Nickelodeon Greenlights 20 Episodes of Daddy's Home for Nick at Nite, Starring Scott Baio as a Stay-at-Home Dad

LOS ANGELES, March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon has ordered 20 episodes of the original scripted comedy series, Daddy's Home (working title), starring Scott Baio, it was announced today by Marjorie Cohn, President, Original Programming and Development, Nickelodeon Group.  A multi-camera, half-hour comedy for Nick at Nite, Daddy's Home follows David Hobbs (Baio) an actor who, after ten years of starring as America's favorite TV dad, becomes a stay-at-home father to honor the deal he made with his soap star wife so that she may return to the limelight.  The series comes from creators/executive producers Tina Albanese and Patrick Labyorteaux and is helmed by executive producers Nat Bernstein and Mitchel Katlin who will show run.  Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey are also executive producing through their production company Bischoff Hervey Entertainment (BHE), along with Baio.  Daddy's Home marks Hervey and Baio's return to scripted comedy, with BHE having previously collaborated on three acclaimed unscripted series including Scott Baio is 45 and Single, Scott Baio is 46 and Pregnant, and Confessions of a Teen Idol.  Production on the series is slated to commence later this year in Los Angeles.

"Scott not only brings his star power to this role, but a real authenticity as an actor-turned-dad," said Cohn.  "Daddy's Home is a classic, multi-camera sitcom with a contemporary twist that our Nick at Nite family audience is sure to enjoy."

For over 30 years, Baio has been a beloved actor, successful producer, writer and director. He received his acting break in 1976 when he was cast as the lead in the youthful gangster film Bugsy Malone.  Baio is perhaps best known for his role as Chachi Arcola on one of television's most iconic comedy series Happy Days, followed by a starring role in the spin-off series Joanie Loves Chachi.  Baio also starred in his own 1980s hit sitcom, Charles in Charge. Following his television comedy roles, he delved into some deeper and more dramatic roles, such as in the award-winning ABC after-school special, Stoned, the CBS film The Boy Who Drank Too Much and as a hemophiliac in NBC's Senior Trip!  He continued his acting career as the youthful associate of Dick Van Dyke on the successful CBS series Diagnosis Murder and a decade later, made several appearances on the Emmy Award-winning television series Arrested Development.  Most recently, Baio was featured as himself on VH1's popular series, Scott Baio is 45…and Single and Scott Baio is 46…and Pregnant.  Off-screen, he has directed episodes of popular series including The Parkers, Unhappily Ever After, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Wayans Bros., Harry and the Hendersons, Out of This World and recently served as executive producer of VH1's Confessions of a Teen Idol.

Tina Albanese was a producer for several years on the popular prime time drama JAG, then left to start up CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She began her career working for David E. Kelley on such hit series such as L.A. Law, Picket Fences and Chicago Hope.  Patrick Labyorteaux is best known for his television roles as Andrew Garvey on Little House on the Prairie and Bud Roberts on JAG.  Labyorteaux also starred in such popular films as Summer School, Heathers, Ski School, Blazing Saddles and most recently, Yes Man and 2012:  Ice Age.  He also made several guest appearances on such series as iCarly, Dexter, NCIS, Without a Trace, Yes, Dear and Ghost Whisperer.

Bernstein and Katlin have been writing and producing partners for over twenty-five years.  After their first collaboration on the feature film "Opportunity Knocks", starring Dana Carvey, they began working in series television, producing "Doogie Howser, M.D.", writing over twenty-five episodes, as well as  "Ally McBeal" and "Baby Boom".  They have since gone on to create several network television series, "Bringing Up Jack" and "Over The Top" for ABC,  "Cursed" for NBC, "Abby" for UPN, as well as "The Gregory Hines Show" and "Center of The Universe" for CBS.

Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey's Bischoff Hervey Entertainment Television LLC (BHE) launched in 2003 and since then, have produced television series and pilots for NBC, A&E, VH-1, CMT, E! and TruTV.  Eric Bischoff has spent the last 23 years in the entertainment industry, producing over 2,500 hours of original programming (over half of it live), 79 pay-per-view events, 1,500 live events around the world and his book "Controversy Creates Cash" made the New York Times Best Seller list in the fall of 2007.  He is also featured alongside Hulk Hogan on Spike TV's weekly prime time series iMPACT.  Hervey is best known for the role of Wayne Arnold in the Emmy Award-winning hit series The Wonder Years. From this platform and experience, Hervey was able to leverage opportunities behind the camera as he began a career in producing.  His first project was at the age of 17 when he created, starred in and produced the Saturday morning series Wide World of Kids. Subsequently, Hervey partnered with former Sony of America CEO Peter Guber in Mandalay Sports Action Entertainment, (MSAE) where he spearheaded a partnership with Time Warner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW) which yielded 17 original productions in television, home video and pay-per view, an original soundtrack with Tommy Boy records and four television movies for TBS and TNT. 

Nick At Nite is Nickelodeon's nighttime programming block that also features popular hit family comedies including the Emmy Award-winning series Home Improvement, Everybody Hates Chris, Friends, George Lopez, and Family Matters, as well as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Roseanne. 

Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 17 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA - News, VIA.B - News).

SOURCE Nickelodeon