How much is Rosie smarting that her former co-host Elizabeth Hasslebeck is taking a beating everyday over on The View.
via THR.com
Rosie O’Donnell is returning to television as host of a variety show revival from NBC.
NBC will air “Rosie’s Variety Show” as an hourlong live special the night before Thanksgiving, with an eye toward expansion to a full series order should viewers embrace the project.
The special will feature celebrity guests, musical acts, comedy skits and a prize giveaway for the show’s in-studio and home audiences. David Friedman (“Last Call With Carson Daly”) has been tapped to executive produce along with O’Donnell.
The show’s Nov. 26 premiere date manages to trump Fox’s upcoming Osbourne family variety show, which is expected to debut in the winter or spring.
For NBC, the project’s live aspect is of particular interest, both as a way of distinguishing the product from competitors and to discourage viewers from time-shifting the show. NBC has aired “America’s Got Talent” results shows live this year and plans a quartet of “Saturday Night Live” primetime specials.
“This will reinvent the idea of what a variety show is for 2008,” NBC vp alternative Craig Plestis said. “There’s very few performers willing to put themselves out there live. It makes it more TiVo-proof, and it’s something none of the cable networks can do.”
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