A Rhea of hope?
As you read in “The Starr Report” on Sept. 28, Paramount was said to be rushing a Caroline Rhea talk show into production – a backup in case “Dr. Laura” completely imploded.
Now, sources say, Rhea did, indeed, tape a talk-show pilot last week as “Dr. Laura” and Laura Schlessinger continue to struggle in the ratings.
Rhea co-stars on “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” and is a regular on “Hollywood Squares.”
Officials at Paramount were unavailable for comment yesterday.
It’s ‘Live’ at 4
Ch. 2 is renaming its 4 p.m. newscast, which will be known as “New York Live” beginning Monday with co-anchors Stephen Clark and Dana Tyler.
The new moniker is part of Ch. 2 now calling itself “CBS 2 Information Network,” integrating station news partners including VH1 News, Court TV, CBS Marketwatch, CNN and Hollywood.com.
“It means instead of one newsroom covering the news of the day, we actually have nine complete news departments feeding information on our newscasts,” says Ch. 2 news director Joel “Joltin’ Joel” Cheatwood.
New York story
“Welcome to New York” star Jim Gaffigan, ex-“SNLer”Colin Quinn and Greg Giraldo (“Late Night”) will perform at the Shakespeare on the Playground benefit gala Monday, Nov. 6 (7-10 p.m.).
The gala, which benefits an arts program for inner-city teens, will unfold at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe (236 E. 3rd St.). Tickets are $75 apiece or two for $100.
This just in . . .
* Tonight: Barbara Walters chats up Paul McCartney’s girlfriend, Heather Mills (10 p.m. on Ch. 7).
* Bianca (Eden Riegel) officially “comes out” as a lesbian on Monday’s “All My Children” (1 p.m. on Ch. 7).
* Stone Cold Steve Austin and Lorraine Bracco on today’s “Live with Regis” (9 a.m. on Ch. 7).
* On tonight’s “Moral Court”: A man who uses his Leonardo DiCaprio likeness to bed women.