The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, August 21, 1995                TAG: 9508180623
SECTION: DAILY BREAK LOCAL        PAGE: E2   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Column 
SOURCE: Larry Bonko 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   74 lines

IS THAT NORFOLK OR NEW YORK?

LOCAL TV news and views to ponder while you wait for another hurricane to come along and scare us silly all over again:

It sure looks like downtown Norfolk to me - A number of readers with eagle eyes say they notice something curious - something very Norfolk - in the opening of ``NYPD Blue,'' an ABC drama set on New York City's mean streets.

Otis Holliman in Virginia Beach, Seth Powers in Hampton and others have picked up what they think is a shot of the Monticello Hotel in downtown Norfolk ``imploding'' when it was cleared for redevelopment on Jan. 25, 1976.

I've looked at the tape of the ``NYPD Blue'' opening over and over again, and by gosh, it does appear to be an overview of downtown Norfolk. Holliman said he spotted the Board of Trade building in the foreground. I'm certain that I see the Dominion Tower on Waterside Drive in the sequence, which passes quickly.

According to Jennifer Freeland, a spokesman for the shows's producer, Stephen Bochco, we are seeing things here - living in a fantasy world. The ``implosion'' takes place not in Norfolk, but in Manhattan, Freeland said after checking with the show's production office.

You know what I think? I think we caught the ``NYPD Blue'' producers in a boo-boo. They are ashamed to admit that in buying what is called stock footage in show biz, they picked up a scene shot far from Manhattan.

Would I expect less from an outfit that promotes the big fib - that ``NYPD Blue'' is filmed in New York City? Shooting takes place in Southern California.

It isn't ``Crossfire,'' but I see just as many sparks flying - Soon after WTKR launched its three-hour early morning weekend newscasts last month, the CBS affiliate invited Democrat Jack Howard and Republican Bill Thomas to appear on camera and debate the issues of the day.

The clash of ideas is called ``Faceoff.''

Howard, who has a radio talk show on WNIS, and Thomas, an economist who has appeared on radio here as a political commentator, go at each other on Sundays live at 7:15 and 8:15 a.m. Kurt Williams of Channel 3 introduces the debate, but doesn't have the smarts to get out of the way and let these two go toe-to-toe.

Who needs Kurt? Who needs a referee?

Lately, Howard and Thomas have debated heavy stuff, such as a woman's right to a legal abortion.

Howard: ``You can't have the government interfering in this very personal decision.''

Thomas: ``And you shouldn't have the government correcting mistakes made in sex by allowing babies to be aborted.''

Wow! Who aborts babies, Bill? Is a fetus a baby? These two are talking about expanding ``Faceoff'' to 30 minutes.

Do it. And debate more local and state issues, such as if Gov. Allen were able to run for a second term, would he be re-elected? I say no.

And now, only the melody lingers - Ron Lee in Virginia Beach was among the readers who called to (1) mourn the cancellation of ``Northern Exposure'' and (2) ask about the closing theme in the last episode seen in July. When that episode was filmed, the producers were not certain that ``Northern Exposure'' would be canceled by CBS, but they had a hunch.

So, as the series faded, the producers selected for the final scenes some very appropriate mystical background music. They picked ``Our Town'' from Iris DeMent's debut album for Warner Brothers, ``Infamous Angel.'' Rolling Stone's review had high praise for DeMent as ``a remarkable talent with a plainly beautiful voice of high-country clarity rarely heard these days.''

``Northern Exposure'' lives on in reruns on WTKR weeknights at 1:05 a.m. Let's hope for a cast reunion in about five years or so. MEMO: You can reach me with your questions or comments about phattism or

whatever by calling Infoline 640-5555, Category 3333.

by CNB