By Nellie Andreeva | Hollywood Reporter

Emmy-winning "Everybody Loves Raymond" writer-producer Tucker Cawley has inked a rich two-year overall deal with Paramount Network Television.

Under the pact, valued in the mid-seven-figure range, Cawley will develop
new half-hour projects for the studio. He also will serve as a consulting
producer on Paramount TV's new comedy for CBS' "Out of Practice."

Paramount TV president David Stapf said it was his and his team's
familiarity with Cawley's work on CBS' hit "Raymond" that led to the deal.
Stapf, former head of current programming at CBS, and most of his
executives came to Paramount TV from the eye network during the studio's
management overhaul last year.

"Those of us who worked with Tucker Cawley on 'Raymond," we've always
admired his talent," Stapf said. "He is a very funny person with a strong
point of view."

For Cawley, the move to the Paramount lot brings back old memories.

"My first job when I moved to L.A. was as an unpaid PA on a low-budget
student film shooting on the Paramount lot," Cawley said. "Unfortunately,
I was thrown out when this extra attacked me, accusing me of stealing her
flip-flops. So I'm happy to be back."

Cawley added that he is excited to be working again with Stapf and
Paramount TV executive vp Maria Crenna, who previously headed CBS Prods.

Cawley got his first break as a TV writer on "Raymond," and he stayed with
the show for its entire nine-year run, rising through the ranks to
executive producer. He won an Emmy Award in 2003 for penning one of the
series' most memorable episodes, "Baggage." Other classic "Raymond"
episodes he has written include "The Cult" and "Lucky Suit," for which
co-star Brad Garrett won an Emmy.

Also in 2003, "Raymond's" big year at the Emmys, Cawley shared the best
comedy series award with the rest of the hit sitcom's producing team.

"Out of Practice," whose ensemble cast includes Stockard Channing, Henry
Winkler and Paula Marshall, revolves around a family of doctors.

By coming aboard the show as a consulting producer, Cawley joins forces
with "Frasier" alums Joe Keenan and Christopher Lloyd, who created "Out of
Practice" and are executive producing.

Cawley is repped by CAA and attorney Patti Felker.