New talk show on Osmond's dance card
LAS VEGAS (Hollywood Reporter) - Marie Osmond is planning a return to daytime television. The singer-actress, who recently completed a stint on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," has joined forces with distributor Program Partners for an hour-long entertainment/lifestyle talk show targeted to launch in fall 2009.
Osmond, who hosted the late-'90s daytime talk show "Donny & Marie" with her brother, appeared here Tuesday at the National Association of Television Program Executives' 2008 Conference and Exhibition, at the Mandalay Bay Resort, for the surprise announcement. Osmond said the new show, called "Marie," will focus on topics of interest to women.
"It will be a real feel-good show," she said. "I've been through a lot of things in life and have no problem talking about it. Women need a safe place where they can laugh, feel good and relate to (other women)."
Osmond said that she's more than willing to share her own experiences -- losing her house in a fire, succumbing to postpartum depression, going through the adoption process, divorcing and being a single, working mom to eight kids.
Ritch Colbert, who founded Program Partners with Josh Raphaelson, said it's the right time to launch the show.
"She is one of America's most beloved talents, and we believe the time is now for her to literally be the voice of American women today," Colbert said.
Asked whether the show would be targeted toward morning or afternoon time slots, Raphaelson said only, "It'll work; it'll be a winner everywhere."
Osmond said the show's format is still being worked out. As for celebrity guests, Osmond noted that she has a lot of friends in the industry but is interested in focusing on "real women."
It's yet to be determined where the show would shoot, though it likely will be in Los Angeles or Las Vegas. Marie and Donny Osmond are set to perform together for a week in July in Las Vegas at MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre, which has led to speculation that they might set up a permanent show in the city.
As for her brother, Osmond said she enjoys working with him, but "Marie" is going to be very female-centric. The duo had, however, recently been shopping TV projects together, including a syndicated talk show.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
