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+---- Thread: Howard Dean getting syndicated TV talk show (/thread-218181.html)
- 1125 - 04-30-2004 08:28 AM
Dr. Phil could soon be sharing the Paramount lot with another doc: Howard Dean.
While everything's still in the early talking stages, the former Democratic presidential candidate is mulling the idea of hosting his own syndicated gabfest. He's hooked up with ex-Big Ticket TV topper Larry Lyttle ("Judge Judy") and longtime political consultant Gerald Rafshoon, who would likely serve as exec producers of a pilot for any such project.
Dean is in Hollywood this week, and he's taking meetings with execs at Viacom-owned Paramount Domestic Television. Lyttle is still based on the Par lot, and he's helping Dean make the connection with the studio.
Lyttle spent much of last year working as a consultant for another former presidential candidate, Joe Lieberman. He and Rafshoon are also in talks with several other Washington insiders about opening a bicoastal political consulting group; company will likely have a media unit that would produce a few projects per year.
Dean has flirted with TV before, and insiders said the ex-Vermont governor received at least one substantial offer to host his own talkshow for a cable news net.
But Dean seems interested in going in a completely different direction.
"The last thing we're going to talk about is politics," Lyttle said. "We'd talk about a myriad of other things instead of politics."
Dean's skein would likely have more in common with the talkshow Bill Clinton had been considering a few years back.
"He'd look at things like, What happens if you lose a sibling? What about when you're victimized by not having health care?" Lyttle said, arguing that Dean has the perfect persona for the small screen.
"He's a little bit of Howard Beale, a little Dr. Phil and a little Donahue all rolled into one," he said. "What was so appealing to me is the fact that he's not afraid to express an opinion."
Lyttle certainly has a track record for spotting talent and launching syndie successes.
His decision to gamble on "Judge Judy" resulted in one of the few game-changing syndie skeins of the 1990s. Lyttle also put together "Judge Joe Brown" and was instrumental in casting Mo'Nique in "The Parkers."
<a href='http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1943&u=/variety/20040429/va_mi/dean_preps_for_talkshow_04_292004_1&printer=1' target='_blank'>http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=...004_1&printer=1</a>