SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 9, 2000 — The infectious bug that has been plaguing TV series of late — you know, the “I feel that my time with the show is up and I’ve decided to move on” epidemic — has claimed another victim.
The latest casualty is none other than “Veronica’s Closet’s” Kathy Najimy. Trade papers report today that the actress, who plays Olive, Veronica’s (Kirstie Alley) trusted sidekick and confidant, will bid farewell to the NBC comedy at the end of this season.
Najimy tells Variety that her decision to leave the show is based purely on personal reasons. With “Veronica’s Closet” behind, Najimy reportedly plans to spend more time with her 3-year-old daughter, not to mention more of the same said time on a would-be “feature career.”
Of course, the concept of “leaving” “Veronica’s Closet” might become a moot point. The unbeloved comedy series, now in its third season, was already benched once this season by NBC for low ratings. It is currently mired in 85th place among all shows and is considered a long shot for fall renewal.
SUPERHERO SAVES FOX: Patrick Warburton, the guy who played Elaine’s mechanic beau Dave Puddy on “Seinfeld,” will return to the tube in the form of a blue superhero in the Fox comedy pilot “The Tick.”
Once a Saturday morning toon on Fox, “The Tick” follows the adventures of a dim-witted crime fighter and his ex-accountant sidekick as they battle bad guys with names such as Chairface Chippendale, El Seed and Breadmaster.
The new live-action half-hour pilot will be directed by the enthusiastic Barry Sonnenfeld (“Wild Wild West“).
“I’ve been a huge fan of ‘The Tick’ for years,” Sonnenfeld told the Hollywood trade papers. “I like it even more than my 6-year-old daughter. It’s really up my alley. It doesn’t feel like anything on television today.”
(Let us guess — Mr. Sonnenfeld doesn’t have cable.)
Warburton, meanwhile, has handled superhero duties prior to “The Tick.” Dig this, “Seinfeld” fiends, the actor was the voice of Superman in those American Express commercials starring Jerry Seinfeld.
‘LEEZA’ IS DEAD: No, not Leeza Gibbons, but her fast-sinking eponymous talk show. Cause of its likely death? Ultra-bad ratings.
Word on the street is that “Leeza” will not live to see a second season in syndication.
The daytime talk show went through various transformation and network shuffles in its (technically) 7-year history. It was first conceived by NBC in 1993 as “John & Leeza,” the John, of course, being Gibbons‘ “Entertainment Tonight” co-hort John Tesh. The show downsized to simply “Leeza” in 1994 when the above-mentioned Tesh bailed. In September, NBC decided to sell the show to non-NBC outlets, thereby banishing the show to syndication.
“LIP” SERVICE: Oscar- and Emmy-winning director-producer James L. Brooks (“Terms of Endearment,” “As Good As It Gets,” “Jerry Maguire“) is set to endow the tube with a live-action romantic comedy series for ABC.
The comedy, still untitled, will be based on a character from the 1988 radio series “Lip Schtick.” Joan Cusack, whom Brooks collaborated with on the 1987 flick “Broadcast News,” will stake the title role.
Slated for a slot in ABC’s 2000-2001 lineup, the show will mark Cusack‘s prime-time debut and Brook‘s first TV gig since his stint as the executive producer of the animated series “The Critic” in 1994.
RANDOM BITS: NBC has picked up a half-hour comedy pilot starring David Alan Grier (“In Living Color”). Grier is slated to play a Secret Service man in charge of protecting the first lady. …
… CBS has greenlit a Jerry Bruckheimer-produced (“Armageddon,” “Pearl Harbor”) drama pilot for the new fall season. The project is said to be an hour-long drama called “CSI.” Starring William Petersen, the series revolves around forensic crime-scene investigators working in Vegas. …
THE COURT OF POPULAR OPINION: Democracy sometimes flourishes in the most unlikely places, just ask Judge Judy — one of the many, many finalists chosen by TV viewers of America for the 2nd Annual TV Guide Awards.
