Valley News from Van Nuys, California • Page 23

TuMday, August 30,1977 Van Nuys, Calif. VALLEY NEWS Section3 Pages Out of his element After inveigling his way into performing at a benefit, a disgusted Jack Benny, left, finds that his role is referee at a wrestling match between American heavyweight champion Count Billy Varga, center, and California junior heavyweight champion Gene LeBell, on "The Jack Benny Show," rebroadcast from his comedy series of the '50s, tonight at 8 on CBS, Channel 2. TV takes NBC could have waited in firing Bob Howard ByCHARLES PARKER For more than a year, as NBC continued to take a beating in the ratings from ABC and CBS, I had worried about the tenure of my friend Bob Howard as president of the NBC Television Network. The people who control the TV networks operate with the same mentality as the folis who control major league baseball teams. When a ball club is languishing in last place, the owner doesn't go out and get better players, he replaces the manager.

When a TV network is suffering in the ratings, the nabobs don't get better programs, they fire the network president. Like almost every man who has ever been a TV network president. Bob Howard was fired last week. The only surprise in the news of the termination was its timing. I had thought, as did others, the network chiefs would have waited to see how NBC's fall schedule fared in the ratings before making a decision.

Perhaps Bob's dismissal is an indication NBC brass already doesn't like its fall lineup. When I was employed at NBC in 1969, Bob Howard was vice president of NBC and general manager of the network's own station in Burbank, KNBC. Working with us was a young man named Bob Mulholland, who was director of NBC News, West Coast Mulholland is credited with creating the nation's first two-hour local news program on KNBC- A two-hour local news program is where a group of people come on at 6 o'clock and read the same news. Two-hour local news programs are big money-makers, which is why programs are put on the air. of course.

Mulholland was shipped back to New York where he rose to the position of executive vice president of NBC News. Earlier this year, he was named to head Difficulties in learning probed "The term 'learning disabilities' is only about 10 years old. But many well-known people, including some who are still with us. have been identified retrospectively as ha ving this strange disorder of the brain." Mike Gavin, producer of "Failing to Learn Learning to Fail." a one-hour "NBC Reports" special examining learning disabilities and their relationship to deliquent behavior, is taking about minimal brain dysfunction. The program will be presented tonight 10-11 p.m..

on NBC. channel 4. Gavin continues: "Among those who conquered their learning problems were General George Patton; the great inventor of the electric light. Thomas Alva Edison; and a guy who was a flopperoo in school until he was about 11. the great Albert Einstein.

"Others suspected of having learning disabilities who turned out to be extreme behavioral problems in our society, were Charles Manson. leader of the infamous Manson gang in California; and the most famous of all. Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated President John F. Kennedy" On the program. NBC News correspondent Betty RolHn reports that this form of neurological handicap is present in an estimated eight million school children.

of it many cannot learn their three K's in a conventional classroom, and frequently wind up as in today's society. Gavin: "Most of the Jime these kids go unidentified. They are socially passed from one grade to another unlil junior or senior high school. At that point things really start falling apart. They start getting in trouble, are ridiculed by their classmates, and start dropping out.

Too often, the next step is defiance and deJiqucncy, and then jail. "The average deliquenl in the United States is 13 isa male, is three to five years behind in his school work, with poor reading skills leading the list For most kids like this it doesn't take 12 years of schooling and failing to get the message. So they drop out or are kicked mitof school. The next step loo often is Jhe police blotter. Yet in most cases, their IQ is normal or very closl to normal." the network's team which will cover the 1980 Olympic Games.

But Mulholland a handsome man who always looks as if he stepped out of a men's fashions ad in the pages of the New Yorker won't be concentrating exclusively on the Olympics now. He was named last week to the temporary position of president of the the NBC Television Network, replacing Bob Howard. I referred to it as a "temporary" position because I don't believe there is such a job as permanent president of a TV network. I'm sorry to see one Bob go. It's good to see another Bob getting ahead.

