Reiser, Hunt To Negotiate Contracts Soon

At a time when one high-powered peacock star is hitting the high road, all eyes are on Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt and whether they’ll agree to another season of “Mad About You.”

The sitcom from Columbia TriStar has played hopscotch on the NBC schedule for six years, yet it remains one of the network’s top comedy performers. Hunt’s film career is blossoming - she’s generating great buzz for her role in “As Good as It Gets” - and Reiser may be looking to follow Jerry Seinfeld’s lead by getting out while still on top.

Whether that’s enough for the actors to leave the Tuesday comedy remains to be seen. Both have creative control of the show, and their negotiating power will get a boost now that “Seinfeld” will sign off at season’s end.

What’s more, Reiser may not be averse to a sweet return to juggernaut Thursdays, where “Mad About You” once aired at 8 p.m.

Negotiations with both sides are expected to begin next week, and an answer may come by the end of the month.