The Return of Late Night TV…Sort Of
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, CBS, NBC, News,
Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien will be returning to work directly after the holidays, with new episodes scheduled to air Wednesday, January 2. They’ll be bringing late night entertainment back to TV, something that’s been sorely missing since the writer’s strike started.
An NBC spokesperson said that Leno and O’Brien still support their writers, but by returning to work will give hundreds of people the chance to do their jobs. Of course, the late night variety programs will go on the air sans writers, so there’s no telling what fans will get. Currently, no guests have been announced for either program.
Meanwhile, David Letterman and his company, Worldwide Pants, are hoping to broker a deal with the WGA. If the parties can work out an arrangement independent of the dispute with the producers, the Late Show with David Letterman and the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson could soon also be returning with writers.
Entertainment Weekly
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Alternatives For Late Night TV
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Late Night, Reality, Talk Shows, Cable, FX, MTV, Editorial,
It’s only been a full work week since Hollywood’s writers went on strike, and already it seems the days of great late night talk programs are long gone. The last time the writer’s guild went on strike, it lasted an agonizingly long 22 weeks. Without Colbert, Stewart, Letterman and Leno, how is American supposed to get its satirical, tongue-in-cheek twists on current events?
With a shortage of new scripts and a hiatus of many major shows, more Americans are now channel-surfing to find an entertainment fix. What they’ll find is a mishmash of reality TV - those wonderfully unscripted programs that are always there in the event of a script shortage. Channels like Travel, Discovery, Animal Planet and the Food Network are largely unaffected by the strike, though how MTV (and channels like it) will continue with their staged reality programs is anyone’s guess.
Instead of watching repeats on network TV, turn to these cable channels as the midnight hour approaches. Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel, E!, FX, The History Channel, and VH1 are among those still offering brand-new episodes. It’s better than re-runs.
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Bonnie Hunt Talk Show in the Works?
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Talk Shows, NBC, Syndication,
This is great news for Bonnie Hunt fans (which I count myself among)... she’s currently working on developing a talk show. Anyone who’s ever seen Hunt as a guest on talk shows knows she gives great interviews. Then again, I’m not sure how this will all turn out. Yes, Hunt has appeared in many films and been great (okay, I’ll forgive her for Cheaper by the Dozen 2), but she’s also tried time and again to get a variety of television series off the ground only to be canceled—remember Life with Bonnie or The Bonnie Hunt Show? Nope, didn’t think so. So, how will a talk show work for the actress? Will she flourish a la Ellen DeGeneres or wither away like Megan Mullaly? I think she’s got the chops to do it (after all, she’s filled in for David Letterman without incident), but I’m not sure she has the huge appeal of an Ellen. Not even sure she can compete with the powerhouse that is Rachael Ray—although I’d much rather see Hunt interviewing the stars than Ray with her super grin and cheesy questions. Bonnie Hunt’s show is expected to hit the air waves in 2008 on NBC. I know I’ll check it out and I hope others will give it a chance as well.
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| Yahoo! News
This Week on TV (9/10-9/16)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, Comedy, Daytime, Drama, Food & Home, Games, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Specials, Sports, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, ESPN-HD, FX, FOX, NBC, Syndication, TNT-HD, Oprah Winfrey Show, Cable/Satellite,
MONDAY (9/10)
- Today (NBC, 7-11am): The show expands to an unnecessary 4 hours.
- Oprah (syndicated): Season premiere includes a first appearance by David Letterman.
- Rachel Ray (syndicated): Ray’s Second Season premiere includes guests from High School Musical 2
- The View (ABC, check local listings): The official introduction of their final new host (a.k.a. Sherri Shepherd).
- Wheel of Fortune (syndicated): 25th season premiere.
- Monday Night Football (ESPN): A double-header special. Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens (7pm ET)/ San Francisco 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals (10:15 ET).
- The Closer (TNT, 9pm): Part-two of the season finale.
Click to continue reading This Week on TV (9/10-9/16)
Letterman to Appear on Oprah
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Late Night, Talk Shows,
Aww, it’s cute that David Letterman and Oprah Winfrey have reconciled. I mean, that whole “Oprah—Uma” thing that Letterman did oh so many Oscars ago is certainly water under the bridge by now? Winfrey finally made her peace and appeared on Late Show in 2005. Sure, she wanted to plug her musical The Color Purple, but it was a stellar reunion nonetheless. Now it’s Dave’s turn to repay the favor—he’ll appear on an upcoming installment of Oprah’s talk show, which will tape the week of September 10th. This is big for a couple of reasons—first, Letterman rarely appears on anyone’s show; second, it’s Oprah. You can’t get much bigger than that. I’ve been a fan of Letterman since I was a kid who could barely keep my eyes open for his show. Come to think of it, I can barely keep my eyes open as an adult for late night television anymore. Have I come full circle? Oprah will be taping in New York City at Madison Square Garden, with her focus on the sixth anniversary of 9/11. Rest assured, her chat with Letterman is not expected to be a serious interview… so you can expect plenty of goofiness from Dave (and maybe a bit from Oprah too). This kicks off Oprah’s 22nd season of the show. Oprah and Dave last appeared on a Super Bowl commercial together.
