Conventional Wisdom from a TV Marketplace

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Roseanne herself certainly seems optimistic. She walked on stage to deliver her big speech arm in arm with King World CEO Michael King and deadpanned, "Meet husband number four." Although she kept mum on the details of her daytime chat show (premiering Sept. 14), she promised to be "funnier than Geraldo and cuter than Donny and Marie." As for her recent breakup with third hubby Ben Thomas: "I'm only sorry I'm not a widow," she cooed.

In the late-night arena, the big question mark is Magic Johnson, whose The Magic Hour (given a 5.0 success rating by Petry) is produced by Twentieth Television and debuts in June. Can the basketball legend attract a larger audience than the primarily urban demo for Sinbad's Vibe and Keenen Ivory Wayans? Johnson's coterie of celeb fans will help keep the couch full (his pilot included segments with Mel Gibson and Cher), and tips on talk-show basics from pals Jay Leno and Arsenio Hall can't hurt. "If we appeal to a narrow audience, we won't succeed," says Johnson. "And I'm used to winning."

The hottest trend at NATPE continues to be courtroom shows. The success of Judge Judy and The People's Court with former New York City mayor Ed Koch has producers betting there's more to be tapped in the jurisprudential well. All American (the people behind Baywatch) has Judge Joe Brown, featuring a tough-talking Southern jurist (Petry gives it a 7.0), while Rysher offers Mills Lane, hosted by a Nevada judge/boxing referee. His claim to fame? Separating Mike Tyson from Evander Holyfield's ear. (If only The Jerry Springer Show had a guy like Lane.)

Pamela Lee, meanwhile, has retired her Baywatch one-piece for V.I.P., a syndicated drama in which she'll play the head of a private security firm. How apropos. Suggested first case: safeguarding her house against sticky-fingered sex-tape connoisseurs.

Originally posted Jan 30, 1998 Published in issue #416 Jan 30, 1998 Order article reprints

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