Fat Actress Makes Good

Kirstie Alley has the last laugh and deserves it. The former Cheers siren, who is famous for National Enquirer photos and her weight, landed a new TV series on Showtime that focuses on the subject of weight. She refuses to run away from herself and has written a new series starring her fat self. But it took a while to get the show sold.

When the executives initially failed to respond with enthusiasm, Ms. Alley and Ms. Hampton bought two dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts and had them delivered to the office of Bob Greenblatt, the network’s president. Attached was a note that said: “Maybe you’re not fat enough to get it. Have a doughnut.”

It worked. The network ordered seven episodes of “Fat Actress,” which has its debut on Showtime on March 7. The series includes appearances by John Travolta, Carmen Electra, Kid Rock and Kelly Preston, who plays Ms. Alley’s diet adviser and favors bulimia as the ideal weight-loss tool.