Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 30

TIMES TUESDAY, JULY 19,1994 THIS DAY IN MUSIC July 19, 1991 Drummer Steve Adler files suit In Los Angeles against his former band, Guns N' Roses. The 26-year-old claims band members pressured him to use heroin and then dropped him after he entered a rehabilitation program. 1986 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: Invisible Touch, Genesis. 1976 No.

1 Billboard Pop Hit: Kiss and Say Goodbye, Manhattans. 1954 Elvis Presley's first single, That's All Right Mama, is released by Sun Records. BPI AND THE ARTS Report: Snyder to follow Letterman WINFREY ISewaire off the gDittz mww 1 It 1 Oprah aims for a lighter touch TIMES FILM CRITIC STEVE PERSALL The same man who got the boot when Letterman took his 12:30 slot way back when may be headed for CBS. Associated Press NEW YORK After months of rumors, it looks like Tom Snyder will return to big league broadcasting with a late-night talk show following David Letterman on CBS. Snyder would do five in-depth interviews and possibly simulcast on CBS Radio, Daily Variety reported Monday.

The network was expected to announce the show as early as this week, the industry newspaper said. Rosemary Keenan, a CBS spokeswoman, wouldn't comment Monday. Show on NBC. Tomorrow got a boost from Dan Aykroyd's parody of Snyder on Saturday Night Live. In an interview last fall, Snyder said Tomorrow had gone well for 8 years, then former NBC programing chief Brandon Tartikoff "called me into his office and said the words that changed my life: We have made an agreement with David If Snyder gets the CBS show, it will be thanks to Letterman, who took Snyder's time slot at NBC.

Letterman's production company will produce whatever show follows his Late Show, which Letter-man began in September after jumping networks. By the time Snyder's show gears up, CBS' local affiliate will likely have changed to WTSP-Ch. 10, which is expected by fall. Times files BACK TO BACK: Tom Snyder (left) will follow the Late Show with David Letterman. The show would be broadcast at 12:35 am, after Letterman's Late Show, Variety said.

Snyder, known for his dramatic delivery and staccato laugh, is host of a nightly talk show on the cable channel CNBC. From 1973 to 1982, Snyder pioneered late-night talk TV with Tomorrow, following Johnny Carson and The Tonight Room for I Hgnw.nii that dealing with a movie production is no different than with a less-glamorous business. The safeguards to take are the ones any business would take, regardless of who the client is," said Parramore. "Retailers and wholesalers always have ways of setting up accounts with new businesses and (film production) would be handled just the same." Some of those financial practices include detailed credit checks, filing credit card numbers or requiring advance deposits for vendors. This was reportedly done to a degree in Sarasota, where Seven Sundays bills were promptly paid until the production wrapped.

Such a drop-off in dependability can be predicted with a little vigilance by the film commission. "You can kind of watch and get a feel for whaf going on," Hoyt said. There have been commercials (produced here) when I told people to get their money up front I've never had it happen with a feature film. And word gets around; if they stick it to somebody once, I don't think it happens a second time." Parramore said Tampa Bay citizens shouldn't fear the worst when a production comes to town. "If you figure how many movies are made each year about 300 if not much of a concern," she said.

"So many aspects of the financing get audited and massaged and nitpicked over, the money is usually in place for what they have scheduled." The final decision, however, rests with local vendors, who could toss caution to the wind (maybe a Sarasota breeze) and cut shaky deals just to be attached to a high-profile project There isn't much difference between star-struck and star-stricken. "Hollywood" lies somewhere in between. UNLIKELY IDOL Christopher Doyd's career blossomed by playing characters you wouldn't let near your children, like a lunatic in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or drug-addled Rev. Jim on the sitcom Taxi. Now he's one of the most recognizable actors among kids, after roles in the Back to the Future trilogy (and Universal Studios ride), Who Framed Roger Rabbit and, most recently, in Disney's Angels in the Outfield.

Nobody is more surprised than Lloyd. "I never anticipated playing in the lives of children. I wanted to do serious adult stuff," Lloyd said in a recent telephone interview. Then it starts sinking in, how much children enjoy me. I don't want to be completely locked into those roles, but I have no regrets about what they've brought to kids.

