Norville renews with ‘Inside Edition’ at the right time

Deborah Norville

Deborah Norville

Happy to see our old friend Deborah Norville has extended her contract for two more years with the syndicated newsmagazine “Inside Edition.”

The start of Norville’s 20th season as host September 8 coincides with the show’s move back to its familiar 3 p.m. weekday time slot on ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7. For the past two years it was on at 2 p.m. to accommodate Katie Couric’s now-canceled talk show.

The time period upgrade here and in several other cities bodes well for “Inside Edition,” which Norville says remains “very much attuned to what the national sensibility is” and continues to evolve. “I really believe in the power of television to make a difference and I still think that as great as ‘Inside Edition’ is, we can always do it even better,” she told Paige Albiniak of Broadcasting and Cable magazine.

Many Chicago viewers still have fond memories of Norville's five-year run as a news anchor and reporter at NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5. In 1986, her promotion to NBC News in New York prompted an official proclamation from then-Mayor Harold Washington, among other monumental tributes.

After high-profile positions at three networks, Norville replaced Bill O’Reilly as host of “Inside Edition” in 1995.

ABC 7 last week finally confirmed an earlier report that the soap opera “General Hospital” would move back to 2 p.m., followed by “Inside Edition” and “Jeopardy!” at 3 and 3:30 p.m., respectively, effective September 8.

“Windy City Live,” which retains its 11 a.m. time slot, will have a second daytime run at 1 p.m. for one week until “Rachael Ray” moves into the 1 p.m. time slot on September 15.

Here is ABC 7’s Monday-through-Friday new daytime lineup for fall:

  • 9 a.m. LIVE! with Kelly and Michael
  • 10 a.m. The View
  • 11 a.m. Windy City Live
  • noon The Chew
  • 1 p.m. Rachael Ray
  • 2 p.m. General Hospital
  • 3 p.m. Inside Edition
  • 3:30 p.m. Jeopardy!
  • 4 p.m. ABC 7 Eyewitness News