Sawyer out of running as ABC News anchor
ABC News hasn’t named a permanent replacement for the late Peter Jennings at “World News Tonight,” but did say this week who it won’t be – Diane Sawyer.
Broadcasting & Cable magazine reported that “insiders at the network are buzzing over Diane Sawyer’s apparent interest in the blue-chip slot.”
But after speaking to both Sawyer and ABC News President David Westin, a Westin spokesman said Sawyer was not a candidate for the evening anchor job.
While it’s likely that Sawyer will do more prime-time documentaries, he said, she’s remaining at “Good Morning America.”
Sawyer has not been among the “World News Tonight” fill-in anchors – Charles Gibson, Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff – all of whom have been mentioned as candidates for the full-time job.
Out of the ‘Blue’
Steven Bochco already has made his mark behind the scenes of ABC’s “Commander in Chief,” and viewers will soon see a Bochco veteran in front of the camera as well.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who played Detective John Clark in the final four seasons of Bochco’s “NYPD Blue,” is joining the cast of “Chief” starting with the show’s ninth episode, which likely will air in late November.
Gosselaar will play a “slick, savvy media strategist” on the series, according to ABC, although the network isn’t saying whether he joins the team around the first female president, Mackenzie Allen (Geena Davis) or works for one of her political foes.
Bochco was named executive producer and show runner of “Commander in Chief” earlier this month, replacing series creator Rod Lurie, reportedly to ensure that the show – the most-watched new series this season – would run smoothly and meet its deadlines.
Megan does daytime
Life after “Will & Grace” is starting to shape up for Megan Mullally, as a daytime show she’s developing has been sold in the country’s biggest markets.
The Emmy winner’s talk-variety show, set to launch in fall 2006, has been picked up by NBC-owned stations in four of the country’s largest markets – New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco – according to the showbiz trade papers.
The show is expected to combine some traditional talk-show elements with segments that will allow Mullally, who’s earned six straight Emmy nominations for her work on “Will & Grace,” to show off her comedic and musical talents.
So far, Mullally’s show, which is being syndicated by NBC Universal, and a King World show starring ubiquitous Food Network star Rachael Ray are the two new daytime shows announced for next fall.
Old ‘Models’ for UPN
“America’s Next Top Model” has been UPN’s highest-rated show for much of the last couple of seasons. Now, the network is banking that it can help draw viewers to other series as well.
The week of Nov. 7 – the first full week of November sweeps – has been dubbed “Top Model Week” on the network. Past or current contestants from the show will appear on UPN programs – even “Friday Night Smackdown!” – each night that week.
Only a music special honoring Patti LaBelle on Nov. 8 and “Everybody Hates Chris” (the only UPN show doing better than “Top Model” this fall) on Nov. 10 will be model-free.