Green Bay Press-Gazette from Green Bay, Wisconsin • Page 23

B-7 Green Boy Presj-Gcuette Tuesday, Oct. 26, 1982 Li-' i I -ii l. i K- Channel change complicated 'St. Elsewhere' is a realistic drama he recently attended. At one, gloomy words were laid about investing in affiliated stations.

At the other, coming technologies were seen eating away at broadcast TV's audience. Commentary 5S Gerds fT Ot the Press-Gazette By FRED ROTHENBERG Of Tin Anoclottd Prnt NEW YORK Bruce Springsteen is on the radio, and the talk around the table is sex and violence. But it's not the family dinner table or the comer pool table. What it is is the most realistic operating table in television's long, medical history. Not for graphic slicing and bloodletting, but because thinking, feeling and flawed humans are doing the cutting and pasting.

"Hill Street," the doctors have sex on their minds. Tonight Dr. Jack Morrison (David Morse) gets personally involved a young patient, Dr. Wayne Fiscus (Howie Mandel) finds love in the morgue, and Ben Samuels (David Birney) checks his past connecting because he's contracted a social disease. In "Gavilan," Urichrfor-mer star of is 'an ex-CIA agent who get' involved in high adventure and underwater hijinks as an oceanographer with a laser-equipped mini-submarine.

Robert Gavilan idealist in a hard wc)r)d, which is why he's an ex-agent. He hates violence and says he "couldn't tell the good guys from bad guys." Tonight he risks his life fo( a scientist whose book was inspirational to him. It's from the MTM stable, which produced "Lou Grant" and "Hill Street." Bruce Paltrow is executive producer. Mark Tinker, the show's developer, is the son of Grant Tinker, MTM's founder and, currently, president of NBC. A hand-held camera, which captures loony life in the "Hill Street" squad room, is used nicely here, as viewers accompany doctors on their professional and personal rounds through St.

Eligius Hospital, dubbed "St. Elsewhere" because of chronic deterioration. There's a large cast and plenty of extras, giving the corridors a lived-in look, not studio-set serenity. Several story lines are woven throughout. Like the cops in Item currently an NBC affiU-s ate, got ABC's approval Monday to become an, ABC affiliate in April.

1 -j Item 2: A complicating factor surfaced: WFRVs contract with NBC recently automati-' cally renewed for two years. Item 3: You've got a lot of questions. Such as: Why ia WFRV going to ABC? ABC has stronger ratings nationally than I NBC In TV, ratings translate into dollars. Also, ABC generally appeals to a younger i audience than NBC. 1 1 Robert Southard, vice president and general j.

manager of WFRV, said Monday: "We were fighting a battle of demographics. Advertising- wise today, most of the purchases are made in the younger demographics (ages) 18 to 49 and 25 to 64. This is an area of strength with ABC, and, as we see it, an area of continuing strength for many years to come. "We felt that we needed this help from the network that we were just not getting from NBC. We were delivering good audience all along (WFRV is one of NBC's best ratings per- formers of all its stations), but there comes a point where you just need further help." -WFRVs parent company, Midwest Commu- nications of Minneapolis, is a factor in the switch.

WFRV didn't act alone. Midwest Communications; which operates Minneapolis' potent WCCO radio-TV outlets, has been pouring money into WFRVs news, operation. Now it's looking for WFRV. to gain from ABC's potentially stronger in other programming. Southard cited other factors in the switch: "We had been impressed with the ABC strength i of management, its long-range planning in areas i of programming and news and also its long-j, range planning for its new technologies and how television stations fit with 5f What's in it for ABC? A1 A potentially bigger audience.

-r. The key lies not in Green Bay's WFRV, Channel 5. It's Escanaba, where WFRV I has a satellite station, WJMN, Channel 3. By-f, bringing in an audience in Upper Michigan, that station helps make the package attractive to itABC. While the current ABC affiliate, WLUK, Channel 11,, has many translator stations in Upper these are of smaller, power Channel 3.