Around the the beat: Speaking of odd timing, KABC (Channel 7) has announced "The Steve Garvey Show," a 30-minute sports-interview series with the Dodger first baseman and Regis Philbin, will premiere Sept. 4 at 4:30 p.m. Ironically, not only will the baseball season begin drawing to a close Sept. 4. but Garvey until last Sunday was in the midst of the worst batting slump of his "Gable and Lombard," Universal's feature about the legendary screen lovers, with Jarnes Brolin and Jill Clayburgh in the title roles, will air on NBC Sept.

19. It bombed at the box Another comic book hero, "Spider Man," gets network exposure on CBS in a 90-minute special Sept. 14... Angie Dickinson will co-host (with Robert Blake) this year's Emmy Awards on NBC Sept. 11.

Carol Burnett, Jack Albertson and Lee and Farrah- Fawcett Majors are the first presenters Nahan came up with a classic line on a recent Rams telecast that deserves to be enshrined in the Football Hall of Fame: "That linebacker came through like he was shot out of a bullet." Hollywood celebre 'Star Wars' hit by crime By MARILYN BECK The "Star Wars" cops'n'robbers drama that has been quietly unfolding for months is finally close to being resolved. And from the way it sounds, it could qualify to become the basis of one of the countless "Star Wars" spin-offs already being prepared for big- screen and small. The real-life caper involved the theft cf "Star Wars" property from a studio office an a special effects shop during three different break-ins in February and March. Both the FBI and local agencies have been working on the case and it finally looks like their undercover work and surveillance are paying off with recovery of the goods expected within the week. Those goods--including 17 blinders of color transparencies, one Y-wing and 2 X-wing flying models and a storm trooper's uniform were worth a fortune when they were stolen.

And now as the mania to collect "Star Wars" memorabilia grows ever stronger --they're worth many times more. Anything and everything that bears the "Star Wars" label has become more valuable than gold, in fact. Attorneys for 20th Century-Fox are working overtime to try to stem the tide of unauthorized "Star Wars" goods flooding the market that range from T- shirts to magazines-- to pirated prints of the movie selling for $1,000 each. And meanwhile, the price of "authorized" material keeps going up and up. Free promotional brochures are now being peddled for S50.

The "Star Wars" comic book that sold for 35 cents when it was issued is now being resold for S5. And even the April edition of the American Film Journal which featured a "Star Wars" cover-- is now considered such a collector's item it's gone up in resale from SI.75 to $10. Where there's a will: Ginger Alden who claims she was supposed to have become Elvis Presley's bride doesn't have to fret about having been left out of his will. She's reportedly sold her story to a national tabloid for S50.000! This in spite of the fact she'd only been really close to the star for a few months and though his family denies any knowledge of such wedding plans. Lights, camera scalpel: Bo Svenson is back on his feet and on his way to filmmaking in Rome -four days after an emergency appendectomy that was not to be believed.

Administrators of Los Angeles' Beverly Glen Hospital assure me wecan believe it. Bo spent the day filming a scene for "Jimbuck" with Jack Palance and Rod Steiger in an operating room of the hospital, was stricken with an appendicitis attack and was operated on in the same operating suite, while the crew was still frantically removing lights and equipment. Filmland flair: Linda Ronstadt's new "Simple Dreams" album for will feature an art deco cover showing the singer reflected in a series of mirrors. The cover was shot in the ladies room of Hollywood's Pantages Theater. From country to country: Charlie Rich will be reunited with Benji when that movie pup heads to Nashville next month for filming of the ABC special based on his exploits.

Charlie, who's got a new ery hit on his hands with "Rolling with the Wind," sang the theme song for the two "Benji" films, and will be featured on the Looks like Roger Moore won't be joining the trek from London to Hollywood if he repeats as James Bond (as expected) in "For Your Eyes Only." Producer Cubby Broccoli has moved back here after 20 years abroad because of tax pressures, and there's been talk that he'd switch "Bond" shooting over here. too. But now, reports Roger, Broccoli has decided interiors for the movie will be shot at London's Pinewood Studios where "The Spy Loved Me" was filmed. And you can be sure nothing could please Moore more. He feels that because labor is so inexpensive in London and pride in product so high it's much easier to make a high-quality movie over there.

