BURBANK, Calif. - Bubbly comic Caroline Rhea said Friday she will take over Rosie O'Donnell's talk show when she retires from the program next year. Rhea, a "Hollywood Squares" regular and co-star of "Sabrina The Teenage Witch," will continue appearing on the program as a guest host for several months before taking control of the show in mid-2002. It's not clear what the new name of the "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" show will be. Rhea joked that her mother suggested simply changing her own moniker to "Rosie O'Donnell." O'Donnell plans to remain with the show behind the scenes as an executive consultant, but her role in daily production will be greatly reduced. "Caroline is very funny," O'Donnell said in a statement. "She's self-deprecating, she's intelligent, she's smart, she's sensitive, and she cares about people in a way that's very relatable and accessible." O'Donnell said she decided to leave the show to spend more time with her three adopted children and to pursue other entertainment projects.
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