Borat director Larry Charles signs deal with ABC

Most TV viewers don't know who Larry Charles is, but fans of the shows Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm are well aware of him. As one of the more underrated members of Larry David's team, he wrote some of both shows' most memorable episodes. His last project, as the director of the Borat movie, also earned him praise, even if he toiled away deep in Sacha Baron Cohen's shadow.

But the success of Borat has been good for everyone, including Charles: Variety is reporting that he has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the ABC TV Studio for what the industry rag said was in the "mid-seven figures." In the deal, Charles will write and direct a number of projects, including "scripted and hybrid comedies and possibly even animation," according to the article. This will be the first time he has worked for broadcast TV in a number of years.