‘John’ gets canned

‘John’ gets canned

LOS ANGELES — “John From Cincinnati” has caught its last wave on HBO. The surfer drama that aired its season finale this week will not return for a second run, the premium cable channel said Tuesday. The move represents a rare cancellation by HBO of an hourlong drama after its freshman season and a misfire as the channel tries to build its post-“The Sopranos” schedule. “John From Cincinnati,” which blended family drama with the metaphysical, earned mixed reviews and failed to spark audience interest.

Kathie Lee to visit

NEW YORK — Kathie Lee Gifford will drop by “Live With Regis and Kelly” to celebrate the daytime talk show’s 20th anniversary. Gifford, who left as co-host in 2000, is slated to appear Sept. 14, when Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa take a look back at the show’s most memorable moments. Ripa joined the show as co-host in 2001. “Live” will celebrate its 20th season in national syndication with two weeks of on-air festivities starting Sept. 3 and ending with Gifford’s guest appearance.

Osmonds reunion show

LAS VEGAS — They’re still a little bit country, a little bit rock ’n roll — just a lot older. The Osmond Brothers, joined by siblings Donny, Marie and Jimmy, took the stage this week to tape a 50th anniversary reunion show to be aired on PBS next year. A meeting of no less than seven singing Osmonds onstage hadn’t happened in more than 20 years, the siblings say, although no one seems to remember the exact date of the last full family concert. That’s likely because some combination of the clan is perpetually performing. “We do over 200 shows a year,” Wayne Osmond told The Associated Press Tuesday before the second night of taping for the TV special, “Still.” The PBS concert celebrates the anniversary of the Osmond family’s original foray into show business, the creation of the Osmond Brothers barbershop quartet in 1957.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Fess Parker is 83. Sportscaster Frank Gifford is 77. Singer Eydie Gorme is 76. Country singer Billy Joe Shaver is 68. Rhythm-and-blues singer Robert “Squirrel” Lester (The Chi-Lites) is 65. TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford is 54. Singer Madonna is 49. Actor Timothy Hutton is 47. Actor Steve Carell is 44. Actor Donovan Leitch is 39. Country singer Emily Robison (The Dixie Chicks) is 35.Singer Vanessa Carlton is 27.