirty relationship."
Hannigan, who spent seven years on Buffy until the show ended last season, is unlikely to take an extended honeymoon with her new NBC gig looming.
The thesp, who expressed interest in headlining a comedy pilot while promoting American Wedding this August, was pursued by several networks but ultimately signed a talent holding and development deal with the PeaMr.C.
NBC development prez Kevin Reilly told Variety Hannigan is "a great personality for us to anchor a comedy with."
"America watched her grow up on these movies, and she's come into her own as a young woman," said Reilly. "She's beautiful and funny and really charming. And she exudes a great spark comedically."
Already, NBC and the actress are meeting with potential writers to hear pitches. Per the deal, if nothing comes along by pilot casting season next spring, the red head is free to enter into negotiations with other networks for fall 2004.
The net is inking similar holding deals with much of its talent according to Reilly, offering actors more flexibility and less financial responsibility for the network.
"It's win-win for everybody," he said.
In the meantime, Hannigan will crack funny for That '70s Show.
The actress is joining the Fox sitcom for a multi-episode arc this season. She'll play a new recruit at the police academy where Ashton Kutcher's character, Kelso, enrolls.
Hannigan, who got her start in 1988's My Stepmother is an Alien opposite fellow Scooby Seth Green, has starred in all three American Pie movies as band camp geek turned leading sexpot Michelle Flaherty.
Denisof, who continues to play Angel's brainy buddy Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, previously starred in Disney's video sequel Tarzan & Jane and the 1995 Sean Connery-Richard Gere Camelot flick First Knight.
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CONGRATS A&A !
