THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 10, 1996 TAG: 9606080042
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: 70 lines
THE JOB that Rosie O'Donnell wants most on television is taken. Regis Philbin already has a partner - Cody and Cassidy's mom, Kathie Lee.
So, with no room for her next to Reege, O'Donnell launches a talk-variety show of her own from Manhattan, this morning at 11 on WAVY. (Also at 11 today, Caryl Kristensen and Marilyn Kentz of ``The Mommies'' replace ``Mike and Maty'' on ABC. Their show is called ``Caryl & Marilyn: Real Friends.'' More daytime chat).
Norfolk-born and bred Dick Robertson, the head of Warner Brothers' domestic television distribution division, helped to put the deal together for ``The Rosie O'Donnell Show.''
With his ``Carnie'' talk show sinking fast late in 1995, Robertson looked around for a bright, talented, confident artist to front a new Warner Brothers' hour in syndication. He wanted O'Donnell from the start. But would she be interested?
With smash films ``A League of Their Own,'' ``The Flintstones'' and ``Sleepless in Seattle'' on her resume, O'Donnell's career in Hollywood was ascending. She's also a polished stand-up comic, in demand in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. She's been on Broadway.
What would bring a woman with all that going for her to the grind of daytime TV? The short hours. After doing ``The Rosie O'Donnell Show'' in the morning, she is free for the rest of the day to be with her year-old adopted son, Parker.
``After substituting for Kathie Lee two or three times, I realized that doing a morning talk show is the perfect gig for me. In the past, I've called my agent to see about me getting her job. Obviously that wasn't going to happen, so I listened to offers to do a show of my own.''
There were other opportunities in TV. Sitcoms.
``The producers wanted me to be another Roseanne, to copy what she does, and does brilliantly. I said there is only one Roseanne. It's talk like that that scared me away from situation comedies,'' said O'Donnell.
So, for her grand splash into television, O'Donnell has chosen to revive the daytime variety-talk hour. It passed with the retirement of Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas, and didn't catch on when David Letterman did it mornings on NBC.
Enter Rosie with a band, an opening five-minute monologue and guests plugging films, books and TV projects.
Like Merv, Dave and Jay Leno, she'll sit behind a desk. Unlike Jay, however, she'll listen to her guests.
``He looks past you to the monitor in front of him. He reads his cue cards when he talks to you. He's not looking at you or listening. He looks to top his guests, to be better and funnier. When I asked Merv for advice, he told me to make sure I'm having fun and to listen to the guests.''
Some in TV believe that the daytime hours desperately need a lift from Rosie O'Donnell, who charms a camera as easily as she captivates a Broadway audience or a casino crowd. She will make us forget that the daytime talk shows have re-defined sleaze.
``Some of daytime television has degenerated into a freak show, with people selling their family histories and shame for a few minutes of fame. I believe that America is sick of it. These shows are painful to watch,'' said O'Donnell.
But who would have thought it would be Rosie O'Donnell to make us forget the shows with cross-dressing truck drivers and 13-year-old prostitutes? ``Some people, including my agent, were shocked when I said I wanted to do television. They asked me how I could give up a movie career. I said I could do it because I want to spend more time with my child.''
O'Donnell will do future films and continue in stand-up, if she can fit it all into a 13-week vacation from ``The Rosie O'Donnell Show.''
She expects to have George Clooney of ``ER'' and Susan Lucci of ``All My Children'' as her first guests. There won't be a cross-dressing truck driver in sight. by CNB