Cheers to a pair of great talk-show guests who’ve smoothly transitioned into the host’s chair: Rachel Maddow and Bonnie Hunt. Liberal pundit Maddow, one of Keith Olbermann’s favorite talking heads, now follows Countdown on MSNBC with a self-titled show—and beat CNN’s Larry King in the ratings on her first night. Meanwhile, David Letterman fave Hunt has launched her own syndicated daytime show and has quickly proven as adept at friendly celebrity chat as fellow funnywoman Ellen DeGeneres. Whether they’re guests or hosts, Rachel and Bonnie are welcome in my home anytime.• Share your own raves and rants about other shows on the Reader Cheers & Jeers discussion board.• We may feature your Cheer or Jeer on TVGuide.com or in TV Guide magazine!
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Jerry Bruckheimer is in talks with the National Hockey League about ponying up some $250 million to create a Las Vegas-based franchise, says Variety.... Former James Bond Pierce Brosnan is being investigated for not shaking or stirring but committing battery on a TMZ photographer this past Friday at a Malibu mall. (Funny how the assaulted shutterbugs are never on assignment from Time or Newsweek).... Bonnie Hunt's syndicated talker has been cleared in 55 percent of the country for a fall 2008 launch.... Resurrecting the Champ arrives on DVD Feb. 26.
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Warner Bros. syndicated division has cleared a fall 2008 daytime talker to be hosted by actress-comedian Bonnie Hunt. The Reporter also reports deal extensions for Ellen (through 2011) and Extra (through 2012).... Sci Fi Channel has ordered a third season of Eureka, to launch in summer '08, and a second round of Destination Truth.... Showtime has erected or modified fountains in 14 U.S cities, including in Times Square and Hollywood & Highland, to flow red, promoting the Season 2 premiere of Dexter. The cabler, though, insists the color choice is to match its logo, not to symbolize blood. Uh-huh. Tell it to Doakes.
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Dennis Miller, Joe Mantegna and Lauren Tom have joined Bonnie Hunt's untitled ABC comedy about a divorcée detective.... CBS has picked up You've Reached the Elliotts, Chris Elliott's semiautobiographical comedy about a man juggling a so-so showbiz career and his home life.... John Terry (Jack's dad on Lost) is the latest addition to ABC's Secrets of a Small Town.... Ashley Scott (who was so nasty to Jessica Alba in Into the Blue) has come aboard CBS' Jericho.... Richard Coyle (BBC's Coupling) will play Cryptic Man on CBS' superhero drama, Ultra.
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The latest news from Greenlit Pilot Land: ABC has OK'd Secrets of a Small Town, a sudser about the fallout from the murder of a teenage girl and disappearance of her sister, to be executive-produced in part by Desperate Housewives producer Charles Pratt Jr., as well as a single-camera comedy starring Bonnie Hunt as a divorced detective. Elsewhere, NBC has picked up Lipstick Jungle, Sex and the City creator Candace Bushnell's comedy about a trio of power-hungry NYC ladies.
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