Of Paramount import
Insiders at Paramount are buzzing that “Real TV” host John Daly is about to be replaced – perhaps by NBC Sports commentator Ahmad Rashad.
Ratings, the usual culprit, don’t seem to be the reason here. Paramount suits are said to want a host with a more recognizable name – hence the popular Rashad.
Paramount officials had no comment.
“Real TV” airs 2:30 p.m. on Ch. 11.
Detecting resentment
Departing “NYPD Blue” star Andrea Thompson (Det. Kirkendall) announced several weeks ago that she’s leaving the ABC cop drama to become an on-air news anchor at KRQE in Albuquerque, N.M. for three months. She has absolutely no broadcasting experience.
The industry website tvspy.com has now been deluged with comments about Thompson posted on its “Water Cooler” bulletin board.
Some samples:
“She has no experience (except kissing Rick Schroder) plus she doesn’t even have a college degree!”
“Who cares? You all know that if it was you, it would be cool. Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”
“I have friends at that station, shaking in their boots wondering if the movie star is their replacement.”
Paying their Bill
Food Network host Bill Boggs takes a different tack this Sunday at 9 p.m. with “Bill Boggs Corner Table – Talkies,” a compilation of his sitdowns with talk show hosts Meredith Vieira, Jenny Jones, Donny and Marie Osmond and Maury Povich.
“We’ve got Meredith over at Patsy’s, where she talks about the eating habits of her ‘View’ co-hosts,” says Boggs. “And we’re in Chicago with Jenny Jones at Papagus, a Greek restaurant. She talks about how she’s reinvented herself.
“I ate with Donny and Marie at the Sea Grill in Rockefeller Center; Marie says that Donny can fix anything, but can’t even cook a hard-boiled egg!”
Boggs also takes Povich to Ernie’s on the Upper West Side.
“Maury’s a former short-order cook -and we got him back behind the stove for the first time in about 35 years,” Boggs says.
Rudy’s brave battle
Jane Pauley has an exclusive sitdown interview with H.I.V. positive figure skater Rudy Galindo on tonight’s “Dateline” (9 p.m. on Ch. 4).
Galindo – whose brother and two ex-coaches died of AIDS – says he’s coping with the diagnosis.
“The bottom line is that I’m a survivor,” he says. “I’m going to keep the faith and I’m going to make it.”