Those who remember Rosanne’s short-lived Fox show know that Rosie is not the first fat female comedian to host her own variety show.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EMMY-WINNING ROSIE O'DONNELL RETURNS TO TELEVISION ON NBC WITH LIVE VARIETY SPECIAL SHOWCASING A WIDE ARRAY OF CELEBRITY GUESTS, MUSICAL ACTS, COMEDY SKITS AND SURPRISES ON NOVEMBER 26
Exciting, Hour-long Event "Rosie's Variety Show" Will Be Broadcast from New York City the Night Before Thanksgiving
BURBANK – October 2, 2008 – Emmy Award-winning talk show host, producer and TV personality Rosie O'Donnell will return to television on NBC with "Rosie's Variety Show" an hour-long variety special featuring a wide array of celebrity guests, musical acts, comedy skits and a giant primetime giveaway for both the in-studio and home audiences – all for a live broadcast on Wednesday, November 26 from 8-9 p.m. ET (the night before Thanksgiving). The announcement was made by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.
"We are excited to have Rosie back on TV at NBC," said Plestis. "Together with Rosie, we are reinventing the variety show. This special will be first and best since it will be live and the audience will never know what will happen next."
Said O'Donnell, "This is a dream come true for any performer. Old time variety, live from New York with a nod to Ed Sullivan, Carol Burnett and memories of Sonny and Cher."
O'Donnell will bring back the grand tradition of the variety show format to television, much like such iconic series as "The Carol Burnett Show" and "The Ed Sullivan Show," while including brand-new elements for a new generation of fans.
The special will feature a topical monologue, musical production numbers and hilarious comedy sketches from Rosie and her in-house acting company, as well as performances from today's hottest artists. In addition, the special will showcase a spectacular array of guest celebrities and many surprises...and it's all live!
A signature element of the special will also spotlight a massive primetime giveaway in which the home audience will have a chance to win incredible prizes – along with the studio audience.
Additional details of the special will be announced at a later date.
O'Donnell was last seen as moderator on the 10th season of "The View." In May of 2007, Time magazine named her as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" for its "Time 100" cover story.
For six years, O'Donnell was host and executive producer of the critically acclaimed, Emmy-winning and nationally syndicated talk/variety series "The Rosie O'Donnell Show." In her first season in "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," O'Donnell won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host. She continued her success for five consecutive seasons by winning Daytime Emmys for both Outstanding Talk Show Host and Outstanding Talk Show. She also won a Primetime Emmy for "The 52nd Annual Tony Awards."
O'Donnell has a starred in wide-ranging film and television roles. In 1992, she made her feature film debut in "A League of Their Own," starring opposite Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna and went on to appear in such hits as "Sleepless in Seattle," "The Flintstones" and "Harriet the Spy." On television she made her dramatic debut starring in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production "Riding the Bus with My Sister," directed by Angelica Huston. Most recently she guest starred in FX's acclaimed series "Nip/Tuck."
A best selling author and star of the Broadway stage, O'Donnell also keeps up with cultural trends, starting her own award-winning blog (Rosie.com) where she publishes photos, artwork and corresponds directly with her fans. A tireless crusader for children, O'Donnell established the "Rosie's for All Kids Foundation" in 1997 and "Rosie's Broadway Kids" in 2003.
The special is produced by Universal Media Studios in association with KidRo Productions. O'Donnell and David Friedman ("Last Comic Standing," "Last Call with Carson Daly") are the executive producers.
