BUFFY NUPS NEARLY PLUGGED

 Buffy star Sarah Michelle Gellar was tired of having out-of-work hubby around all day long and it was really getting on her nerves!

Freddie Prinze Jr.'s new gig on 24 has saved his marriage to Sarah Michelle Gellar!

Freddie had been between jobs when he was offered the role of head of field operations for CTU, Cole Ortiz, on the hit FOX show. And Sarah, who was pregnant at the time, was growing frustrated with having her unemployed hubby underfoot 24 hours a day.

"He was always home, moping about not working and generally annoying the heck out of Sarah," said a friend. "She had a lot on her plate, trying to run the household while going through her first pregnancy and all the biological changes that it entailed.

"And Freddie only made matters worse. He was following her around the house like a needy puppy.

"Sarah got so fed up with him, she told him that if he didn't give her some space, she was going to go crazy."

Luckily for the couple, Freddie soon landed the role on  24.

"Freddie was thrilled, and Sarah was overjoyed," continued the friend. "Not only was it a great, well-paying role for Freddie, it got him out of Sarah's hair.

"Freddie told a colleague, 'Kiefer Sutherland and "24" saved my marriage. They offered me a role at the perfect time for me and Sarah.'"

Freddie, 33, and Sarah, 32, met on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer in 1997, but didn't begin dating until 2000 during the Scooby Doo era. They married in Mexico in 2002. Their first child, Charlotte Grace, was born in September.

Fortunately, Freddie's new gig had some other benefits.

"Training for his role in 24' he put on a lot of muscle. Sarah loved the transformation in his body," added the friend.