"ABC is able to increase its delivery by 20 percent in the marketplace because of Channel SB" according to James McCarthy, vice presi-i dent and general manager 'of independent 'WLRE-TV, Channel 26. Also, James Duffy, president of the ABC 'network, said in a statement that ABC is "im-I 'pressed" with WFRVs "strong commitment to jocal news." "Hill Street Blues" turned cops from toy soldiers into human heroes. Now NBC's "St. Elsewhere" doctors the TV persona of the stethoscope set. "St.

Elsewhere," which makes its debut tonight, takes place in a teaching hospital in Boston. It's the most involving and serious new drama of the season. Tonight's other new NBC show, starring Robert Urich, sets its sights lower. "Gavi-lan" is escapist-adventure fluff, but not bad imitation James Bond. While "Gavilan" is a production of Leonard Goldberg, who helped create "Charlie's Angels," "Hart to Hart" and "T.J.

Hooker," "St. Elsewhere" has classical bloodlines. How can WFRV get out or iu contract with NBC? "Just tell the network that we won't carry its programming," Southard said. "Nothing says we have to." Pere Mapes, vice president of affiliate relations at NBC, ia not happy. "As far as we're concerned, we have a two-year agreement with i WFRV, and we certainly live up to our contracts." Mapes said WFRVs contract "automatically renewed on Aug.

4, and it would run until Feb. Will NBC sue WFRV? Mapes said, "It'll depend on what's said and what everybody decides," when Southard goes to New York City on Wednesday. Mapes added, "It could be an interesting little session here." Southard said, "A network could start litigation. It doesn't have very much to gain from it because nothing in the fine print says a station really has to carry all of its programming." Southard added, "I think it's a little bit wounded right now, but with time it can see it's better to work these things out." Is this network switching unprecedented? i No, not at all. Matter of fact, WFRV was an ABC affiliate when it first went on the air in 1955.

And WLUK was the NBC affiliate. They switched in 1959. In recent years, there was network flip-flopping in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Indianpolis and Knoxville, Tenn. The latter involved a station of Nationwide Communications, which also ownsWBAY. How does Channel 11 feel? It's not turning cartwheels.

Gagnon said, "I guess the timing surprised me a little bit. We thought we had more options than we did." He added that the switch "gives ABC the opportunity to have two outlets, so I guess I really don't blame it." Also, Gagnon said, "I think if we do wind up affiliating with NBC, which is our most obvious possibility, it has a lot of positive things going for it." One is that WFRV helped develop a strong following for NBC here. How do the competitors view the WFRV move? Channel 26's McCarthy: "It's definitely a smart move on the part of Channel 5." Channel 2's Burnton: "It's a big gamble tor everybody concerned. Sometimes it works out in your favor, sometimes it doesn't." WFRV hag been making aggressive moves in that area of late, so ABC feels WFRVs potential would benefit its own news programming. What happen to Channel 11? The most likely thing is it would become the NBC affiliate.

But, as Thomas Gagnon, WLUK's general manager said, it is weighing options. 1 One is it could go independent, although Gagnon said that possibility "is not one I would i be particularly happy about." Or it could make a stab at CBS. WLUK is owned by the Post which owns a CBS affiliate in Marquette, Mich. For CBS, the Green BayMarquette combination might be attractive. Richard Burnton, general manager of Green Bay CBS affiliate WBAY-TV, Channel 2, said he believes WLUK will make a bid with CBS.

But Burnton and others said a change by CBS is unlikely because Channel 2 has been performing well for the network better than what WLUK could offer. One source said WFRV originally tried to get CBS affiliation. But WFRVs Southard said that's not the case. Southard said, "It seemed that it was too complicated for any approach to CBS, basically because of our satellite in Upper Michigan and there's a CBS affiliate up there already." What happens in April? If you want to watch ABC programs, you'll have to tune to Channels 3 or 5. If you want to watch NBC programs that case is not closed.