"Hopefully, as time goes on, IH have shots at more serious roles. I see a film like Schindler's List and, darn it I want to get into something like that but you have to go where momentum carries you." When Hollywood comes knocking on bay area doors, if up to local vendors to make sure that Hollywood gets their money's worth and that bay area businesses get their money's worth, too. "Hollywood" isn't just a place but a state of mind, a seductive status symbol for any community where filmmakers exercise their craft It seems to be a prime item on Tampa Bay's wish list, right behind major league baseball, city-saving construction projects and cheaper Sunday buffets. Local film commissions bide their time securing locally produced commercials and training films, waiting for another profitable Cop and a Half or Cocoon. Citizens of Sarasota thought they had reached a measure of movie credibility when the French comedy Seven Sundays was produced there last fall, then came reports of more than $200,000 in bills left unpaid by producer Jean Bodon, his Thalia Productions and the bankrolling Erato company in France.

Even the annual French Film Festival which celebrated Seven Sundays as a community coup last year has distanced itself from the film until the issue is settled. Not so for Daniel Toscan du Plantier, head of Erato and a festival partner as president of Unifrance, a French government film agency. If a messy situation that begs the question: Could it happen in Tampa Bay? Imagine that megabucks screenwriter Joe Eszterhas convinces Savoy Pictures to produce his Foreplay script here, since it is set in St Petersburg. Could the lure of doing business with the big-name talent dull local merchants' business sense? What would prevent Savoy from leaving a string of unpaid debts behind? The answer is: a completion bond, filed by producers with the local film commission, that guarantees full payment to a film's creditors. A completion bond is a solid weapon should there be any ensuing litigation.

Sarasota County film commissioner Pam Kline said Monday that Bodon didn't file a completion bond with her office. It isn't required by the commission, although Kline said that may change after Seven Sundays, the first major production ever in Sarasota. Film commissioners Pat Hoyt of the city of Tampa and Jennifer Parramore of Pinellas County said they would never do business with big-budget filmmakers without a completion bond. Beyond that they agree TV superstar talk host had to dump her executive producer or face a staff revolt. Newsday Expect Oprah Winfrey's syndicated talk show to do more "softer" topics self-help, affirmation, spirituality and sisterhood now that she has fired Debra DiMaio, her hard-driving executive producer of 10 years.

The latest edition of TV Guide says that Winfrey's de- sire for a change in direction and the arrogance of an unbending DiMaio led to the producer's abrupt departure June 23. I Many staffers had ened to leave unless DiMaio, known for riding roughshod over everyone, was removed, according to the magazine, which went on sale Monday. The ultimatum came at one of the staff occasional com- plaint sessions, to which DiMaio pointedly was disinvited, the magazine said. It was not the first time Winfrey had been confronted by the staff about DiMaio's demoralizing tactics, but it was the most serious attack ever of the Winfrey-DiMaio team. If she had agreed to Winfrey's softer approach, the magazine said, DiMaio might have been allowed to stay on board.

The tougher-minded DiMaio, however, demanded a more sleazy talk-show mix. Many staffers believe that Winfrey kept DiMaio around to be the "bad cop," with Winfrey the good cop. "Or maybe," said one, it was "good twinevil twin, like the we once did." Underlying all else, the Winfrey show's ratings this past: season were down Winfrey has a new contract that calls for her show to stay on the air through the year 1 nut i Come fall, Roseanne will be facing some stiff competition from NBC's Frasier Tuesdays at 9. ABC is playing its cards close to its chest, but Home Improvement is ABC's ace. By JENNIFER STEVENSON Times Television Critic LOS ANGELES Roseanne isn't moving, at least not for now.

The Connor family will remain in their lovable, messy house on Tuesday nights, said ABC Entertainment President Ted Harbert But don't cancel the moving van. The network is still considering moving its No. 1 Home Improvement to her 9 p.m. Tuesday time slot since NBC announced Frasier would compete with Roseanne. The consideration of moving Home Improvement shows how strong Frasier, the NBC Cheers spinoff, is.

