Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 30, 1990 TAG: 9006300498
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DIANE HOLLOWAY COX NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
While much of the pre-season publicity focuses on the new fall series, viewers are more likely to be interested in their old favorites, shows they have watched happily for a year or more. Will there be cast changes or other shifts? Is there a major new plot line planned?
A lot can and will change between now and September, when the television season officially begins, but here's a rundown of some of the changes we already know about.
\ SUNDAY - Jessica Fletcher was missing from several episodes of "Murder, She Wrote" last season, and on a few others, she appeared as a "bookend" at the beginning and end of the show. Jessica's comings and goings were necessitated by star Angela Lansbury's decision to ease her work load. But next season, CBS promises Jessica will appear in every episode.
On ABC's "Life Goes On," Corky (Christopher Burke) will continue his struggle toward independence, while kid sister Becca (Kellie Martin) blossoms into young womanhood. Presumably that means she'll stop looking in the mirror, sticking out her chest and muttering, "Come on, you guys!"
\ MONDAY - Two characters will go through life-changing experiences on CBS's "Designing Women." Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter) will mourn the loss of steady beau Reese (Carter's real-life husband Hal Holbrook), who will die suddenly of a heart attack. This drastic plot line was necessitated by the departure of Holbrook, who will co-star in Burt Reynolds' new sitcom "Evening Shade" next season.
And office helper Anthony Bouvier will buy into Sugarbakers and become a full-fledged partner in the women's designing firm. This change may have come about because Meshach Taylor, the Emmy-nominated actor who plays Anthony, is tired of being criticized by some blacks for playing a black man who works for four white women.
Connie Chung's magazine series "Saturday Night With Connie Chung" will move from Saturday to Monday, a move that required the title change to "Face to Face With Connie Chung." No particular content changes are planned.
\ TUESDAY - The volatile behind-the-scenes situation at ABC's highly rated "Roseanne" undoubtedly will continue. Already this summer two more writers have departed, leaving only Roseanne Barr's husband Tom Arnold at the typewriter. But as has been the case in the past, viewers are not likely to see evidence of off-camera turmoil except in the supermarket tabloids.
Michael (Ken Olin) and Hope (Mel Harris) will give birth to their second child when "thirtysomething" returns in the fall. At least that's the usual outcome of pregnancies. But you never know what shocking twists the writers of this ABC drama have in mind. Nancy's (Patricia Wettig) battle with ovarian cancer is expected to continue, with a possible resolution at the end of next season. Anyone who knows the outcome is not talking.
\ WEDNESDAY - The writers and producers of NBC's "Dear John" have decided to devote several episodes to flashbacks. The goal is to explore the background of the members of John's (Judd Hirsch) support group. First up will be Kate (Isabella Hofmann), who has always seemed too pretty and too well-adjusted for the group, but we'll find out she's just as messed up as everybody else.
"Hunter" wrapped up its sixth season with a farewell to Dee Dee McCall (Stefanie Kramer). Next season Rick Hunter (Fred Dryer) will get a new partner, played by newcomer Darlanne Fleugel.
\ THURSDAY - NBC has not revealed any changes within the stellar sitcom lineup, but there may be some before September, when "The Cosby Show" goes up against Fox Broadcasting's red-hot cartoon "The Simpsons." Fox, by the way, plans no changes in the superstar cartoon clan. Why should it? The only sitcom in NBC's Thursday lineup with announced changes is "Grand," which will strive to be less serialized and concentrate on fewer characters each week.
On CBS's aging soap opera "Knots Landing," Joan Van Ark has been promised by the producers that her goody-goody Valene will become less goody-goody. A major personality change is believed to be in the works for her.
And ABC's "Prime Time Live" will maintain a physical separation between Diane Sawyer in New York and Sam Donaldson in Washington. No more fake chemistry in the studio, thank goodness.
\ FRIDAY - The big addition to "Dallas" next season will be Susan Lucci, the longtime star of the daytime serial "All My Children." Her first appearance will be in an episode in which April is kidnapped while honeymooning with Bobby in Paris. No word yet on whether Lucci will be hero or villain.
\ SATURDAY - Besides moving from NBC to CBS, "The Hogan Family" plans to stay the course. If Jason Bateman is still a teen heart-throb next season, CBS figures the acquisition will be hugely beneficial.
Finally, a couple of series not on the fall schedule will have changes when - or if - they return as backups. CBS's "Wiseguy" will replace disgruntled star Ken Wahl with Steven Bauer as a new undercover agent, and ABC's "Head of the Class" will replace Howard Hesseman, who left the show amicably, with another Howard - comic Howie Mandel.
by CNB