The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 38

8-D Wednesday, July 15, 1987 The Philadelphia Inquirer Randy Smith to become an owner ofCh17 TV tonight By GAIL SHISTER TVradio A talk 'J: V. By' David Bianculll The only new network offering tonight is NBC's AFI Comedy Special, which gives fledgling comedy writers a break but doesn't give viewers many reasons to watch. Luckily, local stations offer interesting movie alternatives, and Arts Entertainment has an offbeat, on-the-mark study of author Kurt Vonnegut, who said, "So it goes," long before 1-inda Kllerbee. Tender Mercies (8-10 p.m., Ch. 17) Morton Foote wrote this story -of a country-and-western musician who is down on his Juck.

Robert Duvall played the lead, and both Koote and Duvall 6.515 second only to NBC's lineup (11.726). It's the highest-ever debut for a Fox show. locally, Werewolf finished fourth in Monday's Nielsens with a 5.810. (It aired Monday because of a Phillies conflict Saturday.) Word in New York is that Fox has turned thumbs down on five hour-long talk-show pilots taped recently by New York radio1 madman Howard Stern. Tog raunchy.

Fox insists thai no decision has been made Sad sack Dr. Donald WestphalUEd Flanders) won't be returning full-time to NBC's St. Elsewhere nel season. He'll disappear after three episodes. Skin magazine High Society has announced that'its August issue features several "highly sensual" photos of L.A.

Law star Susan Dey thut she "would probably prefer be forgoTTJti." Sweet Tomorrow through July 24, John "Harvey in the Morning" Harvey will do his atf). gig on WMGK-FM (102.9) live from his New York hotel room. Harvey's in the Big Apple to tape 26 episodes of the Nickelodeon kiddie show Double Dare. NBC has first dibs, followed by CBS Friday and ABC Monday. If the action gets hot and heavy, however, the whole trio can go live.

The three biggies carried Lt. Col. Oliver North's testimony live and nonstop from July 7 until yesterday. The hearings are expected to continue through Aug. 7.

CNN and PBS will continue gavel-to-gavcl coverage. Numbers More bad news Tor Dan Rather and CBS. Despite being the only Washington-based newcast for the Iran-contra hearings, the CBS Evening News finished in the Nielsen basement for the sixth time in seven weeks. CBS had a 9.1 rating20 percent audience share. Peter Jennings and ABC World News Tonight had a 9.520 and high-flying Tom Brokaw's NBC Nightly News scored a 10.423 for its 13th straight win.

Kach national rating point equals 874,000 TV homes. Fox Broadcasting Co. is howling over the showing for Saturday's two-hour premiere of Werewolf, starring Chuck Connors. Between 8 and 10 p.m., Werewolf scared up a In a move that has stunned the local broadcasting community, former Channel 29 general manager Randy Smith and his new business partner, Dudley Taft, are about to become the owners of Channel 17. The Providence Journal Co.

last month agreed to sell WI'lllTV to Odyssey Partners of New York, but the deul fell through about two weeks ago. That paved the way for Dudley Taft Communications, whose bid of about $70 million was accepted yesterday. FCC approval should come by the end of the year. Smith, who ended his Channel 29 tenure Monday, said yesterday that he doesn't know what his new role will bev but it's a safe bet that respected Channel 17 CM Gene McCurdy is updating his resume. Smith wants to stay in Philadelphia, partly to be near his 10-year-old son Eric.

"I'm thrilled with this deal," says Smith. "It makes perfect sense for me to have a station in this market. I know the market, and it's a huge personal advantage for me, even if I don't stay here long term, just to have the connection Dan Aykroyd plays an eccentric in the movie "Neighbors," at 8 p.m. on Ch. 29.

won Oscars for their contributions to this low-budget, high-intensity drama. Neighbors (8-10 p.m., Ch. 29) If this is Wednesday, it must be Friday: Dan Aykroyd, now playing the straight-arrow sergeant in the big-screen version of Dragnet, played a bent-arrow eccentric in this 1981 comedy. Aykroyd and John Belushi wanted to play against type, so Belushi played the reserved role and Aykroyd the lunatic. Sometimes you feel like a nut; sometimes you don't.

