‘Millionaire’ this – ‘Live’ ratings strong
Regis Philbin’s status on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” may be in question – as is the show’s very future – but there’s no doubting that “Live with Regis & Kelly” continues to go great guns in the morning talk-show arena.
Along with Studios USA’s “Maury,” “Live” (9 a.m./Ch. 7) was the only syndicated talker to show year-to-year growth during the just-completed November sweeps. While “Maury” (with Maury Povich) was up 3 percent nationally, “Live,” co-hosted by Kelly Ripa, was also up, giving it lots of oomph as the year draws to an end. Especially encouraging is that “Live” is up a whopping 42 percent, season-to-date, in its core demo (women 18-34). The show is at MGM Studios in Orlando this week.
Franklin gives a ‘kid’ his lucky break
These are busy times for Joe Franklin.
Not only did Franklin and pal Richie Ornstein help longtime friend Jack LaLanne celebrate his 87th birthday recently, but Franklin’s WOR radio show (midnight Saturday on 710 AM) has helped to launch a new career for singer Chuck Prentiss.
Prentiss, 66, has a law degree from Yale and a successful insurance business – and also a new CD called “Up Chuck.” Prentiss wrote the 14 songs, which humorously cover social mores.
Prentiss went onto Franklin’s WOR radio show and generated such a huge response that he’s been back several times. He’ll be with Franklin again this Saturday on the WOR show.
If it’s Tuesday, it must be Ghana
Native New Yorker Thara Pillai is featured on tomorrow’s “Journey Women Off The Map,” now in its second season on WE: Women’s Entertainment (8 p.m. on Time Warner Cable/Ch. 59).
Pillai, who works for an Internet music company, traveled to Ghana, where she participated in a traditional voodoo ceremony and observed the handiwork of African craftsmen.
This just in . . .
Twentieth TV will launch “The Rob Nelson Show,” hosted by Rob Nelson, next fall. It’s been cleared on Fox-owned stations. Twentieth TV has also cancelled “Power of Attorney.”
Jets legend Joe Namath caused quite a buzz last Friday at Fox News Channel, where was taping a segment with Karen Gibbs. Insiders say Namath “brought the place to a standstill.”
Ch. 7’s Sam Champion hosts the Lincoln Center tree lighting tonight (5:40 p.m./Ch. 7). Wynton Marsalis will perform.
USA’s new game show, “SMUSH,” debuts tonight (11 p.m.) with host Ken Ober. It’s from “Millionaire” EP Michael Davies.