Pursuing a highway to lost loves Five new TV shows start on Saturday “Hot Pursuit" offers a twist on the law-and -order theme— the heroes are on the lam fleeing the law Two new shows have central figures bent on helping humanity (“Highway to Heaven" and "Finder of Lost Loves”) One offers yet another new detective team (“Partners in Crime”) and one is cloned from "Scarecrow and Mrs King” (“Cover Up”) WDAF-TV Channel 4 delayed the start of “Highway to Heaven" until 4 pm Saturday to broadcast a Royals game on Wednesday when other NBC stations showed “Highway” Michael Landon (“Little House on the Prairie”) plays Jonathan Smith a probationary angel sent to Earth to do good deeds Victor French is Mark Gordon a skeptic who becomes Jonathan's traveling companion Mr Landon tola TV critics that if not for his considerable influence at NBC the show would not have been made Once produced he said it scored higher with test audiences than any other show ever tested by NBC “Highway to Heaven” is Mr Landon at his schmaltzy best The actor-director-writer producer uses every gimmick to evoke goose bumps and wet hankies including lovable old people threatened with eviction flowers a puppy dog and a bicycle ride for two "Trucks are like anything else” Jonathan tells an old codger who refuses him a ride only to have the engine of his truck break down "You treat it nice Barry Garron The Star ’s TV-radio critic it’ll treat you nice ” Almost everyone is nice except the businessman who is selling off the retirement home and Estelle Wicks (Helen Hayes) a resident who scorns the others particularly Sidney Gold (John Bleifer) who has developed a terminal case of puppy love Jonathan must save the home play matchmaker for Sid and Estelle brighten the days of the residents bring hope to a woman on the retirement home staff and help her brother who is becoming an alcoholic All in a day’s work for an angel The two-hour premiere of “Hot Pursuit” (8 pm on channels 4 and 27) features Jim Wyler (Eric Pierpoint) and his wife Kate (Kerrie Keane) young marrieds who are passionately in love He's a veterinarian and she’s an automotive engineer They become fugitives after the jealous wife of a car company has her husband killed and gets Kate framed for the murder Jim helps Kate escape and both head for New Orleans to find the look-alike (also played by Miss Keane) who was hired to carry off the murder While they pursue her they are hunted by a Hired thug who lost an eye in a skirmish with Jim Meanwhile they take jobs and help others such as the pregnant woman whose sleazy boyfriend wants her to sell off their baby to advance his dancing career The plot is a ripoff of the old "Fugitive” series Even so the action is good and the characters are interesting "Finder of Lost Loves” (8:30 pm on channels 2 9 and 49) bears the Aaron Spelling trademark Like its cousins— “Love Boat” “Fantasy Island” “Hotel” and “Glitter”— it features weekly episodes with big-name guest stars and small-minded plotlines It stars Tony Franciosa as Cary Maxwell a wealthy ex-pilot who lost his wife after five years of bliss Although she has been dead nearly two years he carries a Statue of Liberty-size torch for her With assistant Daisy Lloyd (Deborah Adair) Maxwell runs an agency to track down missing loves Business is brisk “Bringing people back together-people who really deeply care for each other— well it helps” he says That’s as close to logic as this show gets It's one for the heart not for the head Other new shows this Saturday "Cover Up" (8 pm on channels 5 and 13) and “Partners in Crime” (7 pm on channels 4 and 27) were not available for advance review They will be covered Monday in this column