Photo: Jordan Strauss/WireImage
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 2:30 PM ET | By Scotty Gore
(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the Alphabet network is currently in the planning stages for a new daytime talk show featuring Tori Spelling.
Apparently not learning from the Aisha Tyler fiasco last year, ABC is said to be “in the very early stages of development, would feature Spelling and a male co-host who would basically serve as Spelling’s best friend forever. The network is looking for a ‘Will & Grace’ vibe between Spelling and her as-yet-undiscovered BFF.”
Spelling, the daughter of legendary television producer Aaron Spelling, stars in the the Oxygen reality show “Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood,” alongside her husband Dean McDermott. The show is currently in its fifth season. She became a household name after being cast as Donna Martin in the ’90s primetime drama “Beverly Hills 90210.”
As for a potential time slot for the new talk show, should it eventually make it to air, there could be as many as three possibilities. Since the network already broadcast three hour long daytime dramas, along with “The View,” the network could ask their local affiliates across the country to give up an extra hour of programming, possibly in the late afternoon, where many ABC stations presently air “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” But with Winfrey ending her daytime chat fest in September of 2011, the majority of ABC affiliates, even those owned by the network itself, may be reluctant to hand over that hour, since many have already announced plans to use the extra hour to expand their local newscasts.
Or ABC may opt to shop the show around to cable outlets or try to syndicate it to local stations. Lastly, they could cancel one of their three soaps (“All My Children,” “General Hospital,” or “One Life to Live”) in order to make room on their daytime line-up.
But soap fans shouldn’t panic, at least yet anyway. Even if the show survives the planning stages, there is no guarantee that it would make it out off the ground. A year ago, ABC dropped plans to continue with a proposed Aisha Tyler talk show after an un-aired pilot tested poorly when screened for focus groups.
“All My Children,” “General Hospital,” and “One Life to Live” air Weekdays on ABC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Anytime on ABC.com and SOAPnet.com. Check local listings.