George Costanza Returns

By Stephen M. Silverman

05/04/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Michael Richards played his sitcom card on NBC last fall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus looks to be headed to that same network in her own show this fall, and now that other "Seinfeld" alum, Jason Alexander, also appears to be bounding back to the tube. ABC has announced that it has committed to shoot a pilot for "Bob Patterson," a half-hour comedy in which the former George Costanza will star as an out-of-control motivational speaker whose own life is extremely dysfunctional, reports Variety. ABC Entertainment Television co-chairman Lloyd Braun admitted that both the network and Alexander, 41, are aware that any project the actor undertakes is bound to be compared to his old role. "We know the bar is high with Jason, but he has a unique voice, and we're really confident we can do something very special with him," said Braun, who reportedly lent his name to a mentally disturbed recurring character on "Seinfeld." Meanwhile, ABC has also announced that supertwins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, 14, will star in a new cartoon series set to premiere in September. Each episode will begin with a live segment hosted by the twins, who will also supply the voices for their animated selves.