THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602150041
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
DICK ROBERTSON, the Norfolk man who sells programs for Warner Bros., says the Rosie O'Donnell talk show has been snapped up by stations in 70 percent of the U.S. TV markets, including Hampton Roads.
Not bad for a show that nobody has seen - not even a pilot.
Robertson sold the O'Donnell show on star power alone. Everybody in the business knows that O'Donnell is a sharp, glib, talented actress, comedienne and Broadway star (``Grease'') who's been great chatting with David Letterman, Jay Leno and Tom Snyder.
``A unique talent,'' said Robertson, who, as head of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution in Burbank, Calif., made the cash registers ring when he sold ``Friends'' into syndication and reruns of ``ER'' to Turner Broadcasting.
Also new from Robertson's company is ``Maureen,'' a newsy talk show starring former ``Extra!'' and ``A Current Affair'' anchor Maureen O'Boyle. She's from North Carolina, you know. WGNT will carry her show here.
Lately, Robertson has made deals worth millions.
The man is on a roll.
So why isn't he smiling?
Because here in Hampton Roads, the country's 40th largest TV market, the Warner Bros. show biz magazine ``Extra!'' airs in the TV graveyard of 10:30 p.m. on WGNT. It deserves to be on earlier, said Robertson.
``How embarrassing. I can't get one of my best shows on at 7 or 7:30 in my hometown,'' said Robertson.
He'll get over the hurt.
Robertson directs the syndication of dozens of shows, including ``Jenny Jones,'' ``Babylon 5'' and``Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,'' plus film packages that range from Tarzan features to the ``Lethal Weapon'' franchise.
Now comes the Rosie O'Donnell show. Think of it as the Mike Douglas and Merv Griffin daytime variety show of the 1990s, said Robertson. O'Donnell signs on June 10.
O'Donnell promises an antidote to daytime trash talk. No cross-dressing triplets for Rosie.
Why did O'Donnell sign up for the long, hard grind of a daily TV talk show at a time when her film career is in high gear? She could make a nice living doing nothing but stand-up comedy.
No mystery, said Robertson.
O'Donnell recently adopted a baby and hopes to adopt others. She wants a stable family life. She wants a job like Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Gifford - in the studio at 8:45 a.m. and out at 10:30.
``There was furious bidding to get her,'' said Robertson.
He won.
WAVY will likely air O'Donnell's show at 9 a.m., because by June, the awful ``Jim J. and Tammy Faye'' should be history.
And if it isn't gone, look for WAVY to move Tammy Faye and her eye shadow to WVBT, the UHF channel in Virginia Beach. It's become Little WAVY, or WAVY Jr., as the result of a local marketing agreement with Channel 10.
A talk show doesn't work on WAVY? Move it to WVBT. That's where you find Phil Donahue these days. Poor Phil. He was buried under TV trash talk and canceled in his 29th season.
One of the new talk shows out there is ``Crook & Chase,'' which used to be on The Nashville Network. Readers have called by the dozen to ask if it's on the air here (nope), and if not, when it will be (whenever a local station buys it. Don't hold your breath.)
Five of the nine new talk shows launched last year have failed, and only one that started in 1994 is still around, but that has not stopped the babble. Ten new gabfests were shopped to station owners at a recent convention in Las Vegas. One day, everyone in America will have a TV talk show.
I saved the best news for last. WGNT next fall will bring on updated versions of ``The Dating Game'' and ``The Newlywed Game,'' cultural landmarks of the late 1960s. Chuck Barris lives.
Can the 1996 ``Gong Show'' be far behind? by CNB