The AFI Comedy Special (lO-ll p.m., Ch. 3) NBC Entertainment president Brandon Tartikoff makes his latest TV appearance, after the fourth and final segment in this comedy special showcasing writers from the American Film Institute's Television Writers Comedy Workshop. The first two segments have too much in common with bad TV, but Delle Chatman's "Gwendolyn" skit is appealingly bizarre (with a standout sleazy-emcee performance by John and Leslie Fuller's "The Kec Room," starring Kaye Ballard and Robert Costanzo, is like vintage All in the Family. What's depressing, though, is that so much of this stuff is so mainstream and so marginal. NBC.

with my son." After Dudley Taft Communications' attempt to buy the five Taft independents including Channel 29 lost out to TVX Broadcasting, Smith says his group expressed "casual interest" in Channel 17. Things started heating up about six weeks ago. "We think it's a solid, well-accepted independent in a market with real good properties," says Smith of his group's second acquisition. (It also owns WGIIP-TV in High Point, N.C.) "It has some good people and good programming. I'd like to think we can make it even better." The Providence Journal Co.

bought Channel 17 in November 1978 for $11 million. With 6 percent of area' viewers, 'PHL ranks second among Philadelphia indies, behind Channel 29 (9 percent). Its programming crown jewel is the 76crs broadcasts. How will Smith feel competing against the station he built into a gold mine? "I guess I'll feel a little funny," he acknowledges. "But it's not a personal fight against Channel 29.

We're competing with everybody in this town. I'm just going to do the best I can for Channel 17." Contra-programming: Bummed out by about $12 million in lost ad revenues and thousands of complaints from soap fans, ABC, CBS and NBC have agreed to rotate daily coverage of the Iran-contra hearings, as of tomorrow. NBC News chief Lawrence Grossman says that his network suggested the rotation the same arrangement used during the lengthy 1973 Watergate hearings. Cable The Charge of the Light Brigade (8.05-10:35 p.m., TBS) The light r.i if If id Vv -0 fit7' jT Vl mK in this 1936 movie is even brighter now. it nas Deen coiorizea.

Kurt Vonnegut (lO-ll p.m., This BBC program about the author is part biography, part bibliography, and would be right at home in PBS's American Masters series. It isn't a comprehensive exploration of Vonne-gut's themes and writings; it omits entire books from discussion, for example, and places no importance on such recurring Vonnegut obsessions as father-son relationships and the absence or presence of a divine intelligence. It does, however, provide a warm and welcome visit with the author himself, as well as an unusual scene in which Vonnegut confronts his literary creation and alter ego, Kilgore Trout. Trout wanders in and out of this documentary, at one point looking up Vonnegut's books in the card catalogue of the New York Public Library and muttering about whether he appears in them. It's nice to see Trout in the flesh, but it's better to see Vonnegut.

Connors has Fox howling with joy Flanders leave "St. Elsewhere" Smith partner in Ch. 17 purchase Closed captioned Denote critic's choice Evening highlights Prime time People' Court News Diane Allen, Steve Bell. Evening Magazine NBC New Tom Brokaw. Tonight Show Carl Reiner; humorist Roy Blount Jr.

(R) NBC AFI Comedy Special Host: Dick Van Dyke. Performers include John Larroquette, Susan Ruttan and Kaye Ballard. Newt Diane Allen, Sieve Bell. Highway to Heaven The father of a Vietnam veteran rebels when Jonathan and Mark try to help his son's family relocate in the United Night Court A hurricane forces Harry to turn the courtroom into a maternity ward as the courtroom staff assists stranded mothers-to-be. (R) States.

(R) Hotel Anxiety-ridden Christine News Jim Gardner. Nlghtllne Ted Koppel. Jeopardyl Wheel of Fortune Newt Jim Gardner. ABC ABC New Peter Jennings. suffers trom bulimia; a recently acquitted murder defendant seeks peace and quiet at the St.