More than 1.5 million viewers cast ballots to determine nominees in 22 categories. NBC led all networks in mentions with 20 finalists. Winners will be announced March 5 in a Fox broadcast.
Here’s the complete list of the TV Guide Award nominees, as announced today:
GENERAL NOMINEES
Favorite Actor in a New Series David Boreanaz, “Angel” (WB) Billy Campbell, “Once and Again” (ABC) Dan Futterman, “Judging Amy” (CBS) Martin Sheen, “The West Wing” (NBC)
Favorite Actress in a New Series Amy Brenneman, “Judging Amy” (CBS) Tyne Daly, “Judging Amy” (CBS) Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC) Sela Ward, “Once and Again” (ABC)
Favorite Actor in a Comedy Bill Cosby, “Cosby” (CBS) Michael J. Fox, “Spin City” (ABC) David Hyde Pierce, “Frasier” (NBC) Ray Romano, “Everybody Loves Raymond” (CBS)
Favorite Actress in a Comedy Jenna Elfman, “Dharma & Greg” (ABC) Calista Flockhart, “Ally McBeal” (FOX) Lisa Kudrow, “Friends” (NBC) Phylicia Rashad, “Cosby” (CBS)
Favorite Actor in a Drama David Duchovny, “The X-Files” (FOX) David James Elliott, “JAG” (CBS) Dennis Franz, “NYPD Blue” (ABC) Sam Waterston, “Law & Order” (NBC)
Favorite Actress in a Drama Gillian Anderson, “The X-Files” (FOX) Roma Downey, “Touched by an Angel” (CBS) Melina Kanakaredes, “Providence” (NBC) Julianna Margulies, “ER” (NBC)
Favorite New Series “Judging Amy” (CBS) “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (NBC) “Once and Again” (ABC) “The West Wing” (NBC)
Favorite Comedy Series “Ally McBeal” (FOX) “Everybody Loves Raymond” (CBS) “Frasier” (NBC) “Friends” (NBC)
Favorite Drama Series “ER” (NBC) “Providence” (NBC) “The Practice” (ABC) “Touched by an Angel” (CBS)
Favorite Soap Opera “All My Children” (ABC) “Days of Our Lives” (NBC) “General Hospital” (ABC) “The Young and the Restless” (CBS)
Favorite Sportscaster Terry Bradshaw (FOX) Bob Costas (NBC) Howie Long (FOX) John Madden (FOX)
Favorite Daytime Talk Show “Judge Judy” (Syndicated) “Live With Regis and Kathie Lee” (Syndicated) “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (Syndicated) “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” (Syndicated)
Favorite Game Show “Hollywood Squares” (Syndicated) “Jeopardy!” (Syndicated) “Wheel of Fortune” (Syndicated) “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” (ABC)
Favorite News Personality Tom Brokaw (NBC) Katie Couric (NBC) Peter Jennings (ABC) Matt Lauer (NBC)
Favorite Late Night Show “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS) “Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher” (ABC) “Saturday Night Live” (NBC) “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC)
ONLINE NOMINEES Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (WB) “Charmed” (WB) “The X-Files” (FOX)
Favorite Reality TV “Biography” (A&E) “Behind the Music” (VH1) “The Real World” (MTV)
Favorite TV Pet Eddie, “Frasier” (NBC) Happy, “7th Heaven” (WB) Salem, “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” (ABC)
Favorite TV Movie or Miniseries “Annie” (ABC) “Joan of Arc” (NBC) “Tuesdays with Morrie” (ABC)
Favorite News Program “Dateline NBC” (NBC) “Entertainment Tonight” (Syndicated) “20/20” (ABC)
Favorite Music Show “Behind the Music” (VH1) “Total Request Live” (MTV) “Pop-Up Video” (VH1)
Favorite Children’s Show “Blue’s Clues” (Nickelodeon) “Rugrats” (Nickelodeon) “Sesame Street” (PBS)
AOL KEYWORD: TV GUIDE EXCLUSIVE CATEGORY
Favorite Teen Show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (WB) “Dawson’s Creek” (WB) “Popular” (WB)
