The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 264

F4 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1992 LOS ANGELES TIMES I RICK DU BROW Faces CBS' Trademark Series Lead the Way to Success are aging and represent the net work's glorious past more than its future. Curiously, however despite the ongoing depressing rumors about its fate NBC actually has a lineup that offers a number of delights. It Destiny Brought Frances Fisher Together With Clint Eastwood Frances Fisher often wondered growing up what it would be like to have roots. "I remember thinking what it would be like to have a home in one place and have friends you know for all your life. I never felt that." Fisher plays the vengeful Strawberry Alice in her boyfriend Clint Eastwood's acclaimed Western "Unforgiven," and is featured in Showtime's thriller "Devlin," airing Saturday, as the is, for instance, the principal network bastion of weekly dramas.

lacks the killer punch of a "Murphy Brown" or "Roseanne." The upside for NBC is that its most important trademark series of the 1980s the show that helped put the network back on the map and earned it respect was "Hill Street Blues," which wasn't a huge ratings hit but attracted a desirable audience that other creative shows could draw on. NBC is at a crossroads, reeling from the loss of "The Cosby Show" and Johnny Carson, nervous about whether David Letterman will jump ship and dependent on two remaining trademark series "Cheers" and "L.A. Law" that CBS to "The Cosby Show" on NBC to "Happy Days" on ABC. Each was a significant reflection of the broadcast company that presented it. Occasionally, other series are also important signature shows: NBC's "Hill Street Blues" and "Miami Vice," ABC's "Moonlighting" and CBS' awesome soap-opera image with blockbusters "Dallas," "Falcon Crest" and "Knots Landing." Just as CBS' trademark is "Murphy Brown," ABC's counterpart is "Roseanne," the latest example of how that network traditionally does best in competition when it Four of the five shows recently nominated for an Emmy as best network drama series were on NBC: "I'll Fly Away," "Law Order," "L.A.

Law" and "Quantum Leap. In addition, NBC has such ratings winners as "Unsolved Myster- Television: It has become the most well-rounded network and is the favorite to win the 1992-93 season. With the new TV season rolling out in earnest in the next few weeks, CBS paced by its trademark series "Murphy Brown" is a heavy favorite to repeat as ratings champ. If that happens, CBS, which made an unprecedented bolt from last to first place in the 1991-92 season, may settle in for a long period at the top, thanks greatly to a Monday lineup that includes "Murphy Brown" and "Northern Exposure." Trademark shows are important on TV. They illustrate to the public what a network wants to be known for at its best.

They are standard bearers in defining not only an image but also what kind of audience a network is seeking to earn its profits. Every network that has had major ratings success can point to trademark shows that have led the way from "All in the Family" on Please see SERIES, F1S UNIVfRSAl STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD. MATTHEW BRODERICK oversexed, crazy wife of Bryan Brown. As a youngster, Fisher's father supervised construction companies in England, Turkey, Frances, Italy, Columbia, Iowa and Texas. "I learned to read and write French in the first grade," Fisher recalls.

"I guess I learned English from reading Little Lulu comic books because I didn't learn English until the second grade when I was in Brazil." Wanderlust is still very much in Fisher's blood. "I live in a couple of different places. When I was in New York, which was the longest I was ever in one city, 14 years, I moved seven times." hits the young adult family audience. At Fox, the trademark series is, of course, "The Simpsons," a perfect embodiment of the brash anti-Establishment tone that the young and youth-oriented network has made its own. NBC, on the other hand, is in desperate need of a signature show to help define itself for the future.

The program the network seems to be pointing to is "Seinfeld," which is witty, intelligent and widely respected but unfortunately, as a potential ratings power, probably He'ijotMkowjbfeldhs nwing wofictwilha phorenunbtr worth hundred mfion dolors. JP Thtfti ooly om plots-: Jr li hssfVt Ioo1bn1. PETER KREDENSUlt Frances Fisher: "He is a wonderful actor and director." UTONfSl h. Fisher caught the acting bug after appearing in community theater productions in Texas of "Summer and Smoke" and "A Man for All Seasons." "I thought, 'This sure beats being a secretary at she says, laughing. "I faked my way through shorthand so I was barely a secretary.

