Just a few more thrilling bits of video information from our friends in television land . . .
- NBC is planning a prime-time party in January for that fun bunch at the "Today" show, which will be celebrating its 40th anniversary.In addition to current "Today" personalities Bryant Gumbel, Katie Couric, Willard Scott and Joe Garagiola, former "Today" staffers Hugh Downs, Barbara Walters, Tom Brokaw, John Chancellor and Jane Pauley will all be on hand.
Strangely enough, Deborah Norville apparently wasn't invited.
- In a flash of inspiration, ABC has scheduled a "Happy Days Reunion" for the upcoming February sweeps, to be hosted by Fonzie himself, Henry Winkler.
Gee, where do you suppose ABC got this idea? It couldn't have been from watching "Ed Sullivan," "Mary Tyler Moore," "All In the Family," "M*A*S*H" and "Bob Newhart" on CBS, could it?
- Talk about your counter-programming - Fox will air an "In Living Color Super Halftime Party" during the intermission of CBS' coverage of the Super Bowl on Jan 26. Filled with new sketches, the thought here is to encourage viewers to zap away from the football halftime for a few laughs.
There will even be a clock in the corner of the screen counting the minutes until the game resumes.
Hmmm . . . sounds like sort of a good idea, doesn't it?
- If you tune in to Fox's "True Colors" on Dec. 15 and notice something a bit amiss, don't try to adjust your reception - there really will be a new father.
Frankie Faison, who's played Ron Freeman since "Colors" premiered in 1990, has left the show, citing "creative differences." (Rumor is he was just disgusted with the low quality of the show.
He'll be replaced by television veteran Cleavon Little, who'll play the same character.
Apparently, Fox figures that so few people are watching "True Colors" not much of anybody will notice the change.
- Jackie Collins, well-known author of trashy novels, has created a new series for CBS. "Sunset Heat" will debut in the fall, and Collins will be both executive producer and writer.
"Sunset" will "chronicle life's ups and downs for the residents of an unforgettably unique West Hollywood condominium complex."
"Up until now, Jackie Collins fans have had to be patient, awaiting her latest book or the movie and miniseries adaptations of her work," said a CBS executive. "We think her audience is as insatiable as her characters are, and . . . they will get the chance to spend time, on a weekly basis, with the kinds of characters that only she can create."
Oh, my. What a treat. Now we won't have to wait for miniseries like "Lucky/Chances" and "Hollywood Wives" - we can wallow in sleaze every week!RATINGS: NBC won last week in the ratings, with ABC second and CBS third. The top 10 shows were: 1. "Roseanne," ABC; 2. "60 Minutes," CBS; 3. "Coach," ABC; 4. "Full House," ABC; 5. "Cheers," NBC; 6. "Unsolved Mysteries," NBC; 7. "Home Improvement," ABC; 8. "Monday Night Football," ABC; 9. "A Different World," NBC; 10. "Murphy Brown," CBS.