People: Low-rated ‘Meredith Vieira Show’ ending after 2 seasons
“The Meredith Vieira Show” is ending after two seasons.
In a statement Monday, Vieira said she was sorry to see her daytime talk show wrap and thanked her viewers.
Vieira’s syndicated program failed to get ratings traction in the competitive daytime arena ruled by shows including “Dr. Phil,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and “Live With Kelly and Michael.”
“The Meredith Vieira Show,” distributed by NBC Universal Domestic Television Group, will air through May.
Vieira won’t be idle after that: She will head to Rio de Janeiro to help cover the Summer Olympics, airing on NBC in August.
DeGeneres donates award
Ellen DeGeneres is receiving a humanitarian award, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is reaping the benefits.
Producers of the People’s Choice Awards announced Monday that DeGeneres will be recognized as the Favorite Humanitarian at Wednesday’s ceremony. The honor comes with a $200,000 donation from Walgreens, which DeGeneres is directing toward the hospital.
She joked that the award “sums me up perfectly as I am both a human and an itarian.”
DeGeneres is also nominated for Favorite Talk Show Host at the fan-voted People’s Choice Awards, which will be presented at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and broadcast on CBS.
Yang will promote children reading
The Library of Congress has named graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang as the national ambassador for young people’s literature.
The library joined the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader to announce the appointment Monday. An inaugural ceremony is planned Thursday.
Yang, the first graphic novelist to be named to the post, won the Michael L. Printz Award for “American Born Chinese” and is a two-time National Book Award finalist. He said reading breaks down walls and helps people get to know people outside of their own communities.
Yang will travel the nation over his two-year term showing kids and teens that reading is a vital part of their lives. He also will speak to parents, teachers and librarians about how to help young people love reading.
The birthday bunch
Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale is 88. Actor Robert Duvall is 85. Talk show host Charlie Rose is 74. Actress-director Diane Keaton is 70. Actor Ted Lange is 68. Rock musician Chris Stein (Blondie) is 66. Actress Pamela Sue Martin is 63. Rock musician Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens of the Stone Age) is 48. Rock singer Marilyn Manson is 47. Actor Bradley Cooper is 41. Actress January Jones is 38.