Rosie To Replace Oprah?

The Hollywood Reporter notes that Rosie O'Donnell has signed a deal for a daytime television show that launches upon Oprah Winfrey's retirement in 2011.

O'Donnell, who hosted the syndicated "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" and did a stint on ABC's "The View," has teamed with syndication veterans Dick Robertson and Scott Carlin for another syndicated talk show. The show, hosted by O'Donnell, is eyed for fall 2011 launch, which would coincide with the exit of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." The news was first reported on Showbiz411.com. The show will be produced independently by a company formed by O'Donnell, Robertson and Carlin. The timing of the the new O'Donnell show targeted launch -- fall 2011 -- as well as the caliber of the auspices involved raises the question whether it is targeted as a successor to "Oprah" on the ABC O&O stations.

The show will likely not run on ABC stations, as Oprah does in most markets. Some ABC affiliates have already indicated that they will replace Oprah with local news. Industry pundits predict the show will appear on cable, where Rosie will be freer to air those "controversial views" that ended her own talk show and her stint on The View.