South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 39

Sun-Sentinel, Wednesday, September 11, 1991 3E ews at 10 makes debut in Palm Beach Collaboration happy in actors' marriage By LOU CEDRONE The Baltimore Evening Sun Emma Thompson has done two films, Henry and Dead Again, with her husband, Kenneth Branagh. She also has worked with TOM JICHA TVRadio Writer coms. WPEC is producing the news, with WPEC personnel, and selling it to WFLX. "In effect, they're syndicating a news show to us," Ramsey said. Only the anchors Curt Fonger and Elizabeth Alex on weekdays, John Gil 1 I bert and Leslye Gale on weekends will be exclusive to WFLX.

The reporters, correspondents and specialists, such as weatherman John Matthews and sports anchor Dan Oliver, will be WPEC staffers. him on the stage but doesn't think such collaborations have any effect on their home life. "It's not a big deal. It isn't a question of taking your work home. It just doesn't happen that way with us," she said.

"I don't think we're that kind of people. Some people An iUnt Vint i t'lklmam getting from WFLX, WPEC also has a profit-sharing arrangement that kicks in when WFLX's revenue exceeds a certain level. "The better they do, the better we do," John Emmert, Channel 12's news director, said. The deal with Channel 29 already has paid significant dividends as far as Emmert is concerned. "Between the license fee we're getting and the anticipated revenue we'll make when the show goes into the black, we've been able to increase the size of our staff by about 25 percent.

We'll have about 15 extra people, who were hired because of the WFLX deal, available to work on our other newscasts." There could be a subtle fringe benefit beyond greater profits and an increased staff for WPEC, Emmert said. "Ten o'clock newscasts tend to attract older viewers, who go to bed earlier, and Channel 5 has more older viewers than we do. So if they see the news on Channel 29 at 10, they might stop watching Channel 5 at 11." Advantage to Channel 12, which has been closing the gap on No. 1 with each rating book. "I'm not losing any sleep over it," said WPTV's Brooks.

Under the circumstances, it's an interesting choice of words. David's first newscast won't be seen until tonight, but Goliath already has taken notice. WFLX-Ch. 29 gets into the news business this evening with the Palm Beach County market's first 10 p.m. newscast.

WPTV-Ch. 5, the market leader, has adopted the stance that no 10 p.m. news would be good news. Rather than take a chance that the early bird might catch some worms, WPTV has tried to poison the field. It recently distributed an eight-page brochure to advertisers, listing reasons why WFLX's newscast is a bad buy that is likely to fail.

WFLX-Ch. 29 general manager Murray Green responded with a newsletter charging that WPTV is playing fast and loose with the facts. Green writes: "They list the 10 o'clock news ratings in a variety of markets like New York with three stations doing 10 p.m. news and a total of 14.4 news rating points and forgot to total the ratings up! and that's just the beginning of their attempt to mislead." WPTV-Ch. 5 general manager Bill Brooks makes light of the situation.

"What we did was a standard sales piece. It isn't like we released anything to the general public or put it on the air. Basically what we showed advertisers was how independent stations do with news. This isn't unusual. People make pitches all the time and they always put what they're doing in the best possible light and what the competition is doing in an unfavorable light.

Don't forget, we're still selling 10 o'clock, too." Says WFLX program director Bob Ramsey: "I think it's wonderful that Goliath is noticing David. I take it as a compliment they are that worried about us, especially since we're not even on the air yet." It's understandable WPTV would be a bit paranoid. The WFLX news does a-mount to two against one. The Channel 29 newscast is a WPEC-Ch. 12 production.

The CBS affiliate is delivering to WFLX a newscast in the same way Channel 29 buys movies and old sit on WFLX, they will monger be identified as, say, "John Matthews, 10 o'clock news." On WPEC at 11, they will be associated with the station. To avoid wrangling over scoops, all news will be reported at the earliest moment. Thus, if a story breaks before 10 p.m., it goes on WFLX first. The exception is enterprise work. If a special project by either station uncovers a scoop, it belongs to the station whose people found it.

