THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 22, 1996 TAG: 9604200071
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
WHO SHOT J.R.? Who murdered 15-year-old Jessica Costello?
Millions watched ``Dallas'' in 1980 to learn who plugged J.R. Ewing. Chances are you won't be able to fill a phone booth with the people who will tune in to ``Murder One'' on ABC tonight at 9 for a two-hour special that reveals if a jury convicts TV hunk Neil Avedon of Costello's murder.
``Murder One'' concludes its first season on Tuesday night at 10 - three hours of new programming in two nights.
Unlike the soapy ``Dallas,'' this excellent drama from producer Steven Bochco has not captured the hearts and minds of vast numbers of viewers. Seventy-three series in prime time have better ratings than ``Murder One.''
Said Bochco when he met with TV writers recently, ``We're making this wonderful show that the critics write about in glowing terms, and yet we can't buy good ratings. It's a terribly unappreciated show as was `Hill Street Blues' in its first year. That is most frustrating.''
Bochco will keep the small but loyal audience guessing about the outcome of Avedon's trial right up until air time tonight. He filmed three
different verdicts, and did not decide until the last minute which will be aired tonight.
To help keep his secret, ABC plans to wait until the last minute tonight before beaming the 22nd episode of ``Murder One'' to affiliates.
``We're doing this to ensure that the audience will not be denied the surprises we have in store for them in the final two episodes,'' said Bochco. Other matters to be resolved: Will the wife of defense attorney Ted Hoffman go through with their divorce? Will the slimeball tycoon Richard Cross - arrested for Jessica's murder and then released - die of AIDS before the verdict is in?
And finally, will ``Murder One'' be renewed by ABC?.
I say no. If ABC thought the show was hot, the network would play the last three hours during the May ratings sweeps. For as well-acted and beautifully crafted ``Murder One'' has been, it never really grabbed viewers.
My choices for the other ABC shows that will be history come May: ``Murder One,'' ``The Faculty,'' ``High Incident,'' ``The Naked Truth,'' ``Second Noah,'' ``Aliens in the Family,'' ``Buddies,'' ``Hudson Street,'' the Dana Carvey sketch-comedy series and ``Maybe This Time.''
I see the sitcoms starring comics Jeff Foxworthy and Drew Carey making the cut. ``Muppets Tonight'' hasn't done well on Fridays at 8:30 p.m., but ABC is likely to keep it because it's well-produced family programming.
As the day of decision approaches, I see also see no future for these shows on CBS: ``Central Park West,'' ``American Gothic,'' ``Due South,'' ``Diagnosis Murder,'' ``Can't Hurry Love,'' ``Matt Waters,'' ``My Guys,'' ``John Grisham's The Client'' and ``High Society.''
I have a gut feeling that CBS will stick with ``Bonnie.''
As for NBC, I'd be surprised if ``Brotherly Love,'' ``Malibu Shores,'' ``JAG,'' ``The Home Court,'' ``Hope and Gloria'' and ``In the House'' returned. Fox will likely dump ``Partners,'' ``Sliders,'' ``Ned and Stacey,'' ``Space: Above and Beyond,'' ``Strange Luck,'' and the time has come to end a show that ran out of ideas months ago - ``Martin.''
It's already been announced that ``Murder, She Wrote,'' ``Sisters,'' ``Picket Fences'' and ``Fresh Prince of Bel Air'' are leaving prime time but not the tube. They will likely live forever in re-runs on cable or in syndication.
As for ``Murder One,'' I predict it will end up as must-see TV for first year law students. Adios, Ted. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo ABC
Daniel Benzali and Dylan Baker in an early episode of ABC's
innovative "Murder One"
by CNB