It's time to save our favorite shows

Wednesday, April 15, 1998

BY JOHN KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Time again to survey television's vast wasteland, which doesn't look so vast this year.

With Ally McBeal, Dharma & Greg and Veronica's Closet leading the way, an abnormal number of new shows -- 10 or more? -- could be renewed for a second season.

The Wonderful World of Disney, Working, Dawson's Creek and Vibe also have been guaranteed another year.

Bob Newhart's George & Leo, Al Franken's Lateline, Bill Cosby's Kids Say the Darndest Things, ABC's Two Guys, A Girl and a Pizza Place and the Thursday 20 - 20 should make the the Class of 1997-98 one of the most successful in TV history.

Yes, we're truly in another Golden Age. But the quality could be enhanced if networks rescue several more shows on the bubble, bubbles that could burst in four weeks when fall lineups and cancellations are announced.

So it's S.O.S. time again, time to Save Our Shows, particularly:

  • Brooklyn South (CBS): Ratings have slipped continuously this winter and spring, but not the writing. Steven Bochco's CBS police drama remains arresting television.

  • Gregory Hines Show (CBS): Gregory Hines needs the same treatment Everybody Loves Raymond got last year when CBS moved it to Mondays and rebuilt ratings through summer reruns. (Two years ago, the Drew Carey Show almost was canceled in April, then grew into a hit over thesummer.) Classy Mr. Hines deserves another shot on CBS, a network lacking minority comedy stars.

  • NewsRadio (NBC): This sweet ensemble comedy ends up on the endangered list every year. Why doesn't NBC leave it in one place and promote it, instead of wasting time hyping Tony Danza, Jenny McCarthy or Tea Leoni?

  • Ellen (ABC): It's never a good sign when the star (Ellen DeGeneres) publicly declares that her network doesn't want to renew her show -- or when your spring replacement (Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place) draws more viewers to your time slot. Ellen has been uneven, but far better than Annie Potts' dreadful Over the Top or Richard Lewis' woeful Hiller & Diller.

  • Soul Man (ABC): Dan Aykroyd's family comedy should survive the cut, but you never know until too late. It's tough to build loyalty when you're replaced by Home Improvement reruns every other week.

    The fates of many more favorites are twisting in the airwaves. It's not too early to issue an S.O.S. for The Nanny, Michael Hayes, Millennium, Profiler or 3rd Rock from the Sun. It may be too late to save New York Undercover.

    BACK FOR MORE: Save your stamps for these hits, which have already been renewed:

  • ABC: Drew Carey, Home Improvement, NYPD Blue, The Practice, America's Funniest Home Videos, Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

  • CBS: Chicago Hope, Cosby, Everybody Loves Raymond.

  • Fox: Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210, Party of Five, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, The X-Files, Cops.

  • NBC: ER, Frasier, Friends, Mad About You, Caroline in the City, Homicide: Life on the Street

  • UPN: Malcolm & Eddie, Moesha.

  • WB: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

    THE WRITE STUFF: Letters to save your favorite series should be directed to:

  • Jamie Tarses, ABC Entertainment president, 2040 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, Calif. 90067.

  • Leslie Moonves, CBS Television president, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90036.

  • Warren Littlefield, NBC Entertainment president, 3000 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, Calif. 91523

  • Peter Roth, Fox Entertainment Group president, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90035.

  • Dean Valentine, UPN President, 11800 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90025.

  • Jamie Kellner, WB Network CEO, 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, Calif. 91522

    John Kiesewetter is Enquirer TV - radio critic. His column appears Monday and Wednesday. If you heed his S.O.S., send copies of your network letters to him at 312 Elm St., Cincinnati, 45202; fax: 768-8330.