"We have to decide just what we think of Frasier," Harbert said. Although he predicted Roseanne could beat Frasier "handily," the top-ranked Home Improvement would be tougher competition. Tm not sure I want to give NBC an edge to build a comedy night" Harbert said. He could change the schedule at any time. By the way, Harbert isn't sure what name Roseanne will use in the fall.

"Maybe shell be like Prince. You know, the artist formerly known as Prince. Maybe shell have a sign. No, I think she'll go by just Roseanne." He said he admired her ability to be creative last season despite the personal problems and marital turmoil with Tom Arnold, whom she is divorcing. Harbert didn't seem too sorry to see Tom go.

He said he doesn't think fans will miss "the fine hand of Tom Arnold behind the scenes" on the Roseanne set NO SINGING, PLEASE Remember those catchy TV tunes of yesteryear? Hope so. Because on ABC, thafs all youTl have to remember. Harbert said said he is leaning toward getting rid of many theme songs so programs have more time. He also wants to cut credits. "Be honest" he said.

"What theme song since 1988 have you been singing?" KOPPEL GETS A KICK OUT OF SOCCER -Although he was scheduled to appear Monday, ABC anchor Ted Koppel flew into Los Angeles on Saturday Times files DOMESTIC GODDESS: Roseanne will stay locked into the Tuesday night slot against NBC's Frasier. so he could catch the World Cup final Sunday. Koppel, a rabid soccer fan, says he prefers the sport to football. In a talk with TV critics Monday morning, he said he's somewhat amused that he's getting high marks as "a talk show host" in recent polls and that his Nightline outranks NBC's Tonight Show. "I've never thought of myself as a talk show host" he said.

"I've always thought of myself as a journalist" He defended Nightline's coverage of the J. Simp- son hearing for a solid week. Unlike tabloid shows, Koppel said, "if not that you cover it if a question of how you cover it" Koppel plans to look at that coverage and its fairness on Friday, when a special Nightline dissects the J. coverage. Without soccer, what else is there to do? tfs Michael Moore, a.k.a.

'Me' FLASH With a wince and a smile, NBC unveils TV Nation tonight. TV PREVIEW Michael Moore's TV Nation els this summer's only other new series, and if on a day earlier! The best way to see TV Nation is unprepared, so don't ask what funny business Moore has up his flannel sleeve. Suffice it to say this week's topics include Love Canal, free trade with Mexico, Manhattan taxi drivers, a prison without prison-. ers and Twinkies in Russia. Even better, there's not so much as a mention of Brian "Kato" Kaelin, the Betty Ford Clinic, Julia Roberts, the information superhighway or bad meat On the other hand, this is just Week 1, with at least six more shows to come.

Could Moore maybe have front-loaded all his good stuff? Are 8 tonight on NBC (8) ABC president happy with Ch. 28 By FRAZIER MOORE Associated Press NEW YORK With correspondent Ross bolting for ABC News, his employer, NBC, has lost its best investigative reporter. George Burns cancels shows after falling George Burns canceled several shows at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas while he recovers from a cut to his head caused by a slip in the bathtub. The 98-year-old comedian was to have appeared at the Las Vegas Strip resort from Thursday through Sunday, but a doctor advised him to take the week off, said Bums' manager, Irving Fein. A Caesar's Palace spokeswoman said the engagement would be rescheduled.

Fein said Burns fell on Wednesday. 0 But wait! Just in time to save the day, up jumps that investigative ace, Michael Moore. Michael Moore, native son of Flint Mich. Michael Moore, the "me" in his 1989 documentary smash, Roger Me. Michael Moore, not Roger Moore and definitely not Stone Phillips.

Granted, NBC scrupulously adds the word "comedic" to its description of Michael Moore's brand-new TV Nation. (Do they mean his "investigative comedic magazine show" is funnier Hhaa Dateline NBCi) And full disclosure crooked plumbers and the flesh-eating virus slotted for Week No, says Moore, a bulky man with an unassuming manner whom you underestimate at your peril. Gladly, he reels off a few of TV Nation's future scoops: "We were wondering what Dr. Kevorkian does on his day off, so we went to Detroit to spend it with him. We went to the Amazon, where Avon ladies go up and down the river selling cosmetics to poor Indian women.

