Logo

Can NBC, Rosie Revive Variety?

Nov 16, 2008  •  Post A Comment

Having already revolutionized daytime talk and reinvigorated “The View,” Rosie O’Donnell is now hoping to resurrect one of television’s storied genres: the variety show.
It’s a tall order—which may be one reason Ms. O’Donnell has enlisted some serious showbiz firepower for her Nov. 26 NBC special, dubbed “Rosie Live.”


“Liza Minnelli will be on the show,” Ms. O’Donnell revealed last week in an exclusive interview with TelevisionWeek. “It’s showbiz royalty. I couldn’t do it without her.”
Will Ms. O’Donnell perform a duet with Ms. Minnelli, whose 1972 variety/concert special “Liza With a Z” won multiple Emmy Awards?
“Of course! What, are you kidding me?” Ms. O’Donnell laughed. “This is the dream for every girl from Long Island who ever sang in the mirror to ‘Cabaret.’ This is as good as it gets for me.”
Ms. O’Donnell is keeping specifics of the musical number under wraps for now, though she hinted that Ms. Minnelli will sing “a song you haven’t heard her perform in over 30 years.”
“Rosie Live” and variety-show projects in the works at Fox and CBS represent the most ambitious attempts to bring back the genre in 20 years.
With standard-issue competition-based reality shows proving tougher to launch these days, networks are hoping variety shows might provide the same sort of scheduling sizzle that series such as “American Idol” offer.
As for the details of Ms. O’Donnell’s variety special—technically a back-door pilot for a regular “Rosie” series—the hour will borrow from two of television’s most celebrated series.
“It’s the standard old format of ‘Carol’ meets ‘Ed’,” Ms. O’Donnell said, referring to Carol Burnett and Ed Sullivan’s long-running variety shows. “We have production numbers, we have big musical guests. We have variety entertainment in the vein of Cirque du Soleil with this wonderful New York group called Antigravity. And we have comedy sketches and celebrity surprises.”
Other scheduled guests include Kathy Griffin, Jane Krakowski (“30 Rock”), hip-hop artist Ne-Yo and singer Alanis Morissette.
Ms. O’Donnell’s show will air live on the East Coast at 8 p.m.—with the standard 5-second delay—and will originate from the Little Shubert Theater on Manhattan’s 42nd Street. Doing the hour live rather than on tape was “something I insisted on,” Ms. O’Donnell said.
“I wanted to have that feeling of, ‘You don’t know what’s going to happen, you don’t know what she’s gonna say,’” she explained. “I wanted it to be like a Broadway show … where you know and 600 people know you’re going to go on this amazing ride.”
Other elements borrowed from Broadway include a 20-piece live orchestra and a comedy sketch based on characters from the Tony-winning musical “Urinetown.”
Ms. O’Donnell also will have an opening monologue and will take part in several production numbers and song parodies.
“We’re talking about one song that imagines what would’ve happened if [Sen. John] McCain had won the election,” Ms. O’Donnell said.
She’s also trying to convince at least two of her kids to make cameos on the show, though nothing has been locked down.
What Took So Long?
Given Ms. O’Donnell’s fondness for the variety format—something she talked about frequently on her Telepictures-produced daytime talk show—it’s surprising she’s just now getting around to hosting her own special. But it turns out Ms. O’Donnell has actually been trying to get “Rosie Live” off the ground for more than six years.
“Since my show ended May 22, 2002, I’ve been telling everyone I want to do a variety show,” she said. “And everyone said to me, ‘Well, variety doesn’t work.’ I said, ‘“American Idol,” hello? “Dancing With the Stars”? People!’ These are all variety shows, only they have judges, and they’re not quite as entertaining.”
Ms. O’Donnell said she and her representatives “pitched every network” but couldn’t get anyone to sign on.
“Finally Ben Silverman got in there and asked for a meeting,” she said, referring to NBC Entertainment’s co-chairman. “I sat down with him and he said to me, ‘What do you want to do?’ I told him, and he said, ‘Great.’ This is the one guy who said yes after six years of people saying no.”
“The moment everyone else is saying no is probably the best moment to say yes,” Mr. Silverman said. “Variety is a format that’s not on the air right now, and doing this show live feels so relevant in the age of the DVR.”
Mr. Silverman added that Ms. O’Donnell also has a “must-see” quality as a performer.
“Whether you love her or not, you’re interested in seeing what’s going to happen when she’s on TV,’ he said. “She’s just a great live performer.”
Mr. Silverman’s greenlight came around the same time Fox was beginning to formulate plans for its own stab at reviving variety via a series of specials with Ozzy Osbourne and his family. Fox expects to premiere its first Osbournes show early next year.
While ABC in 2004 aired a couple of variety-like specials starring Jessica Simpson and then-husband Nick Lachey, the O’Donnell and Osbournes projects represent the most serious attempts at bringing back the genre since 1987. That’s when ABC’s Dolly Parton-led “Dolly” crashed and burned after just one season, souring network executives on variety for decades.
The success of shows such as “Idol,” “Dancing” and “America’s Got Talent” no doubt played a role in getting networks to reconsider variety. But “Rosie Live” executive producer David Friedman believes having the right personality is essential.
“The key to a successful show is the talent,” he said. “And Rosie is a true entertainer. When she’s on stage, everyone’s laughing and having a good time.”
“Rosie Live” represents Ms. O’Donnell’s most significant television appearance since her sudden departure from “The View” last year. After a turbulent year talking politics and current events, the variety show also marks Ms. O’Donnell’s return to entertaining a mass audience.
“I missed performing in front of a live crowd, so it will be fun to get back to that,” she said, noting she kept her showbiz muscles toned by touring with Cyndi Lauper on the singer’s “True Colors” tour last summer.
While Ms. O’Donnell is quick to make jokes about her stormy tenure on “The View”—at one point comparing it to the Kathy Bates movie “Misery”—she said doing the show was a good way to “stretch” herself after the fun and games of “The Rosie O’Donnell Show.”
“Doing ‘The View’ was helpful,” she said. “It reminded people that, ‘Oh, wow, she has an opinion and a brain and a very loud voice.’”
Sigh of Relief
Ms. O’Donnell is also glad her NBC show is coming after the election of Barack Obama.
“It couldn’t be better timing,” she said. “The election’s over and everyone’s happy. I was deeply concerned for the election. … I feared for my own mental health as well as the nation’s.”
Ms. O’Donnell joked that she initially had a hard time believing Sen. Obama had won, particularly after Sen. John Kerry came so close to winning in 2004.
“The last time, I went to bed happy then woke up back in the Bush nightmare,” she said. “I was afraid this time they were going to find a van full of votes in Utah or something.”
Ms. O’Donnell could have a relatively busy 2009 in front of the cameras.
She recently wrapped production on “America,” a Lifetime movie about foster care that also stars Ruby Dee. And if NBC likes the ratings for “Rosie Live,” the show will return as a regular series next year.
Ms. O’Donnell said her plan is to produce the series in six-episode batches.
“Six, to me, is the perfect amount,” she said. “We can do six and everyone can get excited, then we can take a little break and come back later. It seems to me that’s the way TV is going—much more stunted.”
What seems less likely, however, is a return to a five-day-a-week syndicated talk show.
“I don’t know if I could do that,” Ms. O’Donnell said. “I’m a 46-year-old woman, almost 47. That was a job for when I was much hungrier than I am now.”

