For those of you who don't have E! in your homes - and that includes the majority of cable subscribers in Utah - let me tell you something about Greg Kinnear.
The host of E!'s "Talk Soup" is bright. He's quick-witted. He's a television natural.And he's the new host of NBC's "Later," replacing Bob Costas.
As a matter of fact, Kinnear is the guy NBC probably should have picked to take of "Late Night" when David Letterman left for CBS, not Conan O'Brien.
Kinnear himself scoffs at widespread speculation that he may be waiting in the wings to replace the faltering O'Brien.
"Yeah, that's true," he deadpans. "I'll do this show for probably about two weeks, maybe three. Then I take over for Conan . . . . I'll have Jay (Leno)'s job by March, and I should be sitting in for Tom Brokaw come June."
Well, probably not. But "Later with Greg Kinnear" does debut tonight on NBC (1:05 a.m., Ch. 2). And there will be a number of changes from "Later with Bob Costas."
Costas used to tape tape several shows at a time in a studio in New York City. It was just Costas and his guess - no studio audience.
Kinnear, on the other hand, will be taping at NBC's Burbank studios in California. (Actually, his debut was delayed two weeks because of earthquake damage to the building.)
He'll tape a single show each day - in front of a small studio audience. He'll do something resembling an opening monologue.
And Kinnear is definitely not Costas.
"My style . . . is definitely a little lighter, maybe a little more irreverent than the straight-on, real-serious, one-on-one interview," Kinnear said. "But the best interviews to me are just ones that seem seamless, and they don't seem prepared. And it's a host that hopefully is listening to the questions and sort of following up on that."
At least for the time being, the half-hour, Monday-Thursday program will retain its one-guest format. Kinnear said the show's guest selection will be "eclectic."
"One night you might see Barry Goldwater and the next night you might see Steve Martin," he said. "And I think that sort of unpredictability is something that I'd like to keep on the show."
(Tonight's guest is Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Martin Short, Phil Hartman are also scheduled this week.)
The one aspect that will probably be de-emphasized isn't surprising - it's sports. Costas is a sportscaster; Kinnear is not.
Kinnear will keep his current gig on "Talk Soup" - a very amusing compendium of clips from the daytime talk shows - in addition to "Later."
And as for the future . . . well, it really is too early to make any predictions, but don't be surprised if the new "Later" host gets an earlier time slot at some point.
LETTERMAN RETURNS: Tonight, for a change, there actually is a reason to tune in to "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (12:05 a.m., Ch. 2).
O'Brien's predecessor, David Letterman, returns to his old show as a guest.
NO COMMENT: I somehow feel obligated to say something about the continuing Roseanne controversy - she told Jay Leno last week that she still wants to leave ABC.
But I'm too confused. And too tired of the whole thing.
TWO NEW SITCOMS: ABC has announced premiere dates for two new half-hour comedies - one of them worth getting excited about, the other definitely not.
"These Friends of Mine," headlined by standup comedian Ellen Degeneres, is sort of in the "Seinfeld" vein - it's about a group of thirtysomethings and their interactions. The pilot, at least, was also clever, funny and likeable.
"Friends" will be previewed on Tuesday, March 29 at 8:30 p.m. before moving to its regular time slot the following night (Wednesday, March 30) at 8:30 p.m.
"Sister, Sister" is headed for ABC's T.G.I.F. lineup, and that's appropriate. This sitcom as as childish and insipid as the rest of the network's Friday comedies.
Twins Tia and Tamera Mowry star as - surprise! - twins who were separated at birth. One was adopted by a straight-laced father (Tim Reid) and the other by a free-spirited mother (Jackee Harry). And they all end up living together.
It's relentlessly perky - and dumb.
"Sister, Sister" will debut on Friday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. and move to its regular time slot an hour later.
"Grace Under Fire" (which is a sure bet to return) and "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" are both going on hiatus.
CASTING ABOUT: Jere Burns, who played the obnoxious Kirk on "Dear John" and the obnoxious Pete on "Newhart," will be moving into "The Mommies' " neighborhood for at least five episodes.
Burns has been signed to play a "Mr. Mom"-type househusband who moves into a home on the same cul-de-sac as "The Mommies" for the season's final five episodes.
By the way, NBC has ordered an addition two episodes of the sitcom.
DOUBLING UP: Beginning next week, NBC will air back-to-back episodes of "The John Larroquette Show" on Tuesdays at 8 and 8:30 p.m. for at least a few weeks.
Unfortunately, "Cafe Americain" is going on hiatus.
ANOTHER NEWS MAGAZINE: ABC, apparently operating under the misapprehension that eight network news magazines are not enough, will be adding a ninth next week.
"Turning Point," which has aired three specials already, debuts Wednesday, March 9 at 9 p.m.
In that time slot it will be going up against the CBS news magazine "48 Hours." And, oddly enough, of the nine entries in this genre those two are the only ones that devote their entire hour to a single issue.
Rotating anchors for "Turning Point" will include Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer, with Peter Jennings stepping in from time to time.