THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 30, 1995 TAG: 9504300088
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LARRY BONKO, TELEVISION WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
He has starred on television in shows set in Cincinnati, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Washington. Why not Virginia?
Why not, indeed, asks actor and producer Tim Reid, the Norfolk State University grad (class of 1969) who may be the school's biggest booster. When he paused from trading backhands with famous friends Saturday at the Tim Reid Celebrity Weekend tennis tournament, Reid revealed that a series set in Virginia is more than a wish.
In league with Hugh Wilson, Reid has pitched to the networks an hourlong drama called ``Albemarle County.'' Wilson won an Emmy for outstanding writing when he worked on ``Frank's Place,'' a series Reid starred in and produced.
Reid wouldn't have to travel far to do research for ``Albermarle County.'' He lives on a farm near Charlottesville with his wife, Daphne Maxwell Reid of ``The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,'' who persuaded her co-star on the NBC series, Will Smith, to schmooze with the locals here this weekend.
Reid said that a leather jacket donated by Smith pulled in $700 at the Tim Reid Celebrity Weekend Auction. Another jacket from the folks at Black Entertainment Television brought in another $1,001. Reid is tight with BET founder Robert L. Johnson.
Even before this weekend's round of tennis, golf, black-tie dinners, concerts and movie premiere, the university's scholarship fund had been enriched by $400,000 since Reid started the celebrity weekends six years ago. After this year's event, Reid heads for Irvington where he'll produce a film, ``Spirit Lost,'' with Regina Taylor of ``I'll Fly Away'' in the cast.
Virginia is for movies, said Reid.
``Whatever a producer needs, he'll find in Virginia.''
As for the TV drama set in Albemarle County, Reid and Wilson can't find a network that's interested. ``So far, the network executives haven't gone for it. They don't think it will work. We haven't given up. We'll try again.''
For the moment, Reid has a full plate even without ``Albermarle County.'' There is the film in Irvington, Calif., and there is the ABC series, ``Sister, Sister,'' in which he co-stars with twin teens who seem to grow an inch every week.
``Sister, Sister'' finished its first run of 19 episodes on ABC Friday night as the Tim Reid Celebrity Weekend was getting started. Now Reid waits for May and the moment of truth.
It's when the networks set their new fall schedules. Reid shouldn't be worried about the future of ``Sister, Sister,'' a show that has been winning its Friday night time slot while appealing to the youthful audiences loved by advertisers.
Reid shouldn't be worrying, but he is.
``I've been around television long enough not to be surprised at anything the networks do when it comes to scheduling. `WKRP in Cincinnati' was canceled when it was No. 1 in the ratings.''
There are times when shows are too good for TV, and because they are, they do not get renewed.
``Frank's Place'' was such a show, said Reid. It was mellow. It was offbeat. It was set in a small Creole restaurant in New Orleans.
If only it could be revived.
Not likely, said Reid, noting that the actress who played the overbearing Miss Marie (Frances B. Williams) died recently.
If ``Sister, Sister'' is renewed by ABC, Reid wants virtually all the focus to be on the sisters, age 16, and the pressures and conflicts of growing up in the 1990s. ``The show should be anchored in what the twins do,'' he said. Reid is happy to be a supporting player.
For this weekend in Norfolk, Reid did not fret about renewals or network bosses who think quality means Al Bundy sitting on the sofa with his hands in his pants watching TV. This was the weekend when Reid came to Norfolk to help raise the profile of NSU.
``We're attempting to lift the visibility of this university at a time when schools everywhere are having a difficult time raising funds. By doing what we do here this weekend, we send a message to legislators that we're holding up our end in fund-raising.''
The weather for the Tim Reid Celebrity Weekend was perfect. Warm and not very humid. The quality of the golf and tennis was so-so. But who noticed?
It was a chance to chill out with the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. ILLUSTRATION: CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/Staff photos
Tim Reid, star of the sitcom ``Sister, Sister,'' reacts to a volley
he made in the Tim Reid Celebrity Weekend tennis tournament, held at
NSU.
Daphne Maxwell Reid and James Avery, stars of ``The Fresh Prince''
attended the tournament.
by CNB