Talk Show Talk

Couric, Lake, Probst. Source: The Hollywood Reporter.

My friend Jeff Probst debuts his talk show today! As does my friend Katie Couric! As does my colleague Ricki Lake!

(According to Dobson's Rules of Order, since I interviewed Probst once, I can call him my friend. Ditto for Couric, whom I've also interviewed. And Lake works in TV... Dobson works in TV... therefore, we're totally colleagues! Right?)

Since all my friends* are getting shows, I think it's safe to assume a televised version of The Jill Dobson Show is right around the corner. Goodness, I'd better find daycare for baby Shane! And a cute series premiere outfit! And... hmmm, that's it! I'm otherwise totally ready for this! 

Until I get in front of the cameras for The Jill Dobson Show, I'll enjoy some airtime at HLN's Showbiz Tonight, where I'm discussing Katie & Co. and other showbiz matters... tonight! Please tune in and join the fun!

*Please refer to paragraph two, Dobson's Rules of Order, for substantiation. 
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Follow Jill on Twitter: @JillDobson
Or at www.Pinterest.com/JillDobson
Or at www.Facebook.com/JillDobson

Talk Show Hopeful: My Greatest Regret

Photo source: USA Today

My greatest regret in life? I didn't start regularly watching Today with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb until last month. I've been missing so much. Great co-host chemistry! Cute kids doing a mini The Voice! Wine at 10am! 
When The Jill Dobson Show takes off you can bet we'll have at least 2 out of 3. (Sorry, The Voice.)
I'm going to be a guest on Red Eye on Fox News Channel overnight tonight (3-4amET) and I fully plan to give a shout-out to my two new best friends. 
I hope we can remain best friends when my dream show hits the airwaves. KLG and HK, let's remember the wise words of morning show veteran Diane Sawyer:
Competition is easier to accept if you realize it is not an act of oppression or abrasion. I've worked with some of my best friends in direct competition.
If Diane and Katie* can make it, we can too!


*We all agree Diane was talking about Katie Couric, right?

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Follow Jill on Twitter: @JillDobson
Or at www.Pinterest.com/JillDobson
Or at www.Facebook.com/JillDobson

An Open Letter to Regis Philbin

Mary Ann Dobson, Kelly Ripa, Steve Dobson and
Best Friends Forever Regis Philbin and Jill Dobson
August 2010

Dear Regis, 

I just watched Katie Couric's special, Regis Philbin: The Morning Maestro. The interview, and the fact that your final day on Live with Regis and Kelly is upon us, has me in tears.

Perhaps that's not saying much -- as a sleep-deprived new mom I'm always on the brink of an emotional breakdown. But I think this time the tears are because I don't yet know where I can see more of you. Until you announce your next project, viewers like me are left in a Regis-free limbo, and we're not happy about it. What's next -- will Oprah retire from her talk show?! 

Look, Reege, my newborn son is wonderful, but I need adult companionship, too. And who wants to go out in the rain and interact with actual people when I can laugh along with my TV friends from the comfort of my living room? That's why I need you to announce your next talk-show endeavor as soon as possible.

Also, please remember that, thanks to our mutual friend, Hollywood Super Agent Jim Ornstein, you and I have met several times. Once, when I was in the audience of Live, you even called me funny... in front of millions of TV viewers. It was one of my greatest moments ever. In case I haven't mentioned it, I think you're funny, too.

So, please, for the sake of all your fans, head on over to NBC or Nick at Nite or NFL Network or wherever you'd like, right now! And get a great sidekick. We viewers want to see you paired with a fun, blonde new mom who cracks you up. Got any ideas?

Until we meet again... Godspeed, Reege. Godspeed.

Sincerely,

Jill Dobson

Host Chat: Lunching with Couric

Welcome to another edition of Host Chat.  Just as Regis shares exciting stories from his life each morning, I share my latest tales of hobnobbing, hijinks, and more often than not, humiliation!