The reel world: Though Michael Douglas has completed starring stints in MGM's "Coma" a week sooner than expected, he's decided he can't afford the time for the extended European vacation he's been promising bride Diandra Lucker. Instead, they'll take off for a two-week camping trip, then Michael will hustle back to his offices for pre-production work on "China Syndrome." DAILY TV LOG Tuesday evening 6:00 CBS NEWS (T)(T) NEWS BASEBALL: CALIF. A BALTIMORE p.m.] GUNSMOKE PARTRIDGE FAMILY ALIAS SMITH AND JONES JOURNEY TO ADVENTURE ELECTRIC COMPANY (55) PTL CLUB LA USURPADORA LITTLE RASCALS VEGETABLE SOUP 6:30 MOVIE ANDY GRIFFITH (53; EVENING EDITION DAVEY AND GOLIATH Sej INFINITY FACTORY 7:00 IT) N8C NEWS ffjLJARSCiUB fT) ABC NEWS (53 CONCENTRATION LOVE LUCY THE F.B.I. AMERICAN. ISRAEL, JEWISH HOUR (3) NEWS FESTIVAL OF FAITH SS; 24 HORAS MCHALE'S NAVY REALIDADES 7:30 CANDID CAMERA LOVE AMERICAN STYLE SQUARES (91 JOKER'S WILD QD BEWITCHED 28 TONIGHT (52) WELLS FARGO FOLKLORE THEATER 8:00 A BENNY SHOW 3 BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP JT) MOVIE A A I A DREAM" GD HAPPY DAYS MOVIE "LIMBO LINE" A WOMAN IS PERRY MASON fig PUBLIC AFFAIRS (5j FIVE RED HERRINGS (5B) EL SHOW OE EDUARDOII S3; RETURN TO MACON COUNTY LJNE A SHOWCASE 8:30 PHYLLIS LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY fn) CROSSW1TS 51 CHINESE TV SERVICE 9:00 POLICEWOMAN ABC MOVIE 'HAVING BA8IES" (TTJ MERV GRIFFIN SHOW VIRGINIAN MUSICAL VARIETY OPERA THEATER "DIE FLEOERMAUS- Si) ESPECTACULAR '77 9:30 QD ONE DAY AT A TIME JUDGE PAO CHIN TIEN JU RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER 10:00 Tj NBC REPORTS NEWS ERNEST ANGLEY HOUR SO) DR.

GENE SCOTT EL BIEN AMADO 10:30 NEWS 11:00 rriiTj23 NEWS LOVE AMERICAN STYLE IRONSIDE rjT, FERNWOOD 2NIGHT MARCUS WELBY (S; LATINO CONSORTIUM DOMATA 'ST UNA PLEGARIA EN EL 11:30 1 CBS MOVIE "BEYOND THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE" CfJ TONIGHT SHOW 2j ABC MOVIE THE OUT OF TOWNERS" rvijNEWS gf, ABC NEWS (35; CHRIST THE LIVING WORD (34) EL BAHCHANTE 12:00 TWt'-IGHT ZONE MOVIE A STRANGER 1 QTJ WORLD OF SURVIVAL 3D MOVIE "NEXT TIME WE LOVE" 30l QUEST FOR LIFE 12:30 QT! DRAGNET fTT) MOVIE OF EVIDENCE" (36) MUSIC FOR ALL AMERICA 1:00 TOMORROW 33 MOVIE "CONTEMPT' 5oj TO BE ANNOUNCED MS" 15 NEWS 1:30 NEWS 55 MOVIE "REUNION RENO" '35: FESTIVAL OF FAJTH 2:00 IjT; MOVIE JOURNEY CENTER OF TIME" MOVIE TUTTLES OF A I I 2:30 TTl MOVIE I A THING 3:00 MOVIE A YESTERDAY 3:30 23 NOONTIME 4:00 2) MOVIE "WAR DEVILS' 4:30 MOVIE WITCHING HOUR" 35 MOVIE WAS FULLBACK" Our Mission in life. It's Misvon 'on 'ijfO. riP'j it's Mirt-Tou to SIX 1 1 ooints of in oil Qrrj tHr-'v pTt o' 'V fi bovo to Gtkjr Why rot you' to OUi this 'vj tho of Vootura. too 1 Sond lot Mim lout 'jri'1 quicff'S its Buf'ou. Jr Av.vV-ntutO Ca SPECIAL SOFA 74.

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