Gregory. MacGyver MacGyver summons all his resources in helping an American accused of spying escape from a Central American army camp. (R) Head of the Class Charlie faces a decision about a teaching exam. (R) Perfect Strangers Larry plots to even the score with Balki. (R)q (HI il Dating Game Adderly Disc jockey is suspected.

News Larry Kane. Alan Frio. CBS New Dan Rather. Magnum, P.I. Magnum investigates the alleged suicide of Carol's law school idol, a respected judge.

(R) New Larry Kane. CBS 13 Entertainment Tonight Justine Bateman. The Equalizer McCail investigates the abduction of a jockey's son whose kidnappers demand that the jockey throw a big race. (R) The New Mike Hammer Hammer looks into the alleged cover-up of an aged boxer's poor health. Quests: Genie Francis, Larry Wilcox.

Louise Mandrell. (R) SCTV llrnAm HnnAlnii The ronpal MacNeilLehrer NewHour PBS Figure Skating: An Evening of Championship Skating. The Movie Palaces Gene Kelly. South American Journey Part 3 of 8 Nightly Business Report Wild, Wild World of Animals Mustang! broadcast of the annual competition of Latin, modern and cabaret dancing features commentary by Juliet Prowse. MotorWeek War: A Commentary The Deadly Tony Brown's Journal In the Wild New Jersey News (R) New Southern PBS New Jersey News Nightly Business Report (R) Nightly Business Report Cooking Game of Nations.

Journalist Gwynne Dyer examines why All Creatures Great A Small Alarms and Excursions. Siegfried searches for the source of a mysterious dog poison. nations have armies. LJ MotorWeek Championship Ballroom Dancing The repeat Figure Skating: An Evening of Health Matters Doctor Who Dominators. MacNeilLehrer NewHour The Movie Palaces Gene Kelly.

broadcast ot the annual competition ot Latin, moaern Championship Skating. Heart Disease. PBS 0 Nightly Business Report and cabaret dancing features commentary by Juliet Prowse. The Jeffersons Abbott (I Costello Barney Miller i Tender Mercies '83. Robert Duvall, Tess Harper.

Low-key character study of a unken country sinoer and the young wife who Dlff'rent Stroke Part 1 Part 1 of 2. Medusa 76. George Hamilton. (To 1:30) Part 2 ot 2. Wojo Matt Houston Matt finds a real crime at a mystery-writers' convention when a novelist (Terry Moore) is murdered Fact of Life Natalie's grandmother comes to visit.

helps him pull his life back together. From director Bruce Beresford ot2. considers settling down. Breaker Moram). Bosom Buddie News Lee McCarthy.

The Ropers Jeffrey tries to The Late Show Guest host: Arsenio Hall. Guest: husband and wife magical act, the Pendragons. Neighbor '81. John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd. Surreal suburban-paranoia comedy, trom the Thomas Berger novel, seems to divide the audience into ttiose who love it and those who hate it.

See what you think. Taxi Simka's cousin, a monk on leave, falls for Elaine. Kip learns how Benton Men reminisce about the women that Private Benjamin Winter tries out for an outfit get rid of his hobo uncle. Sonny feels about him got away. Honeymooners Honeymooners All In the Family Battlestar Galactic Kramdens Perry Mason A jealous suitor indulges in harassment until he is killed.

Guests: Mala Powers, Nancy Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo 77. Claude Akins. Charles Frank. The survival of a small town is threatened by a massive infestation of deadly spiders. All In the Family Gloria suspects Mike is unfaithful.

Part 1 ot puzzle over a name. Couples enter a contest. Kulp. Ellen Corby. 1 nw raro The Marrlage-Go-Round '60.

The Marriaoe-Go-Round '60. James Mason, Julie Newmar Leslie AMC James Mason, Julie Newmar. Leslie I'd Climb the Highest Mountain 'si. Susan Hayward, William Lundigan. A new minister and his city-bred wife face lack of faith, an epidemic and other challenges in the hilts of Georgia.