I knew there was something else in my destiny." After apprenticing at Virginia's Barter Theatre for a year, Fisher moved to New York and appeared on stage in such productions as "Fool for Love" and "Orpheus Descending." Since moving to Los Angeles, Fisher has been featured in "Pink Cadillac," also with Eastwood, "L.A. Story" and played Lucille Ball in the 1991 CBS movie "Lucy Desi: Before the Laughter." Will Fisher and Eastwood team up again on on the silver screen? "I hope so," she says enthusiastically. "I would like to. He is a wonderful actor and director." SUSAN KING Murphy Dunne Happily Gives the World Just What It Doesn't Need 'TTT hat the world doesn't need," says Murphy Dunne, "is another one-person show." In that spirit comes "Murphy Dunne Nevertheless," a solo piece that opened this week at the Globe Playhouse in West Hollywood. "Many people do these kinds of shows to break into the business," admits the 50-year-old veteran actor.

"I've done a lot of film, a lot of TV, I've worked with Mel Brooks, Barbra Streisand and Barry Levinson. But there's no way for me to vent my spleen, show KVtRlYHUS GCC 8EVTRIY CONWCTION (310)6595911 DMT. 1130.2.41. CCC HOLLYWOOD dam WEITWOOO MANNWEStWOOD (310) 389 MANN DAM 3 55 7 00 S7 00(Xkngoftff 5 00 pm "rtfo taking ion SiDOiturioeanm 1te1 puchent UMVIRIAL CITY CNFFUXOOfON UWtRSAiaiYCJNMA5 (818) SOBOSBfl OAKY 3)0. 5 30.

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The score for "Nevertheless" has been recorded on CD, and, he says, "is my petite claim to artistry." The son of politician George Dunne "when Mayor Richard Daley died, my father took over the Democratic party in Chicago" the performer hooked up with Second City as the company's pianist (in exchange for acting lessons), and later joined the group in 1968. In 1971, he resettled in Los Angeles. "I'd done a number of free music festivals in Chicago; one erupted into a riot," he explains of the move. "I'd also harmed my father's career as much as possible." JANICE ARKATOV Matt Damon's Harvard Experience Comes in Handy for 'School Ties' Matt Damon should have received his B.A. in English from Harvard this past June.

But he's 12 credits shy of graduating because he took time off to appear in Paramount's "School Ties," opening next Friday. In the drama set in the 1950s, Damon plays Dillon, a struggling senior at a fancy New England prep school who resorts to cheating so he can follow into his family's footsteps and attend Harvard. Damon said his Harvard experience really helped to play Dillon. "I actually went to public school in Cambridge, he says. "I Meryl Streep Bruce Willis GoldieHawn lealffleciiefHer NOW PLAYING WLW lIllHIHlllliVIII.

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10:25 4 hours free vakdated UNIVERSAL CITY IE CINEPLEX ODEON UNIVERSAL CITY CINEMAS (818) 50SOS88 DAILY 5:45. 8:00. 10:15 LATE SHOW FRI ft SAT HOUYWOOO TBS, GCC HOLLYWOOD GALAXY 6 (713) 757-4GEN 6:25. 7:45. 10:10 3 hours vobdated pakng S2 00 in Gotoiy Garage Enter on Sycamore pailung with lidiet purchoss WESTWOOD Mann Bruin JHK 310289 -MANN Ffl Sun 5:30 7:45 10:00 PM Frl-Sat loto Show 12:15 AM Mon-Tfiurs 3:15 5:30 7:45 10:00 PM $2.00 parking orler 5:00 PM In 'Privilege Parking Lois.

SI. 00 refunded wllti ticket purchase. HOLLYWOOD Mann Chinese JHK 2 13269 -MANN Fri Sun 12:30 2:45 5:15 7:45 10:15 PM Frl-Sat Late Show 12:30 AM Dairy 2:45 7:45 10:15 PM $2.00 parking 'A block south oiler 5:00 PM Mon-Frl and all day Sot-Sun. LOS AH0ELES Cineplex Odeon Fairfax 213653-3117 Dally 1:153:15 5:15 7:30 9:45 PM Frl-Sat Late Show 11:45 PM BREA Edwards Bieo Plaia 714529-5339 BUENA PARK United Artists Movies 714952-4992 6UBBANK AMC Media Cenler 4 618953-9800 CHIN0 AMC Chlno Town Square 10 714590-2400 CITY OF COMMERCE Pacific's Commerce 213726-6022 CITY OF INDUSTRY Pacific's Vinelond Drive-in 818961-9262 CORONA Edwards Westend 8 714273-0101 COSTA MESA Edwards Clnemo Cenler 714979-4141 CULVER CITY Mann Culver Plaza 6 310289-MAHN DIAMOND BAR Krlkorlon's Diamond Bar Cinema 8 714598-SH0W DOWNTOWN L.A. GRANADA HILLS United Artists Movies 818366-0032 HERM0SA BEACH AMC Hermosa 6 Theatres 310318-8000 HUNTINGTON BEACH Edwards Huntington Pierside 6 714969-3151 IRVINE Edwards University 714854-8811 LA MIRADA Krikorkm's La Mlrada Cinema 7 714522-6920 LA0UNA NI0UEL Edwards 3HK Rancho Nlguel 8 Theatres 714831-0446 LAKEW00D Pacific's Lakewood Center 31031-9560 LONG BEACH AMC Marino Paclfica 310493-5521 MARINA DEL EY Untied Artists Cinema 310823-3959 MONTEREY PARK Edwards Monterey Mall 818570-1026 MORENO VALLEY Edwards JHK.

