Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 21, 1993 TAG: 9403090002
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GAIL SHISTER KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
``I actually can't comment on the CBS situation,'' Shandling told TV critics gathered for the semiannual press tour. And why not? ``I don't know. I swear to God, I don't know. I just can't.''
The ``CBS situation'' is a new late-late-night talk show that will follow David Letterman's 11:35 p.m. fun-fest, which will launch Aug. 30. Smart money says Shandling, who plays a late-night host on HBO's brilliant parody ``The Larry Sanders Show,'' is CBS' top draft choice as host.
At a posh HBO bash Friday celebrating ``Sanders,'' HBO boss Michael Fuchs joked that Shandling had a ``lifetime contract'' with the cable network. In fact, his deal is up for renewal after this season, the show's second. (Four of 18 ordered episodes remain to be produced.)
CBS Entertainment chief Jeff Sagansky said Saturday that launching Letterman was his first priority and that he had not spoken to Shandling. He did say, however, that Shandling would definitely be on his short list to host a 12:35 a.m. show.
``There aren't that many comedians or hosts who have the kind of stature and experience that he has,'' said Sagansky. ``I couldn't name three others. I could name two, but I'm not going to.''
Shandling, who reportedly turned down NBC's offer to succeed Letterman on ``Late Night,'' acknowledges that he's conflicted about becoming the very thing he viciously lampoons.
To take that leap, Shandling would have to come up with a concept ``unique enough to warrant doing a REAL talk show, since I'm lampooning the ones that really exist. I could end up being a real Larry Sanders, which is a danger.
``I grew up on talk shows, so I'm very connected to them. I love them. That's all. There's no logic to it, I must say.''
The self-absorbed Larry would like Garry, ``but he wouldn't know how to hang out with him in real life,'' Shandling says. ``He would find Garry a little too laid-back. Larry's more intense, more driven, more hyper. He'd be comfortable talking about show business the entire evening, where I am not.''
Speaking of show biz, Shandling says he has pitched such real late-night talkers as Jay Leno, Arsenio Hall and Chevy Chase about appearing as themselves on ``Sanders.'' (In the ultimate industry in-joke, Letterman was on a recent episode in which both men were looking for candidates to host shows following their own.)
Johnny Carson ``keeps saying to give him another six months,'' Shandling says. Another possibility: ``Nightline'' host Ted Koppel. Says Shandling: ``He and Larry could meet in the makeup room, doing their hair.''
If there's anybody's shoes Shandling wouldn't want to be in, they'd be Leno's, Letterman's competition on NBC. ``Dave has had 11 years to hone his show,'' Shandling says. ``Jay may hold his own, but I'd certainly be nervous having Letterman as competition. I'm a big fan. There may be room for everybody.''
What does Shandling watch? ``Mostly CNN, `Star Trek' reruns and `The 700 Club'.''
BACK TO BURKE: Sagansky says that if he'd been asked a few weeks ago about the prospect of star Delta Burke and producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason working together again, he'd have labeled it as likely as ``Bill Clinton meeting with aliens.''
Well, E.T. has phoned home.
Burke, who was booted from CBS' hit ``Designing Women'' by Bloodworth-Thomason in a well-publicized feud a few years ago, is talking to the producer about a new CBS sit-com featuring a sassy [what else?] congresswoman.
``They had an awful fight and I think ... once they got some distance from it, Linda missed writing for Delta and Delta missed saying those words,'' Sagansky said. ``... It was incredible that they got back together.'' Burke's ``Delta'' was a bomb for ABC last season. CBS has a deal with her, Sagansky says, and she will be on the network. ``Hopefully, it will be with Linda.''
ESCAPE FROM ESCAPE: After nine years of ``pure escape'' on NBC's ``Night Court'' in the '80s, Harry Anderson says he's happy to be on an ``inspired'' new series.
``This show doesn't reflect anything that I experience; it reflects what I hope,'' says Anderson, who stars as humor columnist/devoted family man Dave Barry on CBS' ``Dave's World.'' ``I don't think TV should be educational for the point of being educational, but it certainly can be inspirational.''
``Night Court,'' which starred Anderson as wacky Judge Harry Stone and featured plenty of sexual humor, was ``a show for the '80s,'' Anderson says. He loved it, and it made his career, ``but maybe there was too much escape. Maybe that was the order of the day.''
WHAT IS HIP?: Last week, critics asked MTV News' Tabitha Soren if the rock music network's presidential campaign coverage had been a little unfair. They cited accusations that it'd been slanted toward Bill Clinton, the younger, supposedly hipper, candidate.
Soren's response: ``His favorite Beatle is Paul, and he likes Michael Bolton. I mean, how hip can he be?'' She concluded, ``Well, he's hip for his age.'' He's 46. Soren's 25.
by CNB