Changes in store for ‘Lopez Tonight’

Image Credit: Gavin Bond/TBSThe much-anticipated debut of Conan O’Brien’s talk show Conan Nov. 8 on TBS will give George Lopez the rare opportunity to relaunch his year-old TBS talk show, Lopez Tonight, in a new midnight time slot. This season, Lopez has been in 21st place among basic-cable shows, averaging 864,000 people ages 18–49, behind 11 p.m. competitors like Family Guy reruns (1.5 million), Law & Order: SVU repeats (929,000), and The Daily Show (917,000). Now executive-produced by late-night guru Robert Morton (Late Show With David Letterman), Lopez Tonight will follow O’Brien’s production schedule—four days a week, up from three. And just like O’Brien and the other late-night hosts, Lopez will start performing live to tape.

Previously Lopez would spin his wheels in front of cameras for two and a half hours before his show was edited for broadcast. “I’m a big believer in old-school training,” Morton tells EW. “We have to make it feel like it’s happening now, live. It has to have that pace.”

Other tweaks that Morton says are in store for the show include moving the taping from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. each day to attract “better audiences” looking for that “night-out experience,” along with a new set that will separate Lopez’s desk from the performing area (“Viewers like to know the geography of a show”). Look for more conceptual funny pieces and remote packages, Morton promises, and shorter interviews. “These guys just needed liberation,” explains Morton. “I told George not to sell the comedy card too hard. He should feel free to write anything. Conan’s taking chances, so he should follow that lead.”

Lopez’s relaunch-week guests include Denzel Washington, Hilary Duff, and Bret Michaels.

For now, TBS is keeping mum about what type of ratings it hopes O’Brien’s new show will average or whether Conan is expected to eclipse The Daily Show at 11 p.m. “We expect him to be competitive,” says Michael Wright, head of programming for TBS. But Wright has no doubt that O’Brien will have an immediate impact on TBS’ existing late-night franchise. “George has done an admirable job developing a brand-new show from scratch with four different lead-ins on four different nights,” says Wright. “Audience flow is crucial. We expect Conan to be a win-win for George.”

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Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin's clothing store break-in gives them good PR - SheKnows.com

Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna, along with the rest of America, learned of a break-in at the clothing store live on national television. Could this actually help their careers?

Husband and wife actors Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna had their Sherman Oaks, Calif. clothing store burglarized this morning -- and Today Show viewers were there to hear the drama unfolding.

Hamlin and Rinna were on the show to discuss their new books, reality show and plastic surgery when Hamlin told hosts Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb that he needed to take a call because their stores was hit by robbers.

"The store is being robbed?" Hamlin asked the caller about their store, Belle Gray. "They take much? They took piles from the first two racks, yes?"

An annoyed Hamlin later told the hosts that Belle Gray was robbed on two previous occasions. "That's real life!" a surprised Rinna told Gifford and Kotb.

The unfortunate break-in is definitely a public relations coup for the C-list couple, especially with two books and a reality show to promote. Honestly, who would pay attention otherwise? They haven't acted in a hit show or movie in years, and Rinna is known more for her botched plastic surgeries than her acting ability. Now they're receiving media coverage all over the web and TV -- you can't buy that kind of PR!

So, it's safe to say the robbers gave Rinna and Hamlin much more than they took. In fact, we think Rinna and Hamlin should shake the perps' hands if they're ever caught.

OK. OK. No, robbery is never a good thing, but in the short run it's helping their careers.

The world is a funny place sometimes, isn't it?

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