Abc Pushes Gay Wedding Episode To Later Time Slot

With a gay marriage due on Tuesday night’s episode of “Roseanne,” ABC Entertainment has elected to switch Rosie’s time slot from 8 until 9:30, moving “Coach” to Rosie’s slot for that night only.

ABC spokeswoman Janice Gretemeyer said Friday that “it’s not the idea of the gay wedding” that prompted ABC to switch the time periods.

“After all, the program has often had gay humor. We just felt the adult humor in this episode was more appropriate for the later time period.”

The episode, called “December Bride,” details, in ABC’s low-keyed prose, the “uproarious antics” surrounding “Roseanne’s wedding plans for Leon (played by Martin Mull) to his longtime lover, Scott (guest star Fred Willard).”

Both programs will return to their regular time slots on Dec. 19.

Roker to replace Scott

“Today” weatherbarker Willard Scott is cutting back his workload.

Al Roker, 41, Scott’s longtime sub, will leave New York’s WNBC Dec. 29 after 12 years to take over as chief weatherguy on “Today.” Scott, 61, a 45-year NBC survivor and “Today” weathercaster since 1980, has said for a year that he wants a lighter schedule.

Scott will reduce his annual workdays by more than half, to about 100.