Like WPTV, WPEC also is still selling 10 o'clock on its own air, but the deal with WFLX could prove far more lucrative. In addition to the license fee it is dm Thompson "We do, of course, talk about the work we are doing, but I don't call that 'taking it I call that sensible discussion. If you collaborate, that is what you do from time to time." Dead Again is a murder mystery in which Thompson plays a woman who is sure she has before, as a murder victim. Branagh directed and also stars in the film. Thompson's is a rather straight role, but she seems to be happy with that.

7 "It's a wonderful script," she said. "It is most interesting, but I don't have any jokes. I'm traumatized throughout. I'm there to tell the story, not to provide comic relief." She attributes the making of the film to scriptwriter Scott Frank and Lindsay Doran, who acted as co-producer for the film. "We owe it all to them," she said.

became interested in it five years ago. The script had been around for a long time. She believed in it for all those years. She and Scott are the reasons the film was 'made. "Good films are made only with good scripts, and my hat is off to Scott and Lindsay, because you have to wait for something to bite, and that's what happened here.

It bit Kenneth. He wanted to do the film really badly. That's how a good movie comes about, because that enthusiasm has to be communicated." Interviewed recently in Washington, Thompson was asked if she was ever surprised by the way she comes across in her printed "Surprised? I'm frequently astounded at some of the things they quote," she said of the media. "It's classic. I may say something like wanting 'to head something and it turns into me saying someone has two heads.

"I will read some of those things and say, 'I'm sure I didn't say It's really quite extraordinary, but what astounds me most is when the quotes are accurate. That's not here, in the United States. I've not done that much press here, and I am impressed with the of the questions, the nature of journalism in this country, but at home in Britain, it is quite different. "They can be vicious and irresponsible there," she added, "and there isn't much you can do about it. When the tabloids do such awful things to royalty, and they can't protect themselves, what hope have we got? Most of the stuff that is written has no basis in reality." Next for Thompson is Howard's End, based on the book by E.M.

Forster. The supporting cast includes Vanessa Redgrave, and Thompson says of Redgrave, "she's wearing a wig in the movie She is absolutely wonderful." I Missy McArdle has been nominated for Best roles in Florida Repertory Theatre's A Moon Actress and Keith Baker Best Actor for their for the Misbegotten. 'Phantom' critic's choice; Carbonell nominees named By JACK ZINK Theater Writer outh Florida's drama critics have picked The Phantom of the Opera as the best road show of the year. The musical, which earned $11.7 million as the opening attraction at the Broward Center for the Perform BOX OFFICE LEADERS A 1 ing Arts, took all but one of the critics' annual Carbonell Awards for national shows. The race continues for top honors among locally produced shows at regional theaters.

The critics nominated two separate versions of the bitter Wall Street comedy Other People's Money, at Boca Raton's Caldwell and Miami's Coconut Grove theaters, as best play. Musical nominations are led by Jupiter Theatre revivals of Pirates of Penzance, Drood in Kendall and West Side Story in Boca Raton. Regional winners will be announced at the 16th Annual Carbonell Awards Ceremonies Oct. 21 at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale. The South Florida Critics' Association votes only one round to pick road show winners early because only about a dozen touring shows are eligible; there were 125 eligible regional plays and musicals for 1990-91.

The Phantom won five of the six road show awards. The sixth went to Mitchell Greenberg as best supporting actor in the gentle comedy Yiddle With a Fiddle that played the Sunrise Musical Theatre. The Phantom's other awards went to Harold Prince as best director, Kevin Gray (the phantom) and Teri Julie Miller was nominated for Best Actress in the title role of Marilyn in Her Own Words at Off Broadway on E. 26lh Street. Bibb (Christine) as best actor and actress, and Olga Talyn as best supporting actress as the phantom's mysterious go-between.

In local categories, the Jupiter Theatre is the front-runner with 23 nominations, mostly for Pirates and, Oklahoma! A. total of 12 nominations each went to The. Caldwell Theatre Company (Other People's Money) and the Royal Palm Dinner Theatre West Side Story). The Coconut Grove Playhouse picked up 11 nomina-! tions. The Actors' Playhouse in Kendall, shut out of re-' cent award races, got eight.

