O'Donnell to revive the variety show (VAR, THR)

By Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte

Rosie O�Donnell is set to host a variety revival show from NBC. The star will return to TV with �Rosie�s Variety Hour,� an hour-long live special from NY the night before Thanksgiving. Should the show pick up traction with viewers, there are plans to expand to a full-series order.

The special will feature celebrity guests, musical acts, comedy skits and a prize giveaway for the in-studio and home audiences. A repertory cast will also likely populate the show�s sketches, and a house band is being considered.

David Friedman will executive produce along with O'Donnell.

The show's Nov. 26 premiere will trump Fox's upcoming Osbourne family variety show, which is expected to debut in the winter or spring, notes The Hollywood Reporter.

"This will reinvent the idea of what a variety show is for 2008," NBC vp alternative Craig Plestis said. "There's very few performers willing to put themselves out there live. It makes it more TiVo-proof, and it's something none of the cable networks can do."

Such classic variety titles as "The Carol Burnett Show" and "The Ed Sullivan Show" were massive primetime hits and producers and networks have been trying to figure out how to revive the variety show for decades.

The closest modern variation of the variety show that has been a significant draw is NBC's "America's Got Talent."

O�Donnell�s last regular TV gig was as a moderator during the 10th season of �The View.� Previously, she her "Rosie O'Donnell Show" was a daytime syndicated hit for five years. She has also appeared in recurring roles on "Nip/Tuck" and was featured on Showtime's "Queer as Folk."