Barry Sonnenfeld has found a lot of success in movies, but only limited critical acclaim in television. Despite that, however, ABC and ABC Studios has signed Sonnenfeld to a new two-year deal that will allow him to get first-look on some projects, and even allow him to direct pilots.

Terms of the deal outside of that were not released, but ABC is convinced Sonnenfeld can bring them quality programming to sell to other networks, or to simply air themselves. Sonnenfeld, popularly known for works such as "Get Shorty," "Men In Black" and 2006's "RV," did have a critical success with "Pushing Daisies," which won him a directing Emmy in 2008 for the show's pilot, and resulted in the first Emmy win for Kristin Chenoweth last week for her portrayal of Olive Snook on the show.

Sonnenfeld currently has a project that CBS is considering as part of his previous directing deal with Sony PIctures Television. For ABC, however, he will work with former ABC executive Stu Bloomberg on at least one potential comedy series from scribe Laura House about a mother who finds a suit that turns her into a superhero a la "The Tuxedo." Sonnenfeld is expected to not only produce that pilot, but direct it as well.

Unfortunately, Sonnenfeld has not had a popular success in television as he had in movies. Of his four series with ABC, only "Pushing Daisies" and "Notes From the Underbelly" moved past its first handful of episodes. Both "Maximum Bob" and a remake of the 1970s classic "Fantasy Island" were pulled just part way into their run based on low ratings.

"Pushing Daisies" was cancelled last season after ratings for the show plummeted from the first season. Some have blamed the Writers Guild of America strike of 2008 as being one of the culprits contributing to the demise of that show, however, since "Pushing Daisies'" season was shortened significantly, and finished its first season run several months before the second season premiere, where it's possible much of its audience had moved on to other shows.