104 Comments

  1. One of the things that is wrong with TV these days, and has been for a long time, is the lack of entertainment. TV is suppose to a visual medium but for some reason all they want to do is talk talks and more talk. I will be very disappointed if Rosie’s Variety show turns out to another talk show with a little song and dance now and then.

  2. Ms. Minnelli is still alive? Has-beens only appear when “everyone else” is running in the other direction..politely saying–“My calendar is so totally booked right now”. Only alternative left (spins the old rolodex, closes eyes), “Let’s see.. “we can’t hire “dead people”, so….” Minnelli it is!”

  3. Rosie? What a joke. I have no respect for that big mouth. She is a disgrace to all, even to the Gay and Lesbians. Nothing she says has substance. I won’t be turning in to her show. That is for sure.

  4. The most obnoxious person in Hollywood has a variety show.
    Thanks for the warning. Another show I will NOT be watching.
    What a waste, NBC. Where do they get the idea that people actually want to see her?

  5. Rosie is a true talent that I miss on television. Yes she’s loud and opinionated but this is America, she is granted that right. And she does a hell of a lot in terms of charity for poor children and for soldiers so before you go hating her return to television, just give it a chance.

  6. TV has been missing a good primetime variety show for a long time. I hope Rosie can pull it off. The Jackie Gleason Show, Ed Sullivan, Carol Burnett, and now Rosie. TV has been lacking enough family friendly programming – shows the entire household can watch together – this could be a welcome change.

  7. NBC can’t think of any other person to host a variety show but Rosie? What staying at home with your family after being on and off and off and on TV isn’t enough for her? So sick and tired of hearing her name this will be another NBC failed program. The night before Thanksgiving when no one cares about TV as it is. Good luck finding anyone to watch.

