CW announces Lady Gaga and Jean Paul Gaultier interview special, naturally

The CW is kicking off its fall 2011 season a day early with a first for the network, a one-hour interview special between pop star Lady Gaga and designer Jean Paul Gaultier.

Billed as their "first ever face-to-face meeting," the aptly-titled "Gaga on Gaultier" airs Monday, Sept. 12, at 8:00 p.m. ET -- and will run an extra 15 minutes into the 9:00 p.m. hour.

CW president Mark Pedowitz said, at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, that the network jumped at the offer for U.S. airing rights to the special, which was originally filmed for a French audience and has since aired abroad.

Topics discussed at their rendezvous at Gaultier's Paris atelier include Gaga's rise to fame, her relationship with her fans, her control over her image and business and, presumably, something about Gaultier as well.

The spare 45 minutes after the special will be devoted to a look at the new and returning CW programs that begin to roll out the next day. "Nikita" star Maggie Q and "Ringer's" Kristoffer Polaha will serve as emcees.