Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 21, 1994 TAG: 9412220026
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KINNEY LITTLEFIELD THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Shakespeare told it. Billy Joel sang it.
And now a truly exceptional television series is feeling the age-old saying's sting.
``My So-Called Life,'' one of the two best dramas on TV (the other is ``Picket Fences''), makes its final season appearance Jan. 26.
ABC says the beautifully nuanced show of contemporary suburban life may return next year. But such catch-phrases are usually a good way to let fans down easy.
Current industry buzz says the show may end up on cable's Lifetime network. But that's too limited an audience for something so good.
Granted, ``Life's'' ratings have been routinely terrible since its August debut. But that's because ABC put it in the disastrous 8 p.m. Thursday slot, opposite NBC megahit ``Mad About You'' and ``Martin'' and ``Living Single'' on Fox.
``Most people want their sophisticated drama at 9 or 10, when they're wound down,'' ``Life'' executive producer Winnie Holzman said via phone from Los Angeles.
``And a sophisticated show needs time to build.''
But ABC isn't willing to give ``Life'' a more mature slot.
``And by the way, I don't think our show has been highly publicized either [by ABC],'' Holzman added, getting in an extra punch.
She's right. She's also right when she asks ``Isn't quality enough reason to keep this show on the air?''
Apparently ABC doesn't think so.
Which is a shame, since ``Life'' is a gorgeous, innovative, intelligent drama on a par with the best in TV history.
Claire Danes is startlingly brilliant as gawky teen-ager Angela Chase, who copes with dating, sex, drugs, best friends and her equally gawky baby-boomer parents (delicious Bess Armstrong and Tom Irwin).
But ``Life'' also is wonderful, sly fun. Much of its humor comes from A.J. Langer as Angela's weirded-out head trip of a girlfriend Rayanne Graff. Just as much of its warmth comes from Wilson Cruz as Angela's shy, sexually confused buddy Rickie Vasquez.
On Thursday, Rickie is the centerpiece of a wonderfully dreamy and insightful holiday episode called ``So-Called Angels.'' Rickie's family kicks him out, he's got nowhere to sleep and Angela's mom, Patty, worries that Angela may go wrong and meet the same fate.
This actually happened to Cruz last year. His father kicked him out at Christmastime. It was before ``Life'' started airing, and Cruz was broke, with nowhere to go.
So ``So-Called Angels'' is definitely from the heart.
Check it out.
And if you want to tell ABC to quickly bring back ``My So-Called Life,'' write:
Robert Iger, president/CEO, Cap Cities/ABC, Inc.
c/o ABC Audience Information
77 W. 66th St.
New York, N.Y. 10023
by CNB