Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: There has been a change at the helm of the upcoming ABC comedy series The Family Tools. Bobby Bowman, who developed the adaptation of the British comedy White Van Man and wrote the pilot, has stepped down as executive producer/showrunner of the series. Veterans Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimiglia (That ’70s Show) have come in as executive producers and new showrunners. I hear the change stems from ABC and ABC Studios’ desire to have someone with showrunner experience steering the series. This is Bowman’s first series as a creator and/or showrunner. He previously worked as a key writer-producer on Greg Garcia’s three comedy series: Yes, Dear, My Name Is Earl and Raising Hope. I hear the network and the studio valued Bowman’s voice on the show and offered him to stay on staff but he chose to step aside and give the new showrunners a clean slate.

Family Tools centers on Jack Shea (Kyle Bornheimer) who inherits his father’s (J.K. Simmons) handyman business after he has a heart attack. Co-starring on the show, slated to launch in January, are Edi Gathegi, Danielle Nicolet, Leah Remini and Johnny Pemberton. Sternin and Ventimiglia will executive produce alongside Mark Gordon, Andrea Shay and Paul Buccieri.

TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.