NBC, digging Spade, ‘Just’ adds more
David Spade has two reasons to smile: Not only is his new movie, “Joe Dirt,” opening, but NBC has renewed his sitcom, “Just Shoot Me,” for an additional two seasons, ensuring a seven-season survival rate.
The Thursday-night sitcom, which debuted in March 1997, has just notched its best numbers in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic – and is up 87 percent in this demo compared to its average last season, when “Shoot” aired on Tuesday night.
It has also retained 91 percent of its “Will & Grace” lead-in with co-stars Spade, Laura San Giacomo, George Segal, Enrico Colantoni and Wendie Malick.
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Sally in ‘Danger’ zone in ongoing series
Sally Jessy Raphael is getting results from her ongoing “Kids in Danger” series investigating school bullying – a growing problem that’s been the cause of several school shootings.
The series continues today (3 p.m./Ch. 4) with the mother of one of the victims of the Paducah, KY, shooting – who saw the first “Sally” school-shooting show on Feb. 26 and e-mailed Raphael. She tells of trying to cope with her daughter’s death.
Another couple who appeared on that Feb. 26 show told of how their 13-year-old son was bullied (stabbed with a pencil). On a “Sally” show taping today (for later airing), they say that after that show aired, the school superintendent transferred their son to a safer environment.
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Franklin mints plans for ‘storied’ b’cast
Richie Ornstein reports that Joe Franklin plans to broadcast one of his WOR (710 AM) Saturday-night shows “within the next few weeks” from the five-story caricature of himself on 46th and Broadway promoting Joe Franklin’s Memory Lane restaurant.
Franklin, by the way, will be hosting the 33rd Annual awards/dinner dance of the Institutes of Applied Human Dynamics, a charity helping handicapped children.
Ch. 4’s Gabe Pressman is this year’s honorary chairman for the event, unfolding May 4 at Chelsea Piers.
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This just in . . .
* Maury Povich and Connie Chung on tonight’s “Larry King Live” (9-10 p.m. on CNN).
* “Everybody Loves Raymond” co-star Doris Roberts at Le Taxi – turning down a birthday cake with candles. Why? “I don’t want everyone to know my age,” she joked.
* “Family Feud” up a whopping 84 percent over its season premiere.
* Talk-show teasers: It’s “Auto Show Preview Week” on “Live with Regis & Kelly” (9 a.m./Ch. 7); “Queen Latifah” moves to 9 a.m. (Ch. 5) today.
* Father Paul Keenan (WOR’s “As You Think,” WABC-AM’s “Religion on the Line”) has an eBook, “Wishes With Legs” (ipublish.com) on April 15.