Clinton talk-show talks continue
By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/22/2002 11:00:00 AM
Will he? Won't he? And if he does, will anybody watch?
The word is out that former President Bill Clinton is in talks to become the host of his own talk show, according to The New York Times.
The difference this time around is that CBS is doing the talking.
Over the spring and summer, Clinton had been talking with NBC, but those talks fell apart in July.
The common factor, the Times reported, is Dennis Swanson, who quit his post as president and general manager of WNBC-TV in New York in July and now heads up CBS' owned-TV-station group.
Reports said Clinton wants an annual salary somewhere between $30 million and $50 million, which is significantly more than, say, the president of the United States earns, but less than what Oprah Winfrey makes off her nationally syndicated talker.
Still, Clinton's potential salary is one of the sticking points to actually getting a project off the ground. Clinton is said to be reluctant to commit himself to the grind of a daily strip unless the terms are right.
CBS and Swanson each declined to comment.
Ellen at Eleven
09/02/2007Oprah to Leave Syndication in 2011
11/19/2009Stars shine at Hall of Fame induction
11/11/2002Karpowicz Is B&C’s Broadcaster of the Year
01/05/2008Viacom Group names new program execs
04/04/2003
