Leeza ‘Extra’ special
Now that Leeza Gibbons has been named host of “Extra,” replacing Maureen O’Boyle this fall, the real story can be told.
Gibbons accepted the job in principle last Wednesday, and was about to sign when negotiations hit a snag. The deal was off for a day – before Gibbons and TelePictures president Jim Paratore finally ironed out the details.
“Extra” is expected to revamp its format this fall under new senior executive producer and ex-Ch. 5 newsie Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey and executive producers Neal Freundlich and Steve Longo, formerly of “America’s Most Wanted.”
Before she inked the multi-year deal, Gibbons was being wooed by “Entertainment Tonight,” CBS and VH1 for a variety of projects.
Her production company, Leeza Gibbons Enterprises, now moves from Paramount to TelePictures. Gibbons is executive-producing a talk show for Delta Burke which could air this fall on Lifetime and is also developing MTV’s “Teen Court.”
Todd zeal on CNBC
He’s rocker Todd Rundgren – and he hates one specific part of the Internet.
Rundgren, founder of rock group Utopia, will visit CNBC’s “Power Lunch” on Wednesday (noon-2 p.m.) to sing his new song, “I Hate My Fricking ISP [Internet Service Provider].”
Rundgren will chat with Bill Griffeth about his online subscription service, PatroNet, and will be joined by the original drummer for Utopia, who’s among these five “Power Lunch” guests on Wednesday:
John Busey from The Wall Street Journal; CNBC on-air editor Bob Pisani; financial planner Kevin Ellman; venture capitalist Bill Strensrud; and energy analyst Bob Christensen.
Marash makes move
Veteran “Nightline” correspondent Dave Marash is headed back to New York, where he worked in the ’70s and ’80s as a reporter/anchor at Ch. 2 and Ch. 4.
Marash, who was based in Washington, begins his New York-based “Nightline” work today.
He’s back here to join his wife, Kerry Marash, ABC’s Vice President of Editorial Quality, who was promoted to the Manhattan-based position at ABC.
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