88m. 5:00 I cnmo me mgneei Mountain '51. Susan Hayward, William Lundigan. 88m. American Stevens' play about a married U.S.

professor of cultural anthropology stalked by a Swedish Amazon who wants to have his baby. 98m. Stevens' play. 98m. Movie Classics DISNEY Mouseterptece Theater Dragonelayer 81.

(To 1:30) Day of Gtory: Part '87. Highlights from the 1984 Summef Olympics include diver Greg Louganis, gymnast Peter Vidmar, the women's high jump, and runners Mary Decker and Zota Budd colliding, Dot and the Smugglers 86. Little Dot and her friends catch a circus owner engaged in global wildlife smuggling. Live actionanimated. Danger Bay The aquarium needs Jonah; he needs tennis, The Edison Twin Tom and Ann thwart a crime ring.

HBO Time After Time '79. (PG) Malcolm McDowell. David Warner. A nifty sci-fi chase flick. Jack the Ripper uses H.

G. Wells' time machine to Big Trouble In Utile China '86. (PG-13) Kurt Russell. Kim Cattrall. A trucker, a lawyer and other above-ground dwellers become trapped in an ancient magician's sinister empire beneath San Francisco's Chinatown.

Profanity, violence. 99m. Tomboy '85. R) Betsy Russell, Jerry Dinome. Pretty teenager works on cars and races hot rodder.

Adult situations, profanity, nudity 92m. Training Camp: The Bull Are Back Bubba tries to lose weight. Training Camp: The Bull Are Back Drug agents bust a players' party 8:00 Highway to Heevert (Ft) The father of a dead Vietnam veteran rebels when Jonathan and Mark try to help his son's family relocate in the United States. 8:00 Perfect Strangers' (R) Lifesaver Larry plots to even the scire with hero-worshiper Balki. 8:00 CD The New Mike Hafrfmer (R) Hammer looks into the alleged cover-up of an aged boxer's poor health.

8:00 Figure Skating "An Evening of Championship Skating." From Cambridge. Mass. 8:00 Movie "Tender Mercies." '83. Robert Duvall, Tess Harper. Duvall is absolutely outstanding in this low-key character study of a drunken country singer and the young wife who helps Jijm pull his lite back together.

8:00 QD Movie '81. John Belushi. Dan Aykroyd. Surreal suburban-paranoia comedy, from the Thomas Berger novel, seems to divide the audience into those who love it and those who hate it 8:00 S) Tarantulaa: The Deadly Cargo 77. Claude Akins.

Charles Frank. The survival of a small town is threatenejjjby a massive infestation ot deadly spiders. 8:30 Head of the Clans (R) Charlie faces a decision about ateachingoxam. 9:00 Night Court (R) A hurricane forces Harry to turn the courtroorrwnto a maternity ward as the courtroom staff-assists stranded mothers-to-be. 9:00 MacGyver (R) MacGyver summons all his resources in helping an American accused of spying escape, trom a Central American army camp, 9:00 CD Magnum, P.I.

(R), Uagnum investigates the alleged suicide" Carol's law school idol, a respected jUtige. 9:00 Championship Ballroom Dancing The repeat broadcast of fheannual competition of Latin, modern and cabaret dancing features commentary by Juti'et Prowse. 9:00 60 War: A Commentary Journalist Gwynne Dyer focuses on Israel to examine why nations have armies, 10:00 AFI Comedy Special Host Dick Van Dyke introduces four cOrhedy sketches written by newly discovered writers. Performers include John Larroquette, Susan Ruttan and Kaye Ballard. 10:00 Hotel (R) Anxiety-ridden Christine suffers trom bulimia, 10:00 CD The Equalizer (R) McCall investigates the abduction of a jockey's son whose kidnappers demand that the jockey throw a big race.

10:30 The Movie Palaces Gene Kelly presents the heyday of the extravagant picture palaces of the '20sTnd '30s. 11:00 The Late Show Guest host: Arsenio Hall. Guest: husband Arid wife magical act. the Pendragons. 11:30 The Tonight Show (R) Guests: Carl Reiner: humorist Roy Blount Jr 11:30 CD Adderly (R) Adderly investigates a radio disc jockey suspected Of transmitting vital government information.