  8. NBC stands for NOTHING BUT CRAP! Please tell her to go away and take her opinions with her. What Tina Fey can’t host a variety show for NBC? Thought she was the new hot property at the network after her Sarah Palin parody on SNL. Rosie is yesterday’s garbage and its time to put the garbage out!

  9. You’ve got to give Rosie credit for doing it. Not many people want to do a variety. However, if it’s a real variety show, we’ll see Rosie only introducing the acts and stepping into the wings to watch or running backstage to make sure things don’t go haywire. No talk or personal opinions from her!!!!
    I will watch to see what she does and if the show is worth watching. After all, it’s been over 20 years since American had a variety show. If Rosie pulls this off, you know the networks will copy it just like every thing else on the boob tube!!

  10. This woman is an angry digusting person and anyone that would turn the channel to watch her should consider counseling. I am still trying to understand how she was able to adopt children when so many couples have to wait for years and years.
    And Mr. Adalian – shame on you. This has to be a record for SENTENCE PARAGRAPHS! Where did you study journalism?

  11. IllonaE:
    In my opinion: Someone who spends time holding animosity towards a complete stranger, expressed in comments on the internet, because they’ve forgotten that in the United States we’re all free to have any opinions we like, and speak out about them… well, you might reconsider who really needs counseling.
    Rosie O’Donnell is an assertive, strong-willed woman whose life has been spent as an entertainer, and doing a very good job at it as her personality is well-suited to it. You many not like her politics, or perhaps that she is a lesbian, but you don’t have to. There is no need to attack her, however. It’s vile and speaks more about those who do it than about those they criticize.

  12. G.R.’s got it right. Can’t wait to see “Rosie Live!”

  13. IM TOTALLY THRILLED
    RO LIVE
    IT’S JUST WHAT WE NEED
    YAH YAH YAH
    WE ALL R LUCKY 2 HAVE HER BACK LIVE
    AND RO IS RIGHT
    6 SHOWS AT A TIME IS BEST
    🙂

  14. IF Rosie can be more subdued, attempt some (fake) classiness, and IF she can keep the show clean, AND entertaining, we might all be surprised at its success. However, since she is already talking about doing a bit about what life would be like if McCain had won….well, that is just more negativity of which we are all so very tired and weary. Please, no attacks on anyone, please no pushing any agenda down our throats — just good old entertainment for a change. I, for one, am tired of all the murders that are on every night in the guise of entertainment. I am tired of negativity and put-downs and cynicism and “aren’t-I-clever meanness”. If this is more of any of that, I won’t be watching.

  15. this will be fantastic
    she is an amazing person
    and she really knows
    how to entertain
    i spent a week
    on her cruise
    by far-the most fascinating
    special time of my life
    the people she finds
    to entertain
    r funny, warm fantastic people
    everyone should
    go on a rosie cruise
    much more magical
    than disney
    it’s great she’s back
    and the timing is perfect
    i hope she features
    r soldiers
    going with the wave
    of the country now
    exciting times
    no one better
    than rosie o

  16. UGH. Do we need HER back? I say no thanks. She is negative, she is condescending, she is not a nice person, on and on. Again I say UGH.

  17. WOW! Variety Show -Great Idea! Rosie – NOT!
    A variety show would ceftainly be something that I would tune in on — but not with Rosie. She is crass, bitter and angry. How about another host?

  18. When Rosie had her daytime show and before she “came out”, she was wonderful. The show was like a breath of fresh air. She is good at this type of show and I think NBC is doing a good thing to give her an entertainment format. She loves the theatre and music. She will be good.

  19. Just Freakin Shoot Me Now…. Put me outta the Ro Misery!!! I have never liked this Big Mouthed Whatever you wanta call her! Has NBC really sunk this low??? Jeeze!

  20. Phyllis Jean Rettman, you really shouldn’t ask people in a public forum to shoot you.
    Someone might take you up on it.

  21. The potential difference between Rosie’s Variety Show and “Liza With a Z” was that Minelli’s show was a special–one time only. People loved it, remembered it, and cherished any opportunity to see it again. She didn’t do it as a series, which might have gotten worse over time, running out of fresh ideas. If Rosie were smart, she’d do maybe an occasional special–but not a whole variety SERIES. Those died off for a reason.

