TV SATIRE 'Primetime' planning light-hearted segment

The show soon will end with a spinoff of the 1960s' 'TW3.'
By GAIL SHISTER
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
"That Was the Week That Was," the saber-toothed political satire series whose short life ended in 1965, is being resurrected by new "Primetime" czarina Shelley Ross.
In a move sure to delight boomers, "The Week" will be the closing segment every week when the Thursday newsmag relaunches this fall as "Primetime Live," with Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson.
For those younger than 50 (sigh): The BBC-inspired "TW3," as it was affectionately known, aired on NBC from January '64 to May '65.
Each week, a stellar cast that included David Frost, Alan Alda, Buck Henry and Phyllis Newman eviscerated politicians, pop culture, even religion. Nancy Ames sang the opening and closing original numbers.
Ross' adaptation
Ross is looking for a singer and several "news readers" for the topical "Primetime" segments. They'll go 90 seconds to two minutes.
"Everything is fair game, including us," says Ross, 51, who returned to "Primetime" in April after five years at the helm of "Good Morning America." She was "Primetime's" executive producer from '89 to '99.
"We'll be dealing with political issues, media, entertainment, pop culture. We could do anything within the bounds of good taste. No one is safe."
Ross salivates at the "wonderful canvas" of potential targets. A few recent examples of what would make the cut: George Tenet resigns as CIA director; J. Lo gets married yet again; Madonna wants to be called Esther.
Ross says "Primetime's" "TW3" segments will be funny -- "a bit of jalape & ntilde;o pepper with a twist" -- but not as "sharp and biting" as Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central or "Saturday Night Live's" "Weekend Update," with Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon.
Echoes of the past
If "Week" hits, Ross envisions guest singers or celebs popping up for cameos. "Everybody remembers Richard Nixon on "Laugh-In" (1968 to '73) coming up with a line." (The line was a solemn, "Sock it to me." You had to be there.)
Ross remembers being riveted by "The Week That Was" as a youngster. The theme song "never left my head."
"It had such a hook, a melody. Sometimes when there's a big news event, like the O.J. verdict, I sing the song to myself for some odd reason."
There's no rational explanation for how Ross came up with the "Primetime" hook, she says, preferring to credit the brainstorm to "a visit from the muse." (Give her our address, will ya?)
With all the criticism of newsmagazines as too soft, will "TW3" present a credibility problem for "Primetime?" No way, Ross says. It's more like a little cookie at the end of a robust, nutritious meal.
Besides, "Does Andy Rooney hurt the credibility of (CBS's) '60 Minutes?' Nobody ever criticizes him when he comes on at the end and says, 'Why do people always buy me brown ties for Christmas? I hate brown ties.'"