Clarion-Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 33

ADVICEPUZZLES 3 COMICS 4 TV TONIGHT 8 Lfll THE CLARION-LEDGER I JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1994 SHERRY I LUCAS Columnist The Clarion-Ledger Keep Jackson Beautiful director sees possibilities A couple of things Barbara Ryan needs dirt. And we don't mean gossip. She needs the sort of scoop that fills a hole, not the kind that fuels a fire. Although some came through recently for Keep Jackson Beautiful's executive director, "We can always use more of everything." Here's the deal: The lot behind Eudora Wel-ty Library (across North Street) is an ongoing restoration project of Ryan's. The state-owned property was adopted by the city two years ago It's 'NYPD Blank' in Mississippi By Gary Pettus Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Mississippi is the only state in the union with a total network-affiliate ban on NYPD Blue, says Janice Gretemeyer, vice president of media relations for ABC.

All five ABC affiliates in Mississippi continue the J3ue blackout in the TV series' second season. Several stations in other parts of the country resumed their ban, but many have come around since the drama debuted, she said. "Fifty-seven ABC stations did not carry it when it premiered in September 1993. By the time the end of the season came number had been reduced toJ30 ABC stations," she said. "When the show premiered this season (on Oct.

11), the number was reduced to 19. And in five of those 19 markets, we had independents carrying the show." She cites critical acclaim and viewer interest for the turnaround. Ratings for the first episode this season were the highest ever for the show, she said, a 31 percent improvement over its season average. Some 24.3 million viewers watched that episode, she said. Ratings for the episode that aired last Tuesday were the second-highest ever, she said.

The general managers for WAPT-Channel 16 of Jackson, WABG-TV of GreenwoodGreenville, WLOV of ColumbusTupelo West Point, WLOX of BiloxGulf-portPascagoula and WTOK of Meridian have all balked at the series' nudity and profanity. "I know the ratings are there, I know the quality of the show is there. There's just a little bit of the show that doesn't need to be there, including the language and 'some visual," said Tom Wall, WTOK GM. "I do get calls from time to time from people upset that we don't carry it. I also get letters from people supporting the decision." He also gets calls protesting soap-opera content, he said.

Comparing NYPD Blue with soaps is not valid, since children are in school when soaps are broadcast, he said. Leon Long, GM at WLOX, says he won't consider canceling the ban until ABC applies the same standards to NYPD Blue as the network does to its other programs. "Tell me where the lines are for NYPD Blue," he said. "That line is an ever-changing one. Stuart Kellogg, WAPT GM, says he believes the profanity and nudity in NYPD Blue is not needed.

He also contends that even if the show changed, every viewer might not be satisfied. "There are times when a show that, even if it cleaned up its act, would still be too strong for some people," he said. JF I v- I iv' v- 1 1 1 If 44' if 4 i -f I- I nirf iii wn irmfti ejiMMiniiMii i i utini irri" Is NYPD Blue, banned by ABC affiliates in Mississippi, more "adult" than, say, soap operas? WARNING: The following story comparing the controversial TV series NYPD Blue with soap operas will NOT be pre-empted by your local ABC affiliate. It contains references to prof'nlty, n'dity, vl'lence and s'xual situations. And a lot of these things: By Gary Pettus Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer Yes, this is yet another story about That Show.

"That outstanding show!" say the critics. "That disgusting show!" say many viewers, including some who've even seen it. "What show?" say still others, who probably live in Mississippi. Most TV viewers in this state probably haven't seen NYPD Blue, ABC's award-winning series about cops and robbers and lovers. During its debut season last year, general managers for all five of the state's ABC affiliates declined to air it.

"NYPD blow," they said. During this new season, which began Oct. 11, they have remained steadfast, citing the series' language, nudity and violence, which broke precedent for prime-time network television. After all, it's not every day that you can see a cop being shot in his caboose on ABC. That may be just one reason why, if you tune in to WAPT at 9 on Tuesday nights, you'll see a series called The Road instead of NYPD Blue.

