The Ithaca Journal from Ithaca, New York • 33

TV's best bets a 4 4, 'Fantasy Island': Pure escapism; dreams come true tasy come true, since the guidelines are so free. The success or failure of such way-out thinking will eventually be determined by that great equalizer ratings. By BILL KAUFNIAN Newsday What's your pleasure? Becoming the president of a multibillion dollar corporation? Winning a beauty pageant? Leading a big-game safari hunting elephants? Or perhaps moving back in time to become a sheriff during the days of the Wild West? Daydreams, flights of fancy to the land of make-believe, are what everyone uses on occasion to relieve the tensions and tedium of daily life. According to most psychological authorities, these are generally normal, acceptable and even healthy at times. So it had to happen.

In the continual search for gimmicks, the television industry has gone directly to the source. Its peddling fantasy for a price which is determined by who's doing the buying. "Fantasy Island," a new ABC series (Saturday nights) uses the basic human trait of fantasizing as its Main gimmick. Ricardo Montalban stars as an impeccably dressed and debonaire man named Mr. Roarke.

He's unspeakably wealthy and owns an unusual island somewhere in the middle of the sea, where anyone with a fantasy can go and have his or her dreams literally come true. For a fee, fantasizers are flown in by special seaplane and offered the most wonderful sometimes bizarre weekend of their lives. It all sounds like it might make a spectacular game show.) At the beginning of each hourlong, multiple-adventure drama, Mr. Roarke cautions his visitors that certain fantasies are best left unfulfilled. The guests pay what they can afford maybe $50,000 for a rich person who wants to know of his roots, or $50 for a pair of youngsters who wish to see their divorced parents together again.

As you might imagine, "Fantasy Island" is pure escapism, often spiced with unexpected twists and even comedy. As you might also expect, the series could be a scriptwriter's dream or even fan wants to be transported back to the days when law and order prevailed and frontier justice meant the hangman's noose. Again, whoosh! Off to Mr. Roarke's island, where the scene is set and the lifestyle staged for the visitor. To add to the somewhat bizarre flavor of the series; Mr.

Roarke has a personal confidant and aide named Tattoo. He happens to be played by Herve Villechaize, a 3- foot, II-inch tall midget who weighs 70 pounds. The French-born actor, who has a long list of credits, usually has been cast as a villain. However, in "Fantasy Island" he'll be a good, albeit lecherous, little chap. "Fantasy Island" is the first series Montalban has starred in, although the veteran Mexican actor has appeared in numerous movies, usually as a romantic lead.

"I have a good feeling for it," he said of the new show. "The concept is novel. The series has a certain appeal for me that I find an incentive." Montalban started his Hollywood career at MGM, where he made his American movie debut in "Fiesta." During his younger days he made films in Mexico. Though he's done many guest shots on television shows, Montalban admits that he's still amazed about the public recognition he's received from doing commercials for Chrysler Corp.s Cordoba automobile. "It's simply astonishing how an actor's image becomes fixed in the mind of the "Fantasy Island" got off to a good start last year as a two-hour ABC movie.

It pulled in very substantial ratings, which network officials often take as a magic command to order production of a regular series. In this case a movie sequel, Return to Fantasy Island," was made first. The new show features two fantasies per episode, with an array of special guest stars. The fantasies run the gamut from the near-ridiculous to the near-sublime. For example, a man and wife may want to re-experience the consummate happiness they had at the beginning of their marriage.

Whoosh! Off to enigmatic Mr. Roarke's island, where, for a fee, it will all be arranged. Or a tough New York City cop public when he makes a commercial," Montalban said. "You can't imagine the immense impact of TV. It's formidable." Montalban said that, like everyone else, he too has fantasies.

If he could be a guest on his own island, he was asked, what would he desire? "If there is such a would like it to represent the entire world. My fantasy would be to see all frontiers disappear for a man to be able to travel throughout the world without a passport." The actor, whose Latin accent gives him a kind of classic continental charm, said his many years in Hollywood have left him cynical. Candidly, he explained: "Fantasies for me faded, because Hollywood for so long destroyed my dreams and the dreaMET-ill me. So I became a realist. You aspire to so many things when you're a young man.

You envision yourself as having these magnificent roles and that one part is going to catapult you into superstardom." Ile said in his case, though he made a substantial living, the top-ranking echelons of stardom eluded him. "But I am a professional, and I am realistic," he added, "And as I look back, even though there were many years and periods of frustration, I consider myself quite lucky because Eve been able to maintain a certain modus vivendi without having to sell real estate on the side. For this I'm very grateful. The dream was gone, but I was determined to persist." about, table-hop and talk with friends. They really enjoy Judy Solomon, president of the fIFPA, says the awards show is the only one -retaining an atmosphere of llollywood of the 1930s and 1940s.

when the Oscar Awards was always a banquet and not a show staged for 'I'V as it is today." Hasten will use a onnimum of film clips, a three-minute montage highlighting the career of Red Skelton, who is being presented with the Cecil B. De Mille special award, and a segment going back to 1942 to show past Globe winners, starting with Jennifer Jones ('Song of Bernadette" and Paul Lukas on the Hhine. t. Ile says this will allow him more time to concentrate on Tying the stars in the Beverly Hiltons International Ballroom. In the past, the Golden Globe Awards has always been a live show on Saturdays, but this year, as a concession to NBC, the telecast will be shown Sunday night.

The network feels it then has a better chance in ratings. But the foreign press and the attending stars are delighted with this arrangement. For once they won't have to rush to a hotel and eat early (5 to 6 pin.) for the convenience of a 9 p.m. East Coast telecast. Hasten will tape the show at 9 p.m.

Saturday, a far more civilized time for a banquet. Golden Globe Awards presentation airs Sunday i 4-) I- ik 7 e4401.1, 4 teee' lkit 4,1, 72:414 7 'Illsr re I I 1 1 By PAUL HENNIGER HOLLY wooD The 72 voting members of the I lollywood Foreign Press Assn. (11FPA) present their 35th annual Golden Globe Awards on NBC Sunday and get their annual jump on the Oscar and Emmy shows. The seven TV and 13 movie awards are usually an early line on the Oscar and Emmy choices, as the critics often parallel their picks. For the first time in their international film careers, Charles Bronson and his actress wife.

Jill Ireland, will be emceeing a major event. "What we have above the other awards shows is a says Swedish producer Kjell F. Hasten, doing his fifth Globe Awards. Its a major plus because all the stars attending sit in comfort, can move A Lassie as a prize LOS ANGELES AP) A Lassie puppy will be given away to celebrate the production of the first movie in many years starring the Collie star, "Lassie, My Lassie." The puppy will be the seventh generation direct descendant of the original Lassie, whose first movie was "Lassie Come Home" in 1943. The puppy will be given away by owner and trainer Rudd Weather-wax, the Wrath'er Corp.

and the Ladies Home Journal magazine. Patricia McBride and lielgi Tomasson will perform in the New York City Ballet's production of Tuesday at 8 p.m. on PBS' 'Live From Lincoln Shaun O'Brien, as Dr. Coppelius, is also featured in the ballet choreographed by George Balanchine and Alexandra Dani lova. LIAM RE, I he Ithaca Journal, Saitartla, Jantlar 28, I978I'age 9 EIMMEMIE -1.