The Minneapolis Star from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 45

f-t -w yrT A r- REVIEW The Minneapolis Star Friday, Feb. 16, 1979 id: Son of Hoots' non- equei winner, too By KARL VICK 'f MtMiipim mm MK Wrtwr A MOWN UiN imiU ilmim lllii mnu A trivia that ABC and Warner Bros. Television have pushed throuah the U.S. mails almnxt daily in the course of promoting "Roots: The Next Generations." -k. Maa Maiiita "awa Did you know, for instance that the cast of the 14-hour sequel to "Roots" Includes 53 stars, 235 speaking parts and 1,005 extras? that almost $2 million was spent isuhuui me vuvyu ui ncuumg, and aging it through the course of the 'r I Ware I I at drama from th IftfMn tn tha HMO? that 975,000 feet of film was tY shot, give or take a yard? Hfc Moreover, do you give a flying CV lLrr in rin nn wiv or th other? Of cour nri th.

N-i S5WU work and studio have plugged so much cash $16 million, all toia into series that skimp on the producing the mini- they aren't about to 'J public relations It's for a worthy Mikr, i first 12 hours Fifth information. Besides, cauM. Tha "Roots" was credited with of 8 diftiso. Bourne Chicken George left for welding the nation together as a common witness to history. Will Palmer Cycthia Lumber company owner in Born in Alamance County, much in the way the televised funeral of John F.

Kennedy did. The ministries' total audience was estimated at 130 million; the Nielsen rating service gave the final Jk on penning, Tenn. JN.U. tbe 6th child of Tom and Irene. Married Will Palmer in 1893 Eimon Alexander cpisuuc, inuwcui auuuay, jan.

ou, 1977, an astounding 71 percent of the night's viewing audience. That made "Roots" the most-watched program of all Second wife oC Simoti Haley I Haley Bon of sharecropperi Alec and Queen Hy. He becerae acope-epofcaea'aftar' pting ha master1 a degree Bertha firom Cornell univexaty First college graduate in the family. Married Simon Alexander Haley in 1920. Died at young age Alex Hal? time.

People talked about the program on the street. The babble in bars subsided when it flickered onto the set above the bottles. Time magazine deemed it a certified national phenomenon by putting out a cover story claiming to explain its success. The fact was, though, that no one knew quite i why "Roots" was as popular as it was. Time's own critic, Richard Schickel, had panned the program in a preview, declaring it "Mandlngo for middlebrows." But even though the critics pooh-poohed the original "Roots" for being nothing more than a standard television production, they were quick to appreciate its Impact on an audience that largely Ignored their advice.

Tom Shales of the Washington Post concluded that 'Roots' showed how television can take mediocre material and transform It Into something beyond art." 'Roots' sweet to ABC ABC, meanwhile, was almost exhausted from all the back slapping that came Its way. But there was a little self-flagellation too, for cautiously scheduling the blockbluster-to-be a week before the economically important ratings "sweep month" of February. (The network obviously isn't making that mistake with "The Next Nevertheless, the series' success cemented the network's newfound position atop the Olit ion ofDcrtha and Simon Haley. In 1833, besan 20-year Coeat Guard Wrota for Harper's, I i felt 'Jn. Readers Digest and Playboy.

Wrote "Tbe of Malcolm and then spent 12 yean reweflrchiri and writing Nielsens, where it has since remained. A seaueL then, seemed onlv illahtlv less likely a prospect than a Twin uties Ditzzara aunng a state basketball tournament. 1 )- Roots' Ton to Page 1 ID ONE 0L0 stars Switching By JOHN CARMAN Minneapolis Sur Suff Writer ou can caII ft Fi'e Or you dm sag eleven .1 iJk -s. fcutipuaoesrvr wrt it. million will be spent to acquaint the public with WTCN's facelift.

Channel 11 's niche has been as an independent station specializing In a highly lucrative blend of sports, movies and syndicated reruns. The Channel 11 Image will change as It embarks on Its marriage with NBC. "We want people to know the whole NBC line-up is going to be on Channel 11," said William Dav-ey of WTCN's local advertising agency. Colle and McVoy. "WTCN has the most complicated job to do, because KSTP is already a network station, and WCCO is standing pat (with CBS)." The slogan adopted for the changeover Is "We've Got It Now.

This weekend, Channel 11 will unleash Its advertising campaign with a series of on-air promotions. They will consist of on-the-street Interviews In which people are asked to explain the affiliation switches. A voice-over at the end tells viewers not to be confusedJohnny Carson and other NBC stars will be on Channel 1 1. (An out-take from the on-the-street interviews suggests the immensity of the tak facing the TV stations. An Interviewee confidently explained that ABC was beaming CBS which, he said, was the National Broadcasting Co.) Billboards bearing likenesses of Carson and other stars already have, begun to sprout.

A second wave of Channel 1 1 billboards, to appear In about a month, will feature anchorman James Dyer and other members of WTCN's revamped news department. Davey said the news team was hired too late for inclusion in the Initial bill-Stations Turn to Page 10D ALTER CRONKITE, Howard Cosell and Fred Silverman are all coming to Minnesota, and not for the balmy March weather. They'll have lots of company: McLean Stevenson, Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley, Michael Landon, Robert Conrad, Sharon Gless and more. Their appearances in the Twin Cities next month will be part of the most concentrated, and most expensive, promotional barrage in local television history. As much as $2 million i being spent by the three television networks and four commercial stations in the Twin Cities to tell viewers about the March 5 affiliation switches.

March 5 is when ABC moves from KMSP-TV (Channel 9) to KSTP-TV (Channel S). NBC switches from Channel 5 to WTCN-TV (Channel 1 1). CBS stays at WCCO-TV (Channel 4), and Channel 9 becomes an Independent station. The conventional wisdom among the stations and their advertising agencies is that the network shifts will confuse viewers, perhaps for many months. The response is the unprecedented outlay of money nearly a dollar for every man, woman and child In the metropolitan area for star-studded parties, on-air promotions and newspaper, radio, magazine and outdoor advertisements.

Here is a station-by-station preview: WTCN, Channel 11 Channel 11, with financial help from NBC, will be the biggest spender during the next few months. Georgia Gould, the station's promotion director, said $1 Stir Illustration by Davl F. Mathtny I.