LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
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BONES (FOX) - The pilot's director, Greg Yaitanes, has inked a one-year holding deal with the FOX network. The pact gives FOX Yaitanes's exclusive services for the next development season, where he'll direct one or more of its pilots. Outside of said deal, Yaitanes is expected to direct additional episodes of "Bones" this season as well as installments of "Nip/Tuck," "The Closer," "Over There" and "House."
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC) - Joely Fisher ("Wild Card") has booked a multi-episode arc on the hit drama series. She'll play the boss of Felicity Huffman's character, who after the events of the season finale will return to the workplace. No other details were given about her role or when her first appearance will be. Fisher spent the past development season attached to the failed FOX drama pilot "Born and Bred."
KICKED OUT (ABC Family) - The cable channel has slated the reality series to premiere on Wednesday, August 24 at 10:00/9:00c. Here's how the network's press materials describe the project: "Slackers beware! ABC Family teams up with one lucky family to help them straighten out their not-so-lucky slacker by kicking them out of the house. Parents who are tired of their free-loading sons and daughters will be giving them some tough love and just ten days to learn responsibility and grow up. During that time, each slacker will have to take on challenges designed by their parents such as taking on a job to earn their keep, managing a budget and furnishing their own apartment to prove they can make it in the real world."
LIFE AS WE KNOW IT (ABC) - Co-executive producer Donald Todd has signed a two-year, seven-figure overall deal with Touchstone Television. Todd, who spent the past development season behind the ABC/Touchstone pilots "Soccer Moms" and "Testing Bob," will continue to develop new projects for the studio.
NY-70 (NBC) - Clark Johnson, the pilot's director, has inked a one-year deal with NBC Universal Television. The pact calls for the feature helmer to develop, direct and executive produce series projects for the studio along with producer Sean Ryerson.
REBA (The WB) - Kevin Abbott, the veteran comedy's showrunner, has booked a three-year, seven-figure overall deal with the show's producer 20th Century Fox Television. The pact calls for Abbott to continue in his duties on "Reba" as well as develop new projects for the studio. Abbott, who was behind the ABC/20th pilot "Adopted" this past development cycle, has been with "Reba" since its second season when he replaced creator Allison Gibson as showrunner.
UNTITLED STEVEN BOCHCO PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Steven Bochco ("N.Y.P.D. Blue") is set to team with Mitchel Katlin and Nat Bernstein ("Center of the Universe") for a new single-camera comedy at FOX. The network has given a script commitment to the project, which revolves around a minor league baseball team. No studio however is currently attached.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters
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