The Des Moines Register from Des Moines, Iowa • Page 97

A 'Maverick Character 'Barbarians' focuses on filthy rich Gamer: Likeable actor, unlikely role Ir.V ''ill fifM 1 1 i of the RJR Nabisco corporate Garner star in movie based on Will anyone care about an '80s saga of Wall Street profiteering now, in the no-nonsense '90s? By STACY SMITH Tribune Media Services ack in the '80s, James Gamer, plagued with health problems and bogged down by the frus trations and tribulations of his lawsuit over "Rockford Files" profits against Universal, had talked about quitting the Hollywood scene altogether in favor of retirement and playing as much golf as he wanted. Instead, he went on a health and exercise regimen that helped restore his vitality, made a fat settlement with his former studio and ended up getting busier than ever. Today we find the actor looking good, with a passel of projects in the offing. There are Paramount's "Fire in the Sky" feature that opened Friday and HBO's soon-to-debut adaptation of "Barbarians at the Gate." Gamer also has a new TV series in the works for CBS "Shrink," about a police psychologist. And he has a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" telepic "Reading Lessons" on his agenda to film in May.

Whether with "Shrink" or other projects, Gamer now envisions himself working "pretty solidly for the next three to five years" and then semi-retiring to the home he's planning to build on his 400 acres of Santa Ynez, land. "I like to work," says Gamer, 64. And he will need to work, he adds, to pay for the elaborate home he's already spent years planning, which is being designed for him and his wife, Lois, by eminent architect Hugh Newell Jacobs. The man who's talked at length about corruption in Hollywood has his sights aimed at corruption in New York's financial district this day, be- 7 David Letterman's new talk show could make CBS see red. By JANIS D.

FR0ELICH Register TV Ei itor BO's "Barbarians at the Gate" is about cookies, cigarettes, big business back-stabbing and the absurdity of the lives of people who truly deserve to be described as "filthy rich." HBO is known for its first-class TV-movies. And this satire about the downfall of F. Ross Johnson, the former CEO of RJR Nabisco, the conglomerate that brings the masses its Oreos and Camels, is original, entertaining, enlightening and simply the best TV-movie I've seen this season. Why this funny drama about corporate America works so well is because Johnson, who's portrayed by TVs own matinee idol, James Gamer, "Barbarians at the The HBO movie does a splendid job of laying out a lot of complicated Wall Street know-how. Saturday, HBO at 7 p.m.

isn't paint ed evil and miserable. Garner gives us a truly likeable character, which puts the viewer in the unusual position of having to care about this captain of industry who's about to sink his own ship. Because "Barbarians at the Gate" is a cable project, it's free to use the salty language that's exchanged when business czars are on the cusp of earning or losing cool millions. The frankness and humor come together best when RJR spends $500 million to develop a smokeless cigarette, Premier, that to put it mildly tastes like human waste. "A filtered Edsel," is how Johnson describes this dud, adding "You need an extra set of lungs to take a drag." When NBC News breaks the story about how terrible Premier is, Johnson's outraged.

After listening painfully to the report, he says sarcastically to anchor Tom Brokaw, "And you, Tom." Jolinson gets the idea to buy RJR Nabisco from corporate raider, Henry Kravis (Jonathan Pryce). Once he states, "I'm going to buy the company," it's as if common sense from this earthy man, who began as a Winnipeg newspaper boy, goes out the headquarters window. But that makes for a quick pace in "Barbarians at the Gate." There are numerous glimpses of the privileged lifestyle corporate giants and their spouses have, juxtaposed to street scenes. HBO doesn't wander too far into campiness except for a moment or two. Like when the maid answers the telephone at the home of American Express head Jim Johnson (Fred Dalton Thompson).

She's ironing money! Or when a leg wax lady has to explain to Johnson's KB0 Please turn to Page 4-TV Moines Simiav Rkhj-stehI Ma' 1 1, 3-TV the true story takeover. very funny." Gamer's casting has been criticized by some familiar with Johnson andor the "Barbarians at the Gate" best seller on grounds that the former "Maverick" and "Rockford Files" star is just too darned nice for the part. But it would seem his high likeability quotient was sorely needed to cut the greed and hubris riddling the "Barbarians" story. "I think that's why they lured me," Gamer says. "There are really no heroes in this story." faces local competition Jonathan Pryce, left, and James "Barbarians at the Gate," an HBO cause of "Barbarians at the Gate." Gamer is the only member of the "Barbarians" cast who is acquainted with his real-life counterpart in the saga of the largest corporate takeover in Wall Street history F.

Ross Johnson, the former CEO of RJR Nabisco. He met Johnson (where else?) on the pro-celeb golf circuit. But Garner says he didn't use any of his personal knowledge of the man in his portrayal "I went strictly by Larry Gelbart's script, which is very, very good Letterman BS spent so much time and money wooing NBC talk show host David Letterman that the network neglected to kiss up to its 200-plus affiliates. Take Iowa. Which CBS affiliate in the state is going to air Letterman live come late August at 10:35 p.m.? Probably none of the following: KCCI in Des Moines, KIMT in Mason City and KMEG in Sioux City.

And which station for sure won't air Letterman at all? KGAN in Cedar Rapids. I found the above rather shocking given the massive publicity Letter-man's defection to CBS was given. Plus, my own quickie survey of CBS affiliates also found that only KCCI says it will definitely air the new and improved Letterman but his CBS talk show maybe tape-delayed by a Will anyone care about an '80s saga of Wall Street profiteering now, in the no-nonsense '90s? "People who watch HBO will be interested," Gamer opines. The move of "Barbarians" from big screen to pay cable was probably the best thing that could have happened to the project as far as he's concerned. "This kind of story lends itself more to the viewers of HBO.

They understand this sort of thing. Kids, who make up most of the movie audience, don't know or care." Obviously, Letterman is laughing all the way to the bank with CBS's $28-million, two-year offer. And CBS is stuck with an Olympian gamble that his audience will broaden enough to include groups other than college students and prisoners Letterman's loyal following in his NBC late-night berth. (Letterman, 45, said in a recent "Rolling Stone" interview of his 12:30 (Eastern Time) spot: "I'm too old to be on at 12:30. There's nobody watching just guys on death row who haven't lost their TV Well, in Iowa when the retooled "Late Night With David Letterman" show moves over to CBS, live from LATE NIGHT Please turn to Page 7-TV Ues -mamma), iiiH) 'I I Jk Janis D.

Froeucii half hour. Gee whiz, this doesn't look real good for boyish Dave. CBS could soon be seeing red over its much-ballyhooed late-night cr.