Festival Cinemas 714485-2000 couldn really relate to the prep school, but going to Harvard there are no shortage of Dillons. I know a lot of kids who went to prep schools and some of them are these legacies of Harvard and do feel the pressure from their family." In his case, Damon says he put pressure on himself. "Only five or six people a year in a class of 550 get into Harvard from my high school," he says. His parents, though, were "really cool and they wanted me to be happy. They didn't care if I went to Harvard.

They just wanted me to do what I wanted to do. It was unbelievable to have parents that are that open-minded." But there was a time when ALHAMBRA CORONA LA MIRADA MORENO VALLEY PUENTE HILLS UPLAND Edwards Edwards Pacific's Gateway Edwards AMC Plaza 10 Edwards AihomLxo Place Corona 11 (714)523-1611 TownGatG (818)964-2240 Ltoiand Cinema 8 (818)2810980 (714)279160 (714)6531000 (714)985-3336 ARCADIA COVIN A Pacific's "NORTH CUCAMONOA JEK VAN NUYS GCC SoCols Fox Regency 8 HOLLYWOOD Edwords Pacific's SonloAnila (818)332-0050 (310) 420-9977 Century 7 TcfioViSla6 VonNuyS (818)4456200 FULLERTON LAKEWOOD (818)5086004 (714)4664515 DnwHn AZUSA AMC UmtedAilisIS NORTHRIDGE DON DO BEACH (818)786-3500 Edwards FulertonlO Lakewood Plaza Peppertree GCCGallcria VENTURA FoarhH Center (714) 9926000 (310) 604-2002 (BIB) 993-021 1 Ot South Bay Centuryfl (818)969632 JBSL 10NQ BEACH ORANGE (310)5424361 (605) 644 5666 BUR BANK Mann8 AMC Stadium ROLLING HILLS WOODLAND HILLS AMC Thealresat Marino Ftolica Ehrveln AMC GCC EkirDonk 14 the Exchange (310) 493-5521 (714) 6398770 Dolling Hills FoUbrooli 7 (818)9539800 (818)5490045 MARINA DELREY PARAMOUNT (310)326 5511 (818)3476091 CHATSWORTH HERMOSA BEACH Cmople Odeon Poole's HD'SANTA AHA Pacific's AMC Manna Marketplace Rasecrans AMC MrHopkXQ HE Pre sumo in Winnoiko Drive In Hermosa6 Cinemas Drwo-ln (714)9728500 ic (818) 3496806 (310) 3186000 (310) 627 9588 (310) 6344151 SANTA MONICA 'Tffcfc) CHINO HUNTINGTON 'MORENO "PASADENA 1HK Cineplex Odeon mBBC.IUTCna. AHCCtwio PARK VALLEY JHK United Artists Broadway JlHSSSJJS" Town Square 10 California Edwords Festival Market Ploce Cinemas Utlloowiwuj)" (714) 690-2400 (213) 6856555 (714) 48520OQ (818) 7951386 (310) 458-1506 MYI.ES ARONOWITZ PASADENA AMC Old Pasadena 8 Theatres 818585-8900 PICO RIVERA Pacific's Fiesta Drive-in 310948-3671 POMONA Mission Drive-In 7146280511 PUENTE HILLS AMC Puente Moll 10 818810-5566 RANCHO CALIFORNIA Edwards Rancho California 714694-4130 RIVERSIDE Rubldoux Drive in 714683-4455 RIVERSIDE United Artists Park Sierra 714359-6995 ROLLING HILLS AMC Rolling Hills 3107326-5511 SAN BERNARDINO AMC Commercenler 714888-1400 SAN BERNARDINO Krikorton's Del Rosa Cinema 8 714888-SHOW SANTA ANA AMC Main Place 714972-8500 SANTA ANA Edwards Bristol 714540-7444 SANTA BARBARA Metropolitan's Flesla 805963 9503 Matt Damon: "I hope I am not reacted to differently. I am really a normal TORRANCE Mann Del Amo 9 3 10289-MANN TFTX UNIVERSAL CITY Cineplex Odeon Universal City Cinemas TTrc-8)8508-0588 UPLAND Edwards Mountain Green 4 7)4982-7851 VALENCIA Mann 10 805255-3966 VAN NUYS Pacific's Van Nuys Drive-In 818786-3500 VENTURA Mann Buenaventura 805658 6544 VICTORVILLE Vklor Valley 10 619241-8400 WESTMINSTER Edwards Weslmtnster Moll 714893 0546 WOODLAND HILLSI GCC Follbrook 7 I 81B347-6091 1HX fsnmsmsw tsranasmz ALHAM8RA Edwards Alhambra Place 818281 -0980 Metropolitan's State 213239-0962 EL T0RO Edwards Saddleback 714581-5880 FONTANA Edwards Fonlana 8 714356-5666 FULLERTON AMC Fultarton 10 714992-6000 0ARDENA Pacific's Vermont Drive tn 310323-4055 QLENDALE Mann 8 Theatres at The Exchange 818549 0045 TUX MORENO VALLEY Edwards Towngate Cinema THS 714653-1000 NORTH HOLLYWOOD United Artists Volley Plazo 816766-43)7 N0RTHRIDOE GCC Fashion Cenler Cinema 818993-0111 ONTARIO Pacific's Ontario 10 714947-1662 ORANGE AMC Orange Moll Clnemo 714637-0340 they weren't so open-minded. "When I was 16 1 got a local commercial.

