• by Wayne Friedman , January 30, 2008

Las Vegas, NV -- In one of the few surprises at the National Association of Television Program Executives meeting here, mid-size syndicator Program Partners said it would start up a daytime talk show with Marie Osmond in fall 2009.

Hoping to build on Osmond's recent, high-profile run on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," the syndicator believes that she will add a new wrinkle in targeting daytime women viewers.

Rich Colbert, Program Partners co-partner, called her "one of America's most-beloved talents" and "the voice of American women today" at a press conference. Osmond said she wanted to do the show for women, particularly single moms.

Program Partners had no TV clearances to announce with the show, but said its daily rookie show, "Merv Griffin's Crosswords," has been renewed for a second season, clearing 40 of the top 50 markets.

After she and her brother's successful ABC variety program, "The Donny & Marie Show" in 1976-81, the duo returned to TV syndication in 1998 for two years with the daytime entertainment/talk show "Donny & Marie."

For fall 2008, a handful of first-run shows are expected to be launched: two daytime talk shows--Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution's "The Bonnie Hunt Show" and CBS Television Distribution's "The Doctors"--two game shows, NBC Universal's "Deal or No Deal" and Debmar-Mercury's "Trival Pursuit: America Plays," and two court shows: Sony Pictures Television's "Judge Karen" and Program Partners' "Family Court with Judge Penny."