Rob Thomas exits, 'That '70s Show' vet steps in

"Veronica Mars" creator Rob Thomas' foray into half-hour comedy has turned out to be a short one.

Only about a month after joining ABC's midseason comedy "Miss/Guided" as an executive producer, Thomas has departed the show. The usual "creative differences" are to blame, the showbiz trade papers report. The show has decided to proceed as more of a straight-ahead comedy, which led to Thomas leaving.

In his place, "That '70s Show" veteran Mark Hudis will join the series as an executive producer and showrunner. It's a reunion of sorts for Hudis and former "'70s" star Ashton Kutcher, who's also an exec producer of "Miss/Guided."

Hudis worked on "That '70s Show" for much of its eight-year run, writing several episodes and working his way up to executive producer. He's also worked on "Cybill" and NBC's produced but never aired "The Singles Table."

"Miss/Guided" stars Judy Greer ("Love Monkey," "13 Going on 30") as a former high-school outcast who returns to her alma mater as a guidance counselor. The show also stars Brooke Burns ("Pepper Dennis"), Kristoffer Polaha ("North Shore"), Jonathan Sadowski ("Live Free or Die Hard") and Earl Billings.

In addition to Hudis and Kutcher, the show's exec producers are Jason Goldberg, Karey Burke and Todd Holland ("Malcolm in the Middle"), who directed the pilot. Writer Caroline Williams ("The Office") is a co-exec producer.

Thomas, meanwhile, isn't exactly out of work. He will move on to a development deal with ABC Studios.