Scores* of my Twitter friends** have been asking me, "Why haven't you posted any new Jill Dobson Show things?  I like reading those."  The answer, friends, is that I've been busy lunching... with Katie Couric.  Kinda.
Earlier this week, I met up with my friend Elise for an early al fresco lunch at a place called Rosa Mexicano.  Our outdoor seats granted me the perfect view of every customer entering the restaurant.  As our iced tea arrived, I whispered to Elise, "Robin Roberts is walking up right behind you."  Over guacamole, I said, "Here comes Katie Couric."  As the waiter dropped off my enchiladas*** I told Elise, "Elizabeth Vargas and Chris Cuomo approaching."  To which she replied, "And there's George Stephanopoulos!"
Normally, I'm not one to drop names, but apparently this was a newsworthy event, since it was reported by esteemed sites including the Huffington Post.  TV Newser also picked up the story, and that site always gets its facts right, even when reporting on the mysterious comings-and-goings of TV's Jill Dobson.  So I knew this was something I should share with The Jill Dobson Show audience.
Here's the deal: I presume the lunch was to discuss Katie's upcoming role at ABC, since TV Newser reports that in addition to all the ABC on-air talent I spotted, behind-the-scenes talent like ABC News President Ben Sherwood was there as well.
We've all heard Couric is gearing up to host a talk show on the network, so maybe I should've approached the table, regaled them with hilarious anecdotes about my life as a reporter, and suggested Couric consider a The View-like format for her show, with Jill Dobson in the "fashionable young blonde mom" role (aka the "Elisabeth Hasselbeck sans strong political stances" role).
The problem, unfortunately, was fashion.  My lunch with Elise was an impromptu one, planned on the fly as I walked home from yoga class.  With my sweaty glowing face, bedraggled tousled ponytail, and too-tight fitted yoga wear, the very nicest thing you could say about my look was that perhaps I was channeling the 1990s heroin chic trend.  And probably the very last thing you would say about my look was that it screamed, "I'm a TV star!"  So I wimped out, avoided eye contact with Katie & Company, and possibly missed my big break.  Sigh.
The moral of the story?  Never go to yoga class.  Perhaps it's this: Always look like a TV star.  Kim Kardashian manages to work it every single day in full hair and makeup, sky-high heels, and the perfect designer bag.  I just need to try a little (OK, a lot harder).  But I also love casual Fridays (and Tuesdays, and Wednesdays)... don't you?
So that's what I'm wrestling with here -- whether to keep being glamorous my usual 10% of the time, or try to bring on the glamour 100% of the time. Quite a quandary.  For now, though, I'll have to table the discussion, because it's time to pull my tangled hair into a ponytail and head to yoga class!


*OK, one Twitter friend asked that question.  Thanks, @romanov_76_110!
**Notice how I don't call y'all "followers," I call you friends?  Doesn't that warm your heart and make you want to reach out to Disney chief Bob Iger and ABC News president Ben Sherwood and request they give good old Jilly Dee a talk show gig?
***I mean, er, green salad, no dressing.  Gotta keep fit because "the camera adds 10 pounds," you know.

An Open Letter to Katie Couric

Couric on The View.  Please make room on your couch for me!

In my open letter to Katie Couric (below), I ask her to make room for me on her upcoming talk show. After all, we have plenty in common:

• I've been on the Today Show (sharing entertainment scoop)
• I've worked for CBS News (as an Early Show Entertainment Contributor, and as a news reporter at CBS affiliates)
• I believe "there are a lot of smart people... craving smart conversation" who would watch a thoughtful, yet fun, talk show

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Dear Katie, I once interviewed you on the red pink carpet at the premiere of the Sex and the City movie.  I was the one with a FOX mic, a fuchsia dress and a big smile.  Remember me?  I looked just like this:

Our interview was brief, but upbeat, as you told cameraman Tommy Chiu and me that you loved the Sex and the City series, and couldn't wait to see the movie.  You and I hit it off, and I'm sure our great rapport would continue on the set of your upcoming talk show. Perhaps you're considering a The View-like panel for your talk show?  If so, maybe this soon-to-be Mom... from the Midwest... would appeal to the viewers at home. 
Or maybe you want someone to spearhead occasional makeover segments, like Lawrence Zarian does on Live with Regis and Kelly -- I could do that!  I lovvvve a good makeover, and I know just the experts to round up for the job!  (Off the top of my head, these pals come to mind... Makeup: Kristofer Buckle, Hair: Oscar Blandi, Wardrobe: Hitha Prabhakar). 
If you want to include fun celebrity scoop, I could dish with you, like my friend Dawn Yanek does on The Wendy Williams Show.  I know, I know, you want to talk about intelligent topics, but there's nothing wrong with a fun Hollywood roundup on the occasional Friday, is there? Ask your partner-in-talk Jeff Zucker.  I'll bet he'll agree with me.  As you've said, Zucker "knows the sweet spot of when people are talking about a particular subject."  And sometimes that subject is Angelina Jolie.  I'm just sayin'. * 
I've been working toward this dream for a very long time, and I'd play any role on your show.  I'll be the Lisa Ling to your Oprah, the Gretta to your Rachael, or, if comes down to it, I'll make fool of myself for you, on TV and at the local Starbucks, just like Dennis Quaid on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.  If you haven't seen this video yet, Katie, you must watch it now!  As you watch, remember, I'm happy to be the Quaid to your DeGeneres.  And if that isn't dedication, I don't know what is!
Thanks for your consideration... my agent awaits your call!
Sincerely,
Jill Dobson a.k.a. The Dobson to your Couric


Don't forget, Jolie was your co-star in the 2004 film Shark Tale.  You're not going to forget the "little people," like Angelina, now that you're a big talk show host... right?