Off Broadway On E. 26th Street got three nominations, all for Marilyn in Her Own Words. The nominees will meet on Monday at a reception at the Guest Quarters Suites Hotel to kick off the annual awards' scholarship program for area high schools. Proceeds from the Oct. 21 award show are given to college-bound arts and journalism students.

Tickets, $25, go on sale next Wednesday at participating theaters or by calling 1-305-761-5374. Top movie ticket sales Friday through Sunday according to Exhibitor Relations, with distributor, weekend gross in millions, total gross in millions and number of weeks in release. Figures are based on a combination of box-office receipts and studio projections where actual figures are not available. 1. Dead Again, Paramount, $4.4 million, $17.3 million, three weeks.

2. Terminator 2: Judgment Day, TriStar, $3.1, $187.3, nine. 3. Child's Play III, Universal, $3, $9.7, two. 4.

Hot 20th Century Fox, $2.72, $58.7, six. 5. Doc Hollywood, Warner $2.68, $43.3, six. 6. The Doctor, Disney, $2.3, $28.6, seven.

7. Robin Hood: Prince o( Thieves, Warner $2.1, $153.1, 13. 8. Double Impact, Columbia, $1.6, $25.7, five. 9.

City Slickers, Columbia, $1.5, $1 14.4, 14. 10. Boyz the Hood, Columbia, $1.3, $51, nine. ASSOCIATED PRESS South Florida drama critics gave The Phantom of the Opera five of the six road show awards. CARBONELL WINNERS, NOMINEES I TODAY'S MAIN EVENTS Music THE LIVID KITTENS are booked to rock, with a wine and "moon" cheese party and fashion show also on the bill, at 9 p.m.

at Squeeze, 2 S. New River Drive, Fort Lauderdale. Tickets $5. Call 1-305-522-2151. UP ON OPERA LECTURE SERIES Is scheduled at Second Presbyterian Church, 1400 N.

Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Reception Is at 6:30 p.m., lecture at 7 p.m. Admission $10. Call 1-305-728-9700. Comedy RICH HALL, Mr.

Snlglets, Is booked to headline with opening act Phil Tagllaferrl at 8:30 p.m. at the Comedy Corner, Carefree Theatre, 2000 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. Cover $6. Call Tlcketmaster, 523-3309 (Broward), 358-5885 (Dade).

Theater BURN THIS, Lanford Wilson's Broadway drama, Is scheduled to open at 8 p.m. at Public Theatre Studio, The Quay Shopping Center, 1535 SE 17th Suite 103, Fort Lauderdale. Tickets $8. Call 1-305-463-8626. Other People's Money, Grove; Keith Baker, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Florida Rep; Michael Mauldin, Dear Liar, Florida Shakespeare.

Best Actress: Pat Nesbit, Other People's Money, Caldwell; Tracy Ullman, The Big Love, Grove; Missy McArdle, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Florida Rep; Julie Miller, In Her Own Words, Off Broadway; Judith Townshend, The Tattler, Theatre Club of the Palm Beaches. Best Supporting Actor: John Felix, The Caretaker, Area Stage; Harold Bergman, Other People's Money, Caldwell; John Gardiner, The Royal Family, Caldwell; Anderson Matthews, Driving Miss Daisy, Grove; Mitchell McGuire, Other People's Money, Grove. Best Supporting Actress: Kim Ostrenko, Blue Window, Acme; Pat Nesbit, The Heidi Chronicles, Caldwell; Kim Cozort (multiple roles), The Heidi Chronicles, Caldwell; Judith Granite, Born Yesterday, Jupiter; Joy Johnson, Shy of Dallas, Theatre Club. NOMINATIONS: REGIONAL MUSICALS Best Production; Drood, The Actor's Playhouse; Pirates of Penzance, Jupiter; Oklaho-mat, Jupiter; Mame, Royal Palm Dinner Theatre; West Side Story, Royal Palm. Best Director: David Arlsco, Drood, Actor's Playhouse; Norb Joerder, Pirates of Shakespeare; Michael Mulheren, Jupiter; Les Marsden, Jupiter; Michael Martino, West Side Story, Royal Palm.

