'Dr. Laura' is in already for fall 2000

Strip cleared for several markets

By CHRIS PURSELL

With syndicators keeping their cards close to their chest for fall 2000 as they watch for weaknesses in current lineups, Paramount already has cleared the upcoming "Dr. Laura" in 19 of the top 25 markets as an hourlong strip next year, including at KCBS in Los Angeles.

Paramount sold the strip to stations in a variety of broadcast groups, including Scripps-Howard, Post-Newsweek, Belo, Gannett, CBS and Fox. Among the stations signing on to the two-year deal were: KPIX in San Francisco, WCVB in Boston, WXYZ in Detroit, WAGA in Atlanta, KPRC in Houston, and KING in Seattle.

The program is expected to be formatted similarly to the syndicated radio program of outspoken radio personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger, whose show is heard five days a week nationally.

"There's been a dearth of nothing out there that's ready for fall 2000. Normally, we'd be in the middle of the hunt right now," said John Nogawski, prexy of distribution at Paramount Domestic TV, on selling the show. "But we're getting orders for 'Dr. Laura' all over the place and it's caused more than a few bidding wars."

KCBS now will be able to pair "Dr. Laura" with the recently acquired "Judge Judy," a duo with more than a few similarities, according to Nogawski.

"Both of them have such a following. Dr. Laura is so well-known for her preaching, teaching and nagging, and 'Judge Judy' stands for right and wrong. Viewers are looking for somebody to make a stand," he said.

Gotham stations are still in the process of bidding on the show with CBS, NBC, Fox, Tribune and Chris-Craft all duking it out for rights to carry the program.

The only other major syndie show to announce clearances thus far has been Tribune's weekly sci-fi series "Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda," with Kevin Sorbo.