11:30 C9 Movie "Medusa." 76. George Hamilton. Cameron Mitchelt Bizarre events occur after a yacht containing two bodies is found adrift in the Night owl highlights 12:00 Movie "How to Save a Marriage and Rum Your Life." "68. Dean Martin, Stella Stevens. A bachelor tries to talk his unhappily married trend into a scheme.

12:00 5D Nightlife (R) Guest Ron Darling. 12:30 Late hUflhl Singer Dion; actor Dan Fnschman. Imim "LmJj mi bj. Nick Nolle. Gene Mackman A finely textured war story about correspondents covering the fall of the Somaza government Nicaraoua who get too cjose to the story 12:40 CD Go West, Young Girt 78 Karen Valentine.

Sandra Will New England wMer Netty and cavalry widow G4da team up to find the 2-00 Movie "The Savje'ls Loose 74 George C. Scott. Trish Van- Devere Man. wite and boy stranded on dfciVt island Boy grows up: only woman aeund Mom 215 Companion In Nightmare '67 Metvyn Douglas. Anne Baxter A psychotc killer rudes among mental pe'its unde-go-ro rhcacy at a research srstitiie 3- 00 Movto The kan Maior BW 43 Pat Bnen.

Pooen Rraa The be story of Frer Cavaneugh. xiHteoog American toeN" coach vi War I fwro 0 69 Movie "Scwf Msjpi-f, ew '47 j.itert Foi Djnean Reoe'do flee into the future, a no wens pursues nun. Mtuawa, yi violence. 112m. 4:30 MAX Urban Cowboy '80.

PG) John Travolta, Debra Winger. Low-key look at the cowboy subculture in Texas, focusing on the macho trials and tribulations of a refinery worker. Profanity, nudity, violence. 135m. The Verdict '82.

(R) Paul Newman. Charlotte Rampling. Alcoholic lawyer takes on the dean of a law firm, the Archdiocese of Boston and the judicial system in general. Adult situations, profanity. 129m.

Cinemax UprttU AX the Way '66. (PG) Roy Clark, Mel Tlllis. Tum-crt-the-century con men Booger and Ben enter bank with a shotgun; are mistaken for robbers anfJ chased by a posse. Profanity, nudity, violent. 86m.

The Last Hurrah '58. Spencer Tracy. 12 7m. PRISM Sport Sesame Street: FoHow That Bird '85. (G) Big PRISM Wltchflr '85.

(R) Shelley Winters, Gary Swanson. Lydia and two other women who think they are witches escape (rom an asylum and trap a hunter in the woods. Profanity, nudity, violence. 92m. Fever Pitch '85.

(R) Ryan O'Neal, Catherine Hicks. A sportswrlter and compulsive gambler gets deeper in deot under the guise of exposing the pitfatisof Las Vegas. Profanity, nudity, violence. 96m. Scream for Help Adult situations, profanity, nudity, violence.

City Light National Lampoon's European Vacation. Bird, placed by Miss Finch with the Dodo family in Illinois, dislikes it and heads back to New Yom. The rest of the Muppets form a search party. 88m. SHOW Arthur '81.

(PG) Dudley Moore. John Gieigud. Boisterous, drunken romp about a happy-go-lucky playboy Though funny, Moore is upstaged by Oscar winner Gieigud. Adult situations, profanity. 10Om.

Minstrel Man 77. Glynn Turman. Ted Ross. Two brothers form their own minstrel troupe, free ot racial stereotypes, during the turn-of-the-century birth of ragtime. 104m.

AHene '86. (R) Stgourney Weaver. Carrie Henn. Thrilling, gutwrenching sequel to Alien is Lt. Ripley's believe It or not: she returns to planet LB 426 with Marines sent to check out her horror story and ends up doing mano-a-mano with the gooey, tenlacled brood mare out to destroy humanity.

Profanity, violence. 137m. TIME TMC Creator '85. (R) Peter O'Toote. Marie! Hemingway.