We went to Washington, D.C., to try But Robert Iger hopes to see a complete local news operation open shop at his new affiliate, WFTS-Ch. 28. By JENNIFER L. STEVENSON Times Television Critic LOS ANGELES ABC president Robert A Iger flatly stated Monday that his network will fare better on WFTS-Ch. 28 than it would have with long-term affiliate WTSPh.l0.

Iger confirmed industry assumptions that ABC was worried about Channel 10, when the network summarily dumped the station during a national Scripps Howard deal last month. Even though Channel 28 is a UHF station and has no local news department Iger said ABC preferred its new affiliate. "We had a big problem in Tampa," Iger told the Times Monday. "In the long term, I think we will be better oft" The network was worried about Channel 10's ability to broadcast to the entire Tampa Bay area The location of our antenna gave us some signal problems," Iger said, noting that WFTS has a stronger signal in the central Tampa Bay area The Channel 10 antenna is in Tarpon Springs and did not have the reach ABC wanted. Channel 28's antenna is in southern Hillsborough county.

WTSP officials could not be reached for comment Monday. Iger said that WFTS still needs to build a news team, which he considers a necessity for any ABC affiliate. "If very important" he said. "Local news provides a strength in a marketplace." The network president also acknowledged that ABC planned its pre-emptive strike against CBS when it signed long-term deals with several Scripps Howard stations across the nation, in such cities as Cleveland, Detroit and Phoenix. CBS, which had lost crucial affiliates in a Fox raid, was shut out In May, Fox bought 20 percent of New World Communications Co.

with the agreement that 12 New World stations would switch to Fox. CBS lost eight affiliates in key markets and the Scripps deal would have filled many of its empty spots. Instead, ABC, worrying it would lose Detroit and Cleveland, was one step ahead. "On the day the New World deal was announced, (we) were on the phone with Scripps Howard," Iger said. "It was immediate.

We began in earnest If you consider that pre emptive, it was." To recap the recent affiliate changes, WTVT-Ch. 13 will become a Fox affiliate, WFTSCh. 28 will switch to ABC and WTSP-Ch. 10 will pick up CBS. The new affiliations could take place this fall, probably in mid-season.

The New World deal showed that affiliates have increased leverage with a network, which could mean more network compensation or better deals, Iger said. ABC, for example, now signs long-term contracts the Scripps Howard deal calls for a 10-year agreement and will pay more to an affiliate. He added, however, that ABC did not pay WFTS extra money to create a news department He rejected Fox's idea that a station is better off with more time to program local shows. "I think in the long term, a station is better partnering with a strong network and strong news division, rather than partner with a syndicator," Iger said, referring to the need of a local station either to create programs or buy syndicated ones. Iger was the first network president to admit that the multiple business deals may not be welcome with the viewers.

Station shifts cause "a loss of equilibrium," he said. "When a network changes affiliates in a market it creates confusion for a long time." I AP EYE ON NATION: Michael Moore's TV Nationals tonight on NBC. to bring the ambassadors of Serbia and Croatia together to bring peace to Bosnia by singing the Barney song to each other. We. Point taken, Michael.

By the way, when Moore says "we he is referring to a crew of correspondents that includes filmmaker Rusty Cundieff (Fear of a Black Hat), Ben Hamper (laid-off automotive worker and author of the best-selling Rivethead) and Merrill Markoe it is not within NBC's news division that Moore (who produces, writes, directs, hosts and otherwise masterminds TV Nation) is hanging his ever-present gimme cap. So what' Investigate TV Nation (pre-miering tonight at 8), and youH find it is the freshest most wickedly probing magazine since 60 Minutes started ticking. As if that weren't enough, NBC wasn't kidding when they called it "comedic." People's Celebrity Weddings issue Wedded celebrity bliss People magazine's sec- ond annual Celebrity Weddings Issue hit the street Monday, featuring detailed coverage of 60 weddings of the year including Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger, Donald Trump and Maria Maples, Eddie Vedder and Beth Liebling and lots more. Compiled from Times wires (former Late Night with David Letterman Why, TV Nation is even funnier than Mod- writer).