Can NBC, Rosie Revive Variety?
By Josef Adalian Having already revolutionized daytime talk and reinvigorated “The View,” Rosie O’Donnell is now hoping to resurrect one of television’s storied genres: the variety show. It’s a tall order—which may be one reason Ms. O’Donnell has enlisted some serious showbiz firepower for her Nov. 26 NBC special, dubbed “Rosie Live.” digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/television/Can_NBC_Rosie_Revive_Variety_Liza_Minelli_Will_Help’; “Liza Minnelli will be on the show,” Ms. O’Donnell revealed last week in an exclusive interview with TelevisionWeek. “It’s showbiz royalty. I couldn’t do it without her.” Will Ms. O’Donnell perform a duet with Ms. Minnelli, whose 1972 variety/concert special “Liza With a Z” won multiple Emmy Awards? “Of course! What, are you kidding me?” Ms. O’Donnell laughed. “This is the dream for every girl from Long Island who ever sang in the mirror to ‘Cabaret.’ This is as good as it gets for me.” Ms. O’Donnell is keeping specifics of the musical number under wraps for now,
