'War at Home' star also signs development deal

Michael Rapaport, who fought "The War at Home" on FOX the past two seasons, is moving over to serve some time on "My Name Is Earl."

Rapaport will have a recurring part on the NBC series in the coming season, playing an inmate in the jail where Earl (Jason Lee) is serving time. He's also signed a development deal with 20th Century Fox TV, which produces the show.

"He is a TV star. He is one of the few guys out there that can carry a show, Sharon Klein, senior VP of casting at 20th TV, tells The Hollywood Reporter.

As part of the deal, the studio will develop a project, either comedy or drama, around Rapaport for the 2008-09 season. He could also be cast in one of the studio's other pilots.

Rapaport signed with the studio after starring in the CBS pilot "Fugly," which was written by "Earl" creator Greg Garcia, last spring. That experience also led to his casting on Garcia's current show, which will begin its third season with Earl in prison after taking the fall for a crime his ex-wife Joy (Jaime Pressly) committed.

In addition to "The War at Home," Rapaport's TV credits include several seasons on "Boston Public" and a recurring part on "Friends." He's also appeared in the feature films "Hitch," "Cop Land," "True Romance" and "The 6th Day."