A cigar-chomping scientific genius tries to re-create his dead wife out of preserved cells. Profanity, nudity. 107m. By the Light ot me Silvery Moon 'S3. Dons Day.

Gordon MacRae Sequel to On Moonlight Bay has Wortd War I soldier returning to Indiana and asking his sweetheart to wait for marriage while he tries to build financial security. From the Booth Tarkmgton story. 102m. POW: The Escape 86 (R) David Carradine. Charles R.

Floyd. POW Col. Cooper arranges for release of POWs. Profanity, violence. 90m.

The Movie 00 Cease Fire 5. (Rj Don Johnson. Lisa Blount. Vietnam veterans share experiences. Profanity, violence.

97m. (Channel 'HETT EE Dsn HI Rock Una From ARTS ENT. Evening at the Improv Martin Mull welcomes musical guest Leon Redbone and comedian Elayne Booster i Kurt Vonnegut The satirist and author discusses the memories and ideas that influenced his novels Living Dangerously Death of a Legend. Study filmed in Canada of the lite cycle ot the wolf, a misunderstood animal The 20th Century General George Marshall Vietnam: The 10,000 Day War The siege of Khe Sanh Rising Damp Ruth claims to have seen a prowler. 5:30 American Dream The Novak family gives up a comfortable suburban lifestyle for mnpf-city Chicago Psychedelic Furs The Pi uleeeeonete Urban Scene On the Line Soft Notes Hardcaetle 4 McCormlck Soft Mote BET Video Soul The 700 Club Snapshot Dektart Hardceetle McCormtck CBN B4g Ve -I Sports 'night I Evening News Larry King Uvet Croeaflre Mooayftne Showbiz S-00 Mews CNN Teas Steve SporteCenter Inside the PGA Tour SporteCenter Bowling: Austin Open, from Westgate Lanes Austin.

Goo is the rtptondino champon ESPN Horse Racing: United Nations Handicap SporteLeok Scholastic Sports tnetde the PGA Tour Ash Wednesday 73 EHTabpm Taylor. Hnry Fonfl Kay O'Brien Our Group Peo. Crktie Dr. Ruth Can Be a Star Lady Woe Fandango VktaoC-ntry Crook Maw Country MeahvfNe Now Can Be Star Fandango VldaoC-ntry ISpy Mr. Ed My Three Sons Oonna Read Car 54.

Where Are VouT Susie Ann Sothem The Monks NICK Sparta a the Sun You Cant Do That on TV NtCK ROCKS: Video to Go TBS Birds ot Pray 73 LiavO Janssen Ftaipn Meeer A San Lake City fart: -heucocter pttot conducts an aerial pursuit of fleeing bank roOOes The Charge at the Light eVtcade tOwxl Erroi Flynn. CAmm de Haviiland Two brmsh Drome- tyht over the same pi cotomal India, toflowed by re-enactment of the nob 600 ttdmg mlo Tennyson's valiey of death. Sentorda Son Part 3 Of 3 Jewel mieves Leave to Beaver Wally's pais bother Dow to Earth bachelor Luster almost marries Raicr claims to run the bus 1 7T-T 7 PeraoacMva 1 Camera Sptrtt ot Aale Gemoco Wbdtlte Cinema I the Wild Strange Loet Kingdoms TDC Bomber The Survtvore r-erepecm-e I1 -v- merry Butter Powors USA Cartoon EKpreea RtpWd. prtncaa.Cy Frtdeys Fatrocal VVGN Good Tew Therftor, Bai Body Heat 61. Wafcacn Hurt.

Kthieen Turner. lST 1 ii rj Culrte Real Estate Shopper Cee-awrf boera Orini lit -i Rewiore Mews Be Ge is cease anoppe Radio Indr-t T-O TWft), M-A'S'H 15n I A Currant Afs7 SAent Rage Cftuc Harm Ron bm ew ineeenow in leiLuiiM nn.taa Ce I Burnett a I Enterteawwe-J jej t. ImcwccJfi-y- usatW jo-dO. r- today 0 st -'k-s hohngn OWi grJ fM.