Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 70

Time out THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS FEATURES FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1991 PAGE 71 72-79 TV listings 80 Inside video games Friday Saturday Sunday 80 Videos about death 0 LP 7 5 LOST YOUTH Channel 3, 8 p.m. Friday This NBC News special wasn't finished by press time the producers must be waiting until the last minute to see if anyone else from "Diffrent Strokes" gets arrested over the weekend. Katie Couric and Bryant Gum-bel of "Today" host a look at the troubled lives of former child stars. Todd Bridges Jay North the Tempest Bledsoe Cosby and Danny Bonaduce Pa-tridge talk about how early fame can be a drag. Couric and Gumbel also answer the burning question, "Whatever happened to Rodney Allen Rippy?" EMPTY NEST A Channel 3, 10 p.m.

Saturday Here's a repeat of the episode in which Danny Thomas made his last TV appearance, taped shortly before his death this spring. Thomas stars as an aging doctor friend of Harry's who loathes to retire. 5V III ill hi ill. i PARKER LEWIS CAN'T LOSE Channel 29, 7:30 p.m. Sunday Speaking of former child stars in the fine tradition of Davy Jones dropping by "The Brady Bunch" for Marcia's prom, Donny Osmond puts in an appearance at Parker Lewis's high school dance.

SWITCHED AT BIRTH Channel 3, 9 p.m. Sunday You remember the headlines. Two Florida newborns are accidently sent home from the hospital with the wrong parents, and nobody figures it out until 10 years later. Bonnie Bedelia, Brian Kerwin and Ed Asner star in this two-part movie based on the true story. Part two airs Monday night at 9.

Earl Sinclair (left) is proud papa of a newly hatched baby dinosaur in the premiere of "Dinosaurs" Monster of an effort specialize in bringing non-human characters to the screen. Brian Henson, son of the late Muppeteer Jim, is one of two executive producers. Muppets for the '90s, these dinosaurs are big, scaly. Technically, the dinosaurs are big puppets operated by people inside costumes, like Big Bird on "Sesame Street," only much more complicated. The show's producers won't say exactly how they do it, but the 1 WUIIIM.II lj TWWTW I I I I i in.

I. I I xWkfl rc: I 1 X.J jj i lumpy, bug-eyed creatures. They're the dinosaurs you'll recognize from the Academy of Natural Sciences, but with human qualities. The Sinclair family (a clever joke: the dinosaur characters are dinosaurs' detailed expressions are con-trolled electronically. However it's done the dinosaurs waggle their eyebrows, lick their lips, squint the effect is remarkable.

Earl's boss, high-tech creations, so you can understand how the first episode came to cost ABC an estimated $5 million. ABC had no new hit sitcom or drama in the 1990-91 season, and is obviously pulling out all the stops to produce and promote "Dinosaurs." But while it's fabulous to look at, "Dinosaurs" stumbles over the story line. Ideally, the dinosaur creatures would appeal to kids, and their stories to grown-ups, making this a terrific family show; but so far, the visual element far outweighs the script. In tonight's premiere. Earl goes through a mid-life crisis, worried about his construction job, supporting a new baby, etc.

You know the story. And worse, you know the characters. It's neat they're dinosaurs, but Earl is still Ralph Kramden and his wife is still Wilma Flintstone. Don't ask who supplies the for them. See ON TV Page 79 The story's nothing special, but you could turn down the sound and still have a good time watching "Dinosaurs," ABC's latest comedy about a modern stone-age family.

No, not the Bundys. "Dinosaurs," which premieres 8:30 tonight on Channel 6, is about a dinosaur family with some dinosaur habits you'd expect they hatch out of eggs and stay clear of tar pits and some you wouldn't they drink beer and watch TV. Judging by tonight's pilot episode, "Dinosaurs" plots will be a mish-mash of those from a half-dozen classic TV shows. There's some "Flint-stones," some "All in the Family," some "Pee-Wee's Playhouse" and more. But the technical wizardry that makes the characters come astonishingly to life makes the show a delight to watch.

"Dinosaurs," a collaborative effort of Jim Henson Productions and Walt Disney Television, takes full advantage of the formidable expertise of these firms, both of which Francesca Chapman triceratops B.P. Richfield, is marvelous, with bad teeth and glistening gums. The newly hatched baby "I'm the baby! Brand-new! Just out! Gotta love me" is like a Spielberg concoction blessed with manic humor. All the stars and supporting characters are these named for oil companies) is headed by the father Earl, a "megalo-saurus" about to burst out of his flannel shirt, a la "Ro-seanne's" Dan Conner. Wife Fran is the typical '50s TV housewife in an apron, the brains of the family, except she's an allosaurus.

They've got three dinosaur kids. THE SHIRALEE Channel 12, 10 p.m. Sunday This two-hour presentation stars Bryan Brown as a rugged Australian drifter who takes his young daughter with him as he wanders through the outback looking for work. Rebecca Smart co-stars as 10-year-old Buster. See Sports for more TV listings.

Francesca Chapman.