I took that money and went to New York and got an agent against my parents' wishes. They thought I was too young." In hindsight, Damon says, his parents were right. "I am glad I didn't get any work when I was 16 because I think that would have messed up my college education. I am sure I wouldn't have ended up at Harvard. I don't think it is a healthy perspective for a teen-ager." Damon hopes that his classmates don't treat him differently because of the movie.

"I imagine I am going to be carrying some extra luggage. But I hope I am not reacted to differently. I am really a normal person." SUSAN KING ARCADIA GCC Sanlo Anita Cinema 818445-6200 ARROYO GRANDE festival 805481-7553 AZUSA Edwards Foothill Center 818969-9632 BAKEHSFIELD Mann Cresl Drive In 805832-0001 BAKERSFIELD Uniled Artists Movies UWVtRlAl CfTY CINtPlEX OOtON UfUVEBSAL CltY CINEMAS (Blfl) 5080588 DAILY- 100.3 00, 730.B.4S LATE SHOW Fftl ft SAT -1100 HOUYWOOO RACWCSVINE (213)4636819 OAltY 6 35 ft 1000 SANTA FE SPRINGS Mwmattwaties (310)941-7747 TORRANCE United Amis DM Arm (310)542 7363 VtCTOtVIUf WRTHR10GE (818) 9930211 ORANGE Lhled A1 til City Crano (7l4Jfl34-39U PALMOALE AniriopaVottv 10 IhtolrH (805)2674940 PUENTE HUS AMC Puenli MM 10 (BIB) 810566 Cenlw (714)3811611 'SANTA AHA Hutlon CeniB' SANTA AMC IV 10 rot wis Musi hi Mr SORRY. NO MSSIS ACCIPUO MABINA DEL REY MOM NO VALLEY uwod AnisfsCnema EOwaM (310)8233959 TownGota MONROVIA Mom (M)ft3-10W HixilmgtonOoks NORTH (818)3564545 HOUYWOOO i WOWTCLAJR UnledArtiils uYald Artals Movmi Wley PtaM (818)7664317 AKAHfiM CNArtWOffTH EUOOUXJIll 6 ftwtic 3 (714) 778910 WnrnlXaDrrvsn CUOOH (618)396806 Sou rtOoY fl Dnve CORONA (310) 637881 1 Edwards Cwona 1 1 CEBRtTOS (714)27frll60 AMCAHWHa OLE NDOfiA Mckyi 6 (310)9245531 PMStNTtDM BARtARA PtaaiMOia ii (BOS) 983-9603.