The other four affiliates have their own replacement programs. In spite of a shower of Emmy, Golden Globe, and People's Choice awards on the missing show, none of the five general managers say they are reconsidering the blackout. "It's not even an option," said Mark Led-. better, general manager of WTVA which has an operating agreement with WLOV-TV, Columbus-Tupelo-West Point. The men and women in blue aren't completely off the screen, though.

Some viewers on the Gulf Coast can nab NYPD Blue on WXXV in Gulfport, a Fox network affiliate that began broadcasting the program this season. Viewers who live near a state line may be able to collar the canned cop show on affiliates, or independent stations, in Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana or Arkansas. Otherwise, most residents have had to turn to soap operas or daytime talk shows to get a good dose of salaciousness. who pick up trash, then marry it tomorrow on That is not a valid comparison, says Stuart Kellogg, general manager of WAPT in Jackson. "A soap doesn't have partial nudity or the language you hear on NYPD Blue." and efforts are under way to turn it into a green space park.

"It bad needs some help," Ryan says. The place is getting some in a major way today, as volunteers from MobileComm and Trustmark National Bank put in 75 donated shrubs from Lakeland Yard Garden and azaleas and holly trees from Callaway's for Corporate Community Service Week. The Jackson Council of Garden Clubs came through with some monkey grass. A natural border is the goal, for less mowing and easier maintenance. "It, needs some loving, tender care," agreed Sheila Morrison, a Keep Jackson Beautiful member, lover of landscaping and a helper here.

A percentage of money that was raised through the 1993 Glad Bagathon, earmarked for lot restoration, aids this project. Other labor sources: city grounds crews and inmates. More care, fewer bottles This week's work began Monday with the hauling off of two big trash trucks full of debris. "I don't know where all that stuff comes from," Ryan sighed. I think we all know, really, where it comes from.

And from whom. The consumer of the empty 32-ounce Schlitz bottle I saw planted there Saturday was one source. People like that consumer know better, I'm sure. I just wish they cared better. Fortunately, there are those who do care and they've got their work cut out for them.

It's sort of an out-of-the-way spot, but with potential for real charm. Flowers and park benches there now-show an emerging appeal. Today's work will sow, and show more. "We're contracting with someone to keep it mowed and picked up," Ryan said "That's the key to the whole thing. If we can't keep it maintained, you'd never know we've been there." And even if you aren't out there today and tomorrow, digging in the dirt and putting in bushes and beauty, you can still do your part (even without lifting a finger).

It's a new twist on an old admonition that applies' anywhere, anytime: If you can't plant something nice, don't plant anything at all Card sharps Speaking of things most of us have heard all our lives, here's another: "When you care enough to send the very best." Hallmark Cards' hallmark slogan hit its 50th anniversary of its national radio broadcast Saturday, putting it into the same elite camp with: "Remember, only you can prevent forest fires" of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (and Smokey the Bear); "Never underestimate the power of a woman" of Ladies' Home Journal Campbell Soup's "M'm! M'm! Good!" Hallmark Cards, to mark this occasion, gave some greeting-card statistics. Check out these: 50 percent of all personal mail is greeting cards; and women purchase about 85 percent of all greeting cards (except on Mother's Day, when they purchase only 75 percent). "Women just are card-senders," Hallmark spokeswoman Amanda Kleiboeker explained. "Women are very expressive. It's just second nature." Even though things even out more on the high-tech end, with computer-based personalized cards and recordable greetings, male mailers still don't measure higher than 40 percent.

So here's another new take on a well-worn phrase: Never underestimate the personal mail power of women. We've got our stamps on most of what's out there. Sherry Lucas' column appears on Tuesday. To contact her, call 961-7283. ABCSpecial to The Clarion-Ledger Jimmy Smits (left), Dennis Franz: Playing two of NYPD Blue's finest.

rV'-lf rK: It is a valid comparison, says William Rit- Using profanity, nudity, violence and sex- chie, general manager of WXXV in Gulfport. ual content as guidelines, how does NYPD "I wouldn't watch some of that raunchy Blue stack up against ABC's unpre-empted stuff," he said, referring to soap operas. daytime soaps All My Children, One Life Ritchie decided to air NYPD Blue this to Live and General Hospital season because "I wanted to see the show The objects of comparison are three, hour- myself," he said. long NYPD Blue episodes, taped last sea- At any rate, it is an arbitrary comparison: son, and an hourlong episode each of the Love in the Afternoon vs. Bullets in the Aft three soaps, viewed in succession last But is it a capricious one? Wednesday.

