Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 26, 1993 TAG: 9307260006
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN CARMODY THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE: UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
That series, which will move into the 8:30 Monday time slot between "Evening Shade" and "Murphy Brown," is considered by the network to have the best chance to be a hit among its 6 1/2 hours of new series this fall.
The consensus is that ABC's "Grace Under Fire" on Wednesdays, NBC's "Frasier" on Thursday and two Fox newcomers, "Sinbad" and "My Girls," as well as "Dave's World," are the few candidates for big numbers this year.
"Dave's World" is based on humorist Dave Barry's prize-winning syndicated column and stars Harry Anderson "as a child of the '60s trying to survive in the '90s."
The announcement came as CBS Broadcast Group President Howard Stringer, addressing the TV critics assembled, was acknowledging that the network hasn't "succeeded in putting on programming with enough black characters."
Responding to a reporter's query as to whether CBS and NBC, also short of series with black characters this fall, weren't engaging in "de facto ghettoization," Stringer said, "We understand there are holes in our schedule."
If network television survives the next crucial years, he said, it will be "because it is providing programming that is appealing to minorities," and said the networks must seek a "broad-based audience."
As has been the case with network executives so far at the annual summer press tour, most of Stringer's appearance was spent reiterating his stand on the violence-in-TV issue.
CBS Entertainment President Jeff Sagansky pointed out that there are very few shows - and no series - on CBS that could be considered violent. Even the returning Chuck Norris series, "Walker, Texas Ranger," will be considerably toned down.
Stringer said that among program distributors, network TV is by far "the least culpable," and yet since it delivers the largest audience it has a special obligation because "the issue of violence is one all of society faces."
As he has before, Stringer lamented the fact that movies and TV shows have "depersonalized violence," creating an indifference among viewers.
He urged lawmakers to remember it is network TV's ability to "bring the nation together" that makes it valuable.
"It's still important for the network to take the leadership on an issue the public cares about," he said.
Lamenting the shortage of talent in the industry's so-called creative community, he said, "You haven't noticed Euripides hanging around Hollywood lately."
\ HELLO CHAO? Newsweek reports that former Fox Television executive Stephen Chao, fired last year for hiring a male model to strip at a company conference, will join his old boss and Fox Network founder Barry Diller in the launching of a fifth television network tentatively named Best TV.
Chao, who had served as president of Fox Television Stations and head of Fox News Service, will join the organization next month, possibly to develop programming, according to the report.
\ SHORT TAKES: Scott Bakula, formerly of "Quantum Leap," joins CBS' "Murphy Brown" in the fall in the recurring role of a cocky, hot-shot reporter on "FYI," CBS said last week. . . . Marion Ross of CBS' "Brooklyn Bridge" (R.I.P.) joins NBC's new sitcom "Cafe Americain" as the worldly wise American owner of a Parisian cafe. She hires star Valerie Bertinelli, a fellow Yank new in town. Ross' longest TV run was on ABC's "Happy Days" (1973-84). . . . Cable News Network's Tom Farmer, senior producer of Larry King's live talkie since September '91, has been promoted to executive producer. He takes over for Tammy Haddad, now senior producer at NBC's "Today."
by CNB