  22. My husband and I grew up with variety shows and especially miss them during the holidays. We have some boxed sets of Judy Garland, Andy Williams and others. Rosie is a product of our baby boomer generation and knows and loves both live and taped TV. I have respect for her “don’t hold back, tell us what you really mean” attitude. Also, she stands up for her beliefs and puts hard work and money into them. If she can’t rejuvenate the variety show, no one can. She has the drive to make it happen and attract top and interesting performers and an audience. Compared to the blood and guts genre, her banter, if there’s any, is welcomed. Having been given the chance, she’ll come through. We look forward to seeing her. Kudos to NBC.

  23. I’m afraid I will have to miss this show I will be busy watching paint dry.

  24. I like Rosie O’Donnell and I am glad she is getting a new show. She does so much for others. We need a new entertainment show. What if she is a lesbian, so are millions of others. Why hold that against her. What if your daughter was a lesbian, how would you treat her. There is far too much bullying going on and mobbing and gangstalking. Why do you feel the need to attack her. I hope her show is very successful and I wish her all the best.

  25. From Barbara, formerly of Cmk, NY.
    Rosie, you rock! I wish you all the best and am looking forward to your show.

  26. Why are they trying what could be a very good idea with such B so-called celebs? The execs at NBC should be fired. They have a host who few people like and some absolutely hate. And to drag “Liza with a Z” into the mess. I remember being embarrassed for Liza Minelli. She looked like a dancing horse and had obviously studied footage of her semi-talented mother so that she could emulate every hammy gesture. And the rest of the scheduled guests? Limited audiences at best. Too bad that this vain attempt will only turn people off, and then no one will try it again for years.

  27. Her opening monolog was awful, we all know she is fat, and then was down hill from there. Her promise not to bring up politics except for 2 words that she expressed openly, and that ended my interest of ever watching Rosie again. She is not a nice person for the general public and should not be forced on the TV audience.
    A good variety show is needed and will be watch if done in good taste by families across the USA.

  28. I like Rosie but what a piece of crap and a waste of time.

  29. i agree with william, i had to change the channel, more then awful………..

  30. I thought it was going to be like the Carol Burnett show….it wasn’t…I didn’t care for the
    show…where were the skits…..the jokes were old
    and heard them before…we need new material..nothing like Carol’s show…If she
    had stuck to that I think She would do very well, for she is funny…but last night didn’t prove it.

  31. Rosie O’Donnell is on my very long list of actors and “entertainers” –to use the term loosely– that I, my family, and many of my friends, boycott. I do believe they have the right to freely speak their mind, but when they go over the top and accuse the government of masterminding 911, then I have the right to exercise my freedom of association. It’s difficult to suspend disbelief in an actor’s role when that actor is seditious and borderline treasonous.
    For that reason, Rosie O’Donnell will never be allowed in my home in any format. Blacklisting? On a personal level, you bet. Why invest my time and money in such lunacy.
    I wish Ms. O’Donnell a long life, just let it be out of the entertainment industry.

  32. Pristina airport, the railways, landfills, and waste management systems have all been privatized. ,

  33. Could not help but think there presently exist more useful matters toward which we should be directing our interest and also our assets. Just how many magazine pages are diminished with full-color pics of numerous famous people, as well as how much data transfer useage is burned weekly by constant ramblings of movie star groupies?

  34. I made the decision to write this, after i read that a 16-year-old chick accessorizing with high-heeled sandals had dropped between carriages in the train in West Sussex The united kingdom, This girl passed on, naturally. It was snowing that evening time, but still this young lady, owning a lifetime of fashion options before her, ran along the platform and is now lifeless. I could not help suspecting that had the woman been dressed in a shoe planned for movement, as opposed to to push her chest out in addition to her pelvis forward, she would be still living.

  35. This is good info! Where else can if ind out more?? Who runs this joint too? Keep up the good work 🙂

  36. Love all the opinions expressed here! How is everyone? Love how everyone expresses whatr they feel 🙂

  37. Kudos to you! This is a really good blog here and I love your style of writing. How did you get so good at blogging?

  38. You make blogging look like a walk in the park! I’ve been trying to blog daily but I just cant find writing material.. you’re an inspiration to me and i’m sure many others!

  39. Love all the opinions expressed here! How is everyone? Love how everyone expresses whatr they feel 🙂

  40. Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

  41. This is the best blog I’ve ever seen in my life! I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to share your this with everyone.

  42. Keep focusing on your blog. I love how we can all express our feelings. This is an extremely nice blog here 🙂

  43. Interesting layout on your blog. I really enjoyed reading it and also I will be back to read more in the future.

  44. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy.

