NAMES IN THE NEWS : Pauley Doesn’t Want to Be a Star

Jane Pauley’s popularity has soared since her departure from the “Today” show, and that has her worried.

“Most TV stars are larger than life,” she said in the March 26 issue of Newsweek. “But my guess is that viewers identify with me rather than stand back and admire. So you don’t want to pump me up to be a great big star because then you’ve changed me. This could be tricky.”

Pauley will substitute for “NBC Nightly News” anchor Tom Brokaw for three weeks this spring when he goes on vacation, and NBC has scheduled five specials for her this summer as a dry run for a prime-time series.