Best Supporting Actress: Joy Kilpatrlck, Drood, Actor's Playhouse; SuSu Sparkman, The Pajama Game, Florida Rep; Elizabeth Dl-mon, Jupiter; Lourelene Sne-deker, Mame, Royal Palm; Chrissl Guastella, West Side Story, Royal Palm. DESIGN AWARDS Best Set Design: James Morgan, Other People's Money, Caldwell; Frank Bennett, The Royal Family, Caldwell; James Tllton, Other People's Money, Grove; David Trimble, Sleuth, Florida Shakespeare; Stephen Pla-cido Pirates of Penzance, Jupiter. Best Lighting Design: Mary Jo Dondlinger, Other People's Money, Caldwell; James Til-ton, Driving Miss Daisy, Grove; James Tllton, Other People's Money, Grove; Pamela A. Mara, Ain't Mlsbehavln', Jupiter; Guldo Glr-ardi and Jay Tompkins, Marilyn Her Own Words, Off Broadway. Best Costume Design: Bridget Bartlett, The Royal Family, Caldwell; Productions, Much Ado About Nothing, Florida Shakespeare; Gregory Brown, Pirates of Penzance, Jupiter; Maurlne Chieffet, Born Yesterday, Jupiter; A.

Jackson Plnkney, Jupiter. Penzance, Jupiter; Norb Joerder, Ain't MIs-behavln', Jupiter; Norb Joerder, Jupiter; Bob Bogdanoff, West Side Story, Royal Palm. Best Musical Direction: Louis St. Louis, Once Upon a Song, Grove; Eric Barnes, Pirates of Penzance, Jupiter; Lllsa Collins, Ain't Mlsbehavln', Jupiter; Llisa Collins, Jupiter; Dana Rowe, West Side Stoy, Royal Palm. Best Choreography: Robert DeLeon, Drood, Actor's Playhouse; Norb Joerder, Pirates of Penzance, Jupiter; Norb Joerder, Jupiter; Keith Marrapodl, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Royal Palm; Keith Marrapodl, West Side Story, Royal Palm.

Best Actor: Gary Marachek, Drood, Actor's Playhouse; Anthony Newley, Once Upon a Song, Grove; Michael Scott, Pirates of Penzance, Jupiter; Grant Norman, Jupiter; Garrett States, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Royal Palm. Best Actress: Irene Adan, Drood, Actor's Playhouse; Maribeth Graham, Angry Housewives, Actor's Playhouse; Gay Willis, The Pirates of Penzance, Jupiter; Jan McArt, Mame, Royal Palm; Casey Alenson, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Royal Palm. Best Supporting Actor: Wayne LeGette, Drood and Angry Housewives, Actor's Playhouse; John Flonte, H.M.S. Pinafore, Florida ROAD SHOW WINNERS Best Production: The Phantom of the Opera, Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Best Director: Harold Prince, The Phantom of the Opera.

Best Actor: Kevin Gray (Erik, the phantom), The Phantom of the Opera. Best Actress: Terl Bibb (Christine Daae), The Phantom of the Opera. Best Supporting Actress: Olga Talyn (Madame Giry), The Phantom of the Opera. Best Supporting Actor: Mitchell Greenberg, Yiddle With a Fiddle. NOMINATIONS: REGIONAL PLAYS Best Production: Other People's Money, Caldwell Theatre Company; Other People's Money, Coconut Grove Playhouse; A Moon for the Misbegotten, Florida Repertory Theatre; The Cemetery Club, Jupiter Theatre; Marilyn Her Own Words, Off Broadway On E.

26th Street. Best Director: Juan Cejas, Of the Fields Lately, Acme Acting Company; Kenneth Kay, Other People's Money, Caldwell; Robert Kal-fin, Other People's Money, Grove; Richard Edelman, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Florida Rep; John Chase Soliday, Dear Liar, Florida Shakespeare Theater. Best Actor: Robert J. Lowery, Of the Fields Lately, Acme; Gary Nathanson, Other People's Money, Caldwell; Howard Samuelson, Variety epAMP rtrfft live. fitnne Droductlon featuring pin urn Ran Pmia and their fallow characters.

Is sched uled at 7:30 at Miami Arena, 721 NW First Ave. Tickets $9.50 to $15 lor adults, $8 to $15 for children. Call Tlcketmaster..