Bill Carter of the NEW YORK TIMES reports today that former ESPN SportsCenter anchor Craig Kilborn has been tapped to host an “early evening” talk show to be syndicated across owned & operated Fox television stations.
(Kilborn’s brand-new, expansive look)
Carter notes the “show is likely to get a trial run on local stations owned by Fox this summer.”
So if you don’t live in a city where there’s one of those 17 Fox O & Os, you’re SOL. (Good Evening, Ocala!)
The show’s producer described the production in memo obtained by Carter as a combination talk show-”nonpolitical ‘Daily Show.’”
Sounds like the same format as Kilborn’s last iteration of the Late Late Show. Standup, chat host and prompter jockey. Though wouldn’t be surprised to see the standup go. It was little more than a formality by the time Kilborn quit CBS in 2004.
More from Carter on the show:
It could potentially be a daytime entry, along the lines of similar syndicated entertainment shows like the one hosted by Ellen DeGeneres.
It’s no secret that Kilborn was forever frustrated hosting the Triple-A late night show on CBS.
Though what was obviously lost on Kilborn at the time was that with his talent, had he focused on his craft and not the fame he didn’t have, he could’ve created a lot more career opps for himself with the nightly platform.
Instead, in ‘04 his ego got the best of him when he quit what is still a reasonably prime gig.
So dude waited six years to be a dinner hour answer to Ellen on 17 Fox stations?
Forget Triple-A. Hello D-League.
5:48 pm on May 5th, 2010
can’t wait to see how his show plays in that Gary market
5:58 pm on May 5th, 2010
please cut “dude” of your vocabulary.
9:00 pm on May 5th, 2010
Love the last two lines of this post. Epic!
12:06 am on May 6th, 2010
but how many people sit in a job in tv or out and phone it in…he didn’t want to do the show… he isn’t first one to blow off a show… that actor did it…kinnear…it worked…people take their shot…but look at conan… tons of money on buyout but now goes to nothing cable network and also bumps a guy a half hour later which is what he told nbc he himself wouldn’t accept… hypocrite not to mention ratings sucked was even losing to letterman whose ratings so poor nightline beat letterman sometimes!
8:34 am on May 6th, 2010
I never thought I’d see an “Ocala” reference on SBB. Marion County represent!
9:55 am on May 6th, 2010
Always been a big fan of Craig but now Im a huge fan.
5:34 pm on May 6th, 2010
Damn, how many times does a guy have to tank on tv before somebody finally gets smart enough to keep him off the air for good.
10:21 am on May 7th, 2010
good luck Craig!
8:08 pm on May 8th, 2010
He has “Total Recall” face now. And I never thought his role in “Old School” was acting; just Craig acting natural.
12:29 pm on May 14th, 2010
To be fair - he didn’t “tank” - he left the two shows he was hosting - his version of the Late Late Show did rather well and he was offered a contract extension but turned it down. I’m glad he’s coming back and I wish the show well. he just needs good writers but he is a strong host.