  45. High quality info here! Keep up the great work. I love the feelings being expressed.

  46. I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I’ve bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.

  47. I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I’ve bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.

  48. I love the expression. Everyone needs to express there own opinion and feel free to hear others. Keep it up 🙂

  49. Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

  50. This is good info! Where else can if ind out more?? Who runs this joint too? Keep up the good work 🙂

  51. Interesting layout on your blog. I really enjoyed reading it and also I will be back to read more in the future.

  52. Neat blog layout! Very easy on the eyes.. i like the colors you picked out

  53. This is good info! Where else can if ind out more?? Who runs this joint too? Keep up the good work 🙂

  54. Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care and see you soon

  55. Very okay. agree with most people

  56. This is the best blog I’ve ever seen in my life! I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to share your this with everyone.

  57. Great blog!! You should start many more. I love all the info provided. I will stay tuned 🙂

  58. great!

  59. thanks.

  60. great!

  61. Nice!! Great Ifo. Great People. Great Blog. Thank you for all the great sharing that is being done here.

  62. Keep focusing on your blog. I love how we can all express our feelings. This is an extremely nice blog here 🙂

  63. Love the blog here. Nice colors. I am definitely staying tuned to this one. Hope to see more.

  64. I love the way you write and also the theme on your blog. Did you code this yourself or was it done by a professional? I’m very very impressed.

  65. Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What host are you using? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

  66. Kudos to you! This is a really good blog here and I love your style of writing. How did you get so good at blogging?

  67. I would like to start my own blog one day. This was a really nice blog that you made here. Keep up the success 😛

  68. Kudos to you! This is a really good blog here and I love your style of writing. How did you get so good at blogging?

  69. Keep focusing on your blog. I love how we can all express our feelings. This is an extremely nice blog here 🙂

  70. Keep focusing on your blog. I love how we can all express our feelings. This is an extremely nice blog here 🙂

  71. I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.. 🙂

  72. Keep focusing on your blog. I love how we can all express our feelings. This is an extremely nice blog here 🙂

  73. Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found this for him smile. So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!

  74. Neat blog layout! Very easy on the eyes.. i like the colors you picked out

  75. I love the expression. Everyone needs to express there own opinion and feel free to hear others. Keep it up 🙂

  76. Interesting layout on your blog. I really enjoyed reading it and also I will be back to read more in the future.

  77. Interesting layout on your blog. I really enjoyed reading it and also I will be back to read more in the future.

  78. You make blogging look like a walk in the park! I’ve been trying to blog daily but I just cant find writing material.. you’re an inspiration to me and i’m sure many others!

  79. Dreamin. I love blogging. You all express your feelings the right way, because they are your feeling, focus on your blog it is great.

  80. I love the way you write and also the theme on your blog. Did you code this yourself or was it done by a professional? I’m very very impressed.

  81. I would like to start my own blog one day. This was a really nice blog that you made here. Keep up the success 😛

  82. Great blog!! You should start many more. I love all the info provided. I will stay tuned 🙂

  83. Hello there! I really enjoy reading your blog! If you keep making such great posts I will come back every day to keep reading!

  84. Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

  85. Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it’s been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing

  86. Keep focusing on your blog. I love how we can all express our feelings. This is an extremely nice blog here 🙂

  87. I would like to start my own blog one day. This was a really nice blog that you made here. Keep up the success 😛

  88. Nice blog here! Also your website loads up fast! What host are you using? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

  89. Kudos to you! This is a really good blog here and I love your style of writing. How did you get so good at blogging?

  90. Interesting layout on your blog. I really enjoyed reading it and also I will be back to read more in the future.

  91. Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care and see you soon

  92. I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I’ve bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.

  93. Great blog!! You should start many more. I love all the info provided. I will stay tuned 🙂

  94. Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care and see you soon

  95. Neat blog layout! Very easy on the eyes.. i like the colors you picked out

  96. I agree with your thoughts here and I really love your blog! I’ve bookmarked it so that I can come back & read more in the future.

  97. Nice!! Great Ifo. Great People. Great Blog. Thank you for all the great sharing that is being done here.

  98. I just recognized that Blimpie was noton the worst l ist. It really may very well be the absolute worst of 2009. This kind of a m issed possibility. And from time to time non-designers say they could do what we do – in th is case, having said that, they would be correct.

  99. I love the expression. Everyone needs to express there own opinion and feel free to hear others. Keep it up 🙂

  100. Say that once more?

  101. Whether you like it or not, there can be perpetually two englishes to everything. Little advice, stop being thence radical . Your language skills then again are fantabulous .

Leave a Reply to Lou Cancel Reply

Email (will not be published)