The probability is high, though, that you'll have to tune in Channel 11 for them. The station inquired about an NBC affiliation at network headquarters Monday afternoon. vj Also, Southard said, "It will be a monumen- tal changeover because ft will require different (non-network)' programming on our part (and Channel ll's). At this point, we really haven't explored all the various types of programming that should be considered." In addition, Southard said, you can' expect "a very heavy promotional campaign so that viewers will not be confused." Is independent Channel 26 interested in NBC affiliation? "Not on your life," said McCarthy, He said his feelings stem from two seminars 2 eggs any style, 2 sausage links, hashbrowns or American fries, toast or pancakes. I WEEKLY DINNER SPECIALS KROPP'S AT MILL CENTER $95 MON.

Top Sirloin TUES. Tenderloin WED. Rib Eye THURS. New York Strip Includes: Salad bar, soup or juice, Serving Food Wed. Evenings 5 to 10 P.M.

Featuring PERCH PLATES dm Our Regular Menu potato, bread or beverage. Serving 7 Days a Week 6:30 A.M. to 10 P.M. Also Serving Friday 4 to 11 P.M. Saturday 5 to 1 0 M.

Swndayt After Packer Home Gome 4 to 9 PJL DIRECTIONS! mlUt wett of Green Kay at XTIXIIIIHIX RIIBES SNC faculty member to read selections from new books n.ovikw:nrf'! n'! Pwim on' Mntw nick 'and' dock" is' made ud of poems Bennett, a poet. in John 'Bennett will Poems on Moby Dick" and dock" is made up of poems Bennett, a poet in resi BCKSTJGE 4570 "Stonewall and about New Hampshire. Restaurant and Lounge 1355 Main St. 437-2096 1 PH. 865-7331 rrl 1 dence at St.

Norbert, has been on the faculty since 1968. He teaches in the English Department. -J The reading is open to Tuesday Wine Dtne Special nett's "Moby Dick" trilogy are "The Struck Leviathan: Poems on Mobv Dick" and I read selections from his two newest books at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the St. Nor-S bert College Sensenbrenner Memorial Union.

1 The books, "Beyond the Compass Rose: The Last were written on saDDaticai leave last spring. "Beyond the Compass is the final book in Bennett's "Moby1 Dick" "Stonewall and Bur- VEAL OSCAR loomc is no "Knights and Squires: More the public. There Poems on Moby Dick." charge for admission, Invites you to their WEDNESDAY SPECIAL! Srvfremwf ComplrtMiOuMfy Wtd. night 5 to 9 p.m. Hate only.

SS.99 Includes homemade soup, garden salad, choke of fresh vegetable or potato, hot homemade rolls and a glass of i Ingelnook wine ChabUs Rose Burgundy show times I HALLOWEEN PARTY Da (Hall of Fine Arts on campus. SPECIAL MM HI IMS WED, OCT. 17 MB OCT Ott FREE AFTER DINNER DRINK wttti purchtM of plttt kmchl No caff brands, ptetM. Only 1 needed par couple tor FREE AFTER MNMEA MINK Wednesday Special TENDERLOIN SS.9 Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions: General audiences. All Jt ages admitted.

PG Parental guidance suggested. Some material may FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29 Free Admission Costume Prizes 1st Prize Mini Vacation at the Downtowner Pere, p.m. I i Concert pop singer Tom Jones (Carlton Celebrity Room, Green Bay, Band 11 p.m.) Show singeractress Connie Stevens In "I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Rood" (Apoleton West High auditorium, 1:30 p.m.) Recital Silver Lake College music faculty (Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, 8 p.m.) Play valley Theater Company of Appleton production of "California Suite" (Marline's Restaurant, p.m.) "Featuring The Best Ribs In the Gmntrv!" WhorehouselnTexasatO.fR) Stadium I Bambl and Adventures of Mr. Toad at and 1:45. (G) Stadium II E.T.: The Extro-Terrestrial ot 7:15 and 9:15.

IPG) Stadium III Superman II ot 7 (PG) Marc I Halloween III: Season of the Witch at 7 and 9. (R) Marc II Fast Times at (R) Bay Park Square I First Blood at 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 9:30. (R) Bay Park Square II Jinxed at 1:50, 3:50, 5:50, 7:50 and 9:50. (R) Boy Park Square III It's Not the Slie That Counts at 1. 3:50, 5:40, (R) OTHER EVENTS Concert St.