Read More | E! Online
Drew Carey To Host The Price is Right
Drew Carey is officially the new host of the Price is Right, the must-coveted gig vacated earlier this summer by Bob Barker. Carey announced his new role to David Letterman during Monday’s Late Show taping. Carey will also be hosting another CBS game show next month, the Power of 10. Promotional advertisements for the show have been running most of the summer. Carey will begin on Power of 10 August 7, though it has not yet been announced when he will start on Price. Rosie O’Donnell’s name was attached to Price earlier, but the comedienne refused the job when she found she’d have to move to L.A. It’s Drew Carey, former ABC fixture, for sure this time, leaving only one question to linger: will he be able to fill Barker’s sizable shoes and hold that famous skinny mike?
Read More | E! Online
Letterman to Appear on Regis & Kelly
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Late Night, Talk Shows, Syndication,
In one of those rare talk show appearances, Letterman will grace the stage of Live with Regis & Kelly for Reege’s triumphant return following heart surgery. Letterman’s guest appearance shows his continuing friendship with Regis, who filled in when Letterman was out with shingles in 2003. Regis was also the first guest booked on Late Night after Letterman returned from a quintuple-bypass surgery. Regis returns to his gabfest on Thursday, just six weeks after a triple-bypass heart surgery. Their ticker problems are not all the hosts have in common—they also share a doctor, since Dr. O. Wayne Isom performed both of their surgeries. Philbin’s return seems speedy, but it’s likely that fans have been missing him after the multitude of fill-in hosts. Regis returns just in time for May sweeps… after all, the show must go on!
Read More | E! Online
David Letterman Unable to Host Due to Stomach Bug
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, CBS,
Today’s Late Show with David Letterman will have something different—an absent host. Letterman came into work for a taping of the show earlier today, but had to leave because of a stomach bug. What to do when your host is sick? In this case, the show looked no further than one of the guests—Adam Sandler. That’s showbiz, folks. The show must go on, even if your fearless leader is throwing up elsewhere. Luckily, he had already taped Wednesday’s show and is being pre-empted on Thursday and Friday for NCAA basketball. Question is, does Sandler deliver in a pinch? I know I’ll be tuning in to find out. OK, you caught me—I go to bed before Letterman comes on, so I’ll DVR it for another day.
Read More | AOL News
Regis Philbin to Undergo Heart Surgery
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Late Night, Talk Shows, Syndication, Gossip,
One of the hardest working guys in showbiz is going to have to take it easy for a little while. Regis Philbin, 75 (can you believe that?), has scheduled open-heart surgery for later this week. Philbin made the announcement today on Live with Regis and Kelly, saying, “There’s some plaque in some arteries and I got to get it cleaned out.” Huh, sounds a bit oversimplified, but Philbin said that chest pains and shortness of breath led his doctors to this decision. He also expressed his concern, saying “Darn it, I don’t want to do it. Nobody wants to do it, I guess.” Friend of Philbin, David Letterman underwent a quadruple bypass back in 2000. His recovery is expected to take five weeks and perky co-host Ripa commented that she would dress as a nurse and give him a sponge bath during recovery. In the meantime, look for a cavalcade of guest hosts to fill the void on the chatfest.
Read More | Yahoo! News
Bindi Irwin Makes High-Profile TV Appearances
Posted by Wendy Michaels Categories: Daytime, Late Night, Talk Shows, Cable, Cable/Satellite,
To kick off her U.S. showbiz career, Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, has a whirlwind tour ahead of her. Pretty lofty for an 8-year-old who recently lost her dad in a freak accident that occurred during filming of a documentary. These appearances will promote her 26-part Bindi, the Jungle Girl series set to debut on Discovery Kids this year. To begin, Bindi will speak at the National Press Club in Washington. She will also do interviews on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Late Show with David Letterman. She will also perform with The Wiggles at concerts in Los Angeles and New York. Discovery senior vice-president Annie Howell told Australian media that Bindi will “be welcomed with open arms and rightly so. She’s a very special child.” Steve Irwin passed away in September, after a stingray barb pierced his heart. His documentary, “Ocean’s Deadliest” will air at some point during Bindi’s U.S. tour.
Read More | Retuers
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