TV actors put their hopes on line in big-screen roles

This year’s winter movie lineup is shaping up as the “Battle of the Network Stars.”

Debra Messing (“Will & Grace”), Kevin James (“The King of Queens”) and WB prank-host Jamie Kennedy are among the TV actors trying to transform some of their broadcast fame into box office clout.

“It’s the first time that I’m carrying a film, and that’s certainly new and a little scary and very exciting,” says Messing, who made her leading-lady debut over the weekend in the comedy “The Wedding Date.”

“I’m aware other people will be assessing … whether or not the film works creatively, whether it works financially and whether they’re interested in working with me in the future,” she says.

The coldest months of the year can heat up a TV actor’s movie career. For one thing, expectations for a movie’s performance are lower in January and February, typically a dumping ground for lesser movies.

That strategy worked for former “Saturday Night Live” player Will Ferrell in 2003’s “Old School,” and “That ‘70s Show” regular Ashton Kutcher with last year’s “The Butterfly Effect.” But it proved that not everybody loved Ray Romano when his “Welcome to Mooseport” flopped last February.

Already this winter, Topher Grace of “That ‘70s Show” has had success with “In Good Company,” rebounding from last year’s dud “Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!” But “Alias” star Jennifer Garner followed her 2004 spring hit “13 Going on 30” with “Elektra,” a fizzle this January.

“It’s a big-time test,” says Kennedy, who goes from TV’s “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment” to “Son of the Mask,” opening Feb. 18. “I’m scared out of my mind.

“I’m up for a couple (of) movies, and nobody is ready to pull the trigger until they see what this does.”

“King of Queens” star James, who plays opposite Will Smith in the romantic comedy “Hitch,” opening Friday, says he felt safer playing the sidekick in his first big movie role.

“If you’re out there alone and the film doesn’t do that well, you might not get a second shot,” James says. “For anybody who wants to break into film, I would highly recommend that they get themselves a Will Smith.”