Norbert College Chamber Singers and Concert Band 2nd Prize Friday Night Buffet for Two 3rd, 4th 5th Prizes Bottle of Champagne CHARKESKI'S DIAMOND INN 0M Menttowoc Road at BeMwt PHONE 468-7679 ENTERTAINMENT 8:30 SLO RYDE Tonight thru Saturday 1 not be suitable for children. MOVIES Bay I Manslgnor ot 7:15 and :35. (R) Bay II An Officer and a (R) Bay III My Favorite Year at 7:30 and 9:10. (PG) Vic Lost House an the Lett at 7. (R) Deranged af 0:30.

(R) Ami-tyvllle 1 1 The Possession at 10. R) West The Ecstasy Girls ot 7:15 and. (X) Per The Best Little CGTYTiTM (DnAnT Fine Food Dancing Cocktails lUllii AUUlf In the DOWNTOWNER MOTEL Don't Forget! Double Bubble 4 to 8 P.M. Free Hot Hiirs D'oeuvres In the Backstage Lounge 347 S. Washington 437-5744 ii inn 1 Breakfast Special 2 Farm Fresh Eggs 3 Strips Oscar Mayer Bacon 1 75 Toast and Jelly Orange Juice Plus Speedy, Friendly Service 3XSSSSSS5SS5S "Moke fl Night Of FISH 8 Parch Walleve Froa Leas V.

Smelt Shrimp IN TH A CfiRLTON Mon. thru Sat 6:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. j-r-V, Sunday 6:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Wt MARY'S PLACE TUf J' I 8J50 Ul. Moson St. I iL r' I nn BOV (U. 54303 r.trr.r i (4uj499-4S3e FAMILY RESTAURANT 1654 E. Mason St 468-5465 Piut Regular monti Served Every Wed.

4V Frl. 11 KM a.m. en CHICKEN BBQ RIBS Served Every Saturday TEN-O-ONE CLUB J'" fly- CTDPTH YOUR DINNER DOLLARS AT THE AIR VIEW CLUB WEDNESDAY SPECIALS Serving 5 to 8 p.m. COUNTRY STYLE CHICKEN $370 $295 $-95 Adults ItoUyrs. StoTyrs.

Chicken V. Chicken Chicken $460 Swiss Steak. $060 Swiss Steak. m. Only a couple of more weeks, you say? That's plenty of time to learn the Arthur Murray wayl In fact, at Arthur v' Murray's, you're on your way after Our expert instructors are ready to give you a "crash" course in the most popular dances.

They make it easy and fun. So take the time while you have the time rinht nowl At our lowest "FLORIDA" I Direct from the casinos of Atlantic City. present Florida! I Famous for their incredibly strong vocals. Slick, clean and I professional. The Rolls Royce of showbands.

Another first from I Backstage! 1 BicKSTieE iLijlenl Proper Attire Appreciated I Always Reasonable Drink Prices 2350 West Mason Street, Green Bay, Wise. 54303 'Jf Telephone: (414) 499 4838 VT 1 Carryout Dinners Available budget prices of the yearl mm a OPEN 11 P.M. MON. THRU Fn1.CAU.FOnUI APPOINTMENT 1 just one hour-even if you're only a beginner. Touch dancing is -back-so don't be backward about learning HI You'll find you can dance with the best of them-after ust a short time at Arthur Murray's.

AIR VIEW CLUB Comer Airport and Bebcoclc i PLANNING A BANQUET? Weddings, Parties, Meetings, Accommodations up to so Deoole Call us for more Information. BOOKrNQ7DAYS A WEEK JIM WELLES, MGR. VINCfc WED SUNDAY 11:30 A.M. TO I P.M.' PHONE 4W-2707 IOMCltIO DKCI S'trCOS 1S32 SHAWANO AVE. 497-2434.