TV Bulletin Board (Fri., Oct. 14) -- ABC sacks Charlie's Angels; NBC signs Ted Koppel
10/14/11 15:57
By ED BARK
Two ABC icons have new digs, although Charlie's Angels' relocation will be six feet under.
The network is canceling its Angels reboot after four episodes, although the remaining few completed hours will be burned off until the network officially announces a replacement for the Thursday 7 p.m. (central) slot. Dismal ratings doomed the new version after just four airings. The original Charlie's Angels ran from 1976-'81 on ABC.
Meanwhile, former ABC News mainstay Ted Koppel will be joining NBC's new Rock Center with Brian Williams, where he'll be a special correspondent.
"My goal has been to make Rock Center the Cooperstown of our craft," Williams said in a publicity release. "Ted is a consensus Hall of Famer . . . and it's an enormous honor to work with this giant and former competitor."
Koppel, 71, anchored ABC's Nightline for a quarter-century before leaving the landmark program in November 2005. He then reported a series of documentaries for The Discovery Channel before the two parted ways in 2008. Nightline since has been prospering in the late night ratings with a notably lighter format in which gossipy entertainment and lifestyle stories have taken on an increasingly visible role.
Rock Center, scheduled to premiere on Halloween night in place of NBC's canceled The Playboy Club, also has former CBS News anchor-reporter Harry Smith as one of its regular correspondents.