Rosie Launches Variety Show

Rosie O'Donnell is trying to bring back the variety show, starting with a special on the night before Thanksgiving.

NBC will air "Rosie's Variety Show" as an hourlong live special the night before Thanksgiving, with an eye toward expansion to a full series order should viewers embrace the project. The special will feature celebrity guests, musical acts, comedy skits and a prize giveaway for the show's in-studio and home audiences. David Friedman ("Last Call With Carson Daly") has been tapped to executive produce along with O'Donnell.

The show's Nov. 26 premiere date manages to trump Fox's upcoming Osbourne family variety show, which is expected to debut in the winter or spring. For NBC, the project's live aspect is of particular interest, both as a way of distinguishing the product from competitors and to discourage viewers from time-shifting the show. NBC has aired "America's Got Talent" results shows live this year and plans a quartet of "Saturday Night Live" primetime specials.

I still wish she'd come back to The View.