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2 TV ENCORE By Jacqueline Spendlove TV Media S tand-up comic? Check. Oddball pals? Check. Eccentric guy across the hall? Check. Unless you've spent the last 20-odd years under a rock, chances are you recognize this premise. Quite soon though, it will be used to describe not just "Seinfeld" — widely considered to be one of the greatest sitcoms of all time — but also "Mulaney," a new comedy airing on Fox this fall. The series boasts some major players in the come- dy world, both onscreen and off, giving it a pronounced leg up towards that relatively rare feat of true sitcom success. The show is a semi-autobio- graphical look at John Mulaney's life as a comedian trying to make it in the Big Apple. Mulaney, known for his standup and his work as a writer on "Saturday Night Live," stars as a fictional- ized version of himself, and in case creating and starring in the series isn't enough to add to his resume, he's also one of the show's writers and producers. Abounding with "SNL" alumni, the show premieres Sunday, Oct. 5, on Fox. "Mulaney" inarguably shares a number of similar elements with "the show about nothing," from the eponymous main char- acter's profession to the New York City setting to the gal pal who you recognize from "Saturday Night Live." It does offer a little more story structure, though, in that there's actually a plot. Struggling to find his big Graybeals Carpet 2 x 3" Pear Tree Gallery 3 x 2" Harrison- Metzger 2 x 2" On the Cover break in the standup circuit, John-the-character scores a writ- ing job with comedy-legend- turned-hambone game show host Lou Cannon, played by none other than real-life comedic giant Martin Short of "SCTV" and "SNL" fame. Lou is monumental- ly self-centered, insufferable and, of course, hilarious, adding another vital level of stressful absurdity to John's chaotic life. Luckily, John's got a support system in place in the form of his two best friends and roommates, though they themselves are far from being trouble-free additions to his life. Nasim Pedrad, a fellow "SNL" departee (and a recent one at that), stars as Jane, a rath- er rudderless and high-strung personal trainer, while Seaton Smith ("Pancake Mountain"), a fellow comic, stars as Motif ... a fellow comic. Andre (Zack Pearlman, "The Inbetweeners") frequently makes his presence known, much to the gang's dismay, as a bearded trust fund baby who's currently selling pot until his pesky relations die and leave him his not-at-all- earned fortune. Providing a much-needed oasis in this sea of disorder is John and company's 71-year-old gay neighbor, Oscar, played by the simply wonderful Elliott Gould ("Ocean's Eleven," 2001). Oscar, an endearing former radi- cal and true New Yorker, provides John with much-needed advice and mentorship, as well as the occasional escape from the mad- ness of everyday life. "The character is kind of a Yoda to all of us, and Elliott is a Yoda to all of us in the cast," says Mulaney of his esteemed castmate in the series' preview special, "An Opening Act." If the cast is impressive, the team behind the scenes is praise- worthy in and of itself. Lorne Michaels, the show's executive producer, has become a house- hold name for creating and pro- ducing "Saturday Night Live" (you may be seeing a running theme here). Along with having been a driving force behind a long list of film and television comedies, he's a member of the Order of Canada for lifetime achievement, he's got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Peabody Award. In short, he's one accomplished son of a gun. As for "Mulaney's" director and Michaels' fellow executive producer, Andy Ackerman, he was at the helm for almost 90 "Seinfeld" episodes, so it's safe to say he more or less knows what he's doing. "If I have any small percent of 'Mulaney' could become ''Seinfeld' for a new generation' [Seinfeld's] success I'd be thrilled," Ackerman said in a TCA Press Tour panel. Plainly, the comparisons between the two shows are by no means downplayed by the cast and crew. Fox's chairman of entertainment even said that "Mulaney" has "the makings of a 'Seinfeld' for a new generation" during upfronts back in May. When asked during the TCA session about his inspiration for the show, Mulaney joked that he "just watched 'Seinfeld' and cop- ied it. They run it all the time, so it was easy." John Mulaney's certainly earned his place in the comedy world, and if his new sitcom takes off as well as the rest of his career has, "Mulaney" will be making us laugh for years to come. 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