What do you get as a wedding gift for the celebrity couple that has everything? His and her development deals at ABC apparently.
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Newlyweds co-star and former 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey has followed in the footsteps of his more successful wife Jessica Simpson and signed a development deal to star in a comedy or drama pilot for the ABC Television Network.
Lachey's deal follows a similar November 2003 announcement that Simpson, in addition to agreeing to star in a second season on MTV's Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica unscripted television series, had entered into her own development deal with ABC to star in a scripted comedy series.
Her husband's deal, which reportedly could reach into "the high-six figures," also includes a feature film option and encapsulates a recently announced variety special that the couple is doing for ABC.
During the November announcement of Simpson's deal, ABC President Susan Lyne was quoted as saying "we're looking forward to developing the ideal showcase for her considerable talents" while her father and manager was also announced as one of the executive producers of the then-unspecified sitcom project.
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"This deal is a great and logical next step for Jessica and the evolution of her career," Joe Simpson stated at the time. "We're very happy to consider ABC part of our professional family, and we look forward to a long and successful relationship with the network."
Given the involvement of Lachey's wife and father-in-law with the ABC sitcom, the natural assumption would be that the domineering Joe Simpson decided to "keep the show in the family" and add Lachey to the cast, however, according to an MTV report, Lachey's show will be separate from his wife's, although it could air on the same night.