As any soap fan knows, there's Point: Children are at school when most even more action in Congress than in a daytime soap operas air. Wednesday soap opera. Counterpoint: Children are not in school Here goes, anyway: during the summer. And there's always the NypD Snow White and her friends hit the stores today The Walt Disney Studio releases the classic animated feature in a big way. By Jack Garner Gannett Newt Service mine and into your favorite video store.

Video trade magazines report that 23 million copies have already been shipped. That's more than a million more than the initial video release of Jurassic Park. And although it's officially listed at $26.99, industry insiders say you also can bet it'll be deep discounted at most outets probably in the range. The video release of Snow White follows the 1993 restoration of the film to its original artful glory. Disney worked with Eastman Kodak Co.

to digitally restore nearly 120,000 individual frames of the film. Faded colors were boosted to their original brilliance, and flaws and markings in individual frames were digitized. The film's memorable score including Whistle While You Work and Someday My Prince Will Come also was restored. Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to the video store we go. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs arrives today.

The tape of the classic 1937 animated feature had long been considered a Holy Grail that would never surface on video. The Walt Disney Studio marketeers have discovered they can sell videos to succeeding generations of watchers, just as they've recycled their classic films into theaters for succeeding generations. That's why Grumpy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Doc, Happy, Bashful and Dopey are marching out of the diamond The Watt Dianey CompanySpecial to The Clarion-Ledger Snow White: Coming to your house with the guys. OUT AMD ABOUT UPCOMING THEY SAID IT. FREE STUFF Look, in 1977 you said After 17 years, "'Theatre Roundabout, a British acting team, performs at 7 p.m., Girault Auditorium, Belha-ven College.

Details: 968-5979. Organist Andrew Risinger performs at 7:30 p.m. at North-minster Baptist Church, 3955 Ridgewood Road, Jackson. Details: 362-3235. tation for being opinionated and out of control when he won an Oscar for The Goodbye Girl at 30 and was arrested for cocaine possession at 35.

"I've had Richard Dreyfuss figures he's done enough explaining. "You know how many times journalists have said to me, 'When you said 17 years ago and Mississippi Region of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival is Thursday-Oct. 30, Millsaps College Christian Center Auditorium. Tickets: $5 each or $25 for all 10 shows. Details: 857-3267.

Bagwell Antiques Show and Sale is Friday-Sunday, Trade Mart. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today and Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Three-day admission is $4 adults, $2 children.

Details: 939-1243. "Bark in the Park" is 1 1 a.m. -4 p.m. Saturday, Lakeland Park, 1200 Lakeland Drive (behind Dizzy Dean Museum). Events include dog owner look-a-like contest and ugliest dog.

Details: 960-1806 or Fitter than thou Madonna runs, Tina Turner walks, and Mary Lou Retton tumbles. All three sweated their way into "The 25 Fittest People of 1994," according to Fitness magazine. The winners, not ranked in any particular order, were chosen by a panel of fitness trainers and magazine editors. They looked for more than awesome bods, said editor in chief Rona Cherry. They wanted people who also ate good food and knew how to manage stress.

Other celebs named: Demi Moore, Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Kimberly Gritting, soprano, presents a guest recital at 8:15 p.m. in Aven Fine Arts Auditorium on the Mississippi College campus. Details: 925-3239. Janice Jones, extension home economist, will present a program on holiday foods at 9:30 a.m.

at the Hinds Cooperative Extension Service Building, 1735 Wilson Jackson. Details: 372-1424. what I call medium celebrity for 20 years," said Dreyfuss, 47. "I feel fine about it. I've never gone home and said, 'Why aren't I making as much as they ask me to respond to a 17-year-old quote?" Dreyfuss said in the New York Daily News.

"Do you know how many things have been self-sustaining because of that?" Dreyfuss had a repu-.