Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 91

19d ST, PETERSBURG TIMES FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1981 u- 'A Long Way Home' is an example of television at its finest IN" k. ta. 1." ON TELEVISION A Long Way Horn: a two-hour prauntation Marring Timothy Hutton and Brand Vaccaro. at 9 p.m. Sunday on Cha.

10 and 40. The Weekend Watch: IIHRL VIM want," begs the boy. Moments later, a man is dead. Then a car tumbles over a cliff and explodes. Music sounding suspiciously like the theme from Dallas rises from the ashes.

Familiar aerial footage slides by in split screen. It's it's Falcon Crest (10 p.m. Friday on Ch. 13). Indeed: Dallas with wine instead of oil and odder still Ronald Reagan's first wife instead of J.R.

CBS lured Jane Wyman out of retirement to play the ruthless baroness of a gigantic family vineyard. She connives and she manipulates. She cheats, steals and avoids eye contact at critical moments. She is one tough dame. It might be kind of fun to have this show around when the new china finally arrives at the White House, so we might hear how it sounds breaking.

Unfortunately, Falcon Crest is such a bad show it likely won't survive. Darkroom (9 p.m., ABC) looks just like Night. Gallery but also harkens back to Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. It's an anthology of "suspense" stories hosted by the mildly frightening James Coburn, and it might turn out all right. But the premiere was lame.

Both segments last week one about a network's plan to replace newsmen with impostors and another about a spooky crystal radio turned out heavy-handed because of revealing their secrets too soon. Tonight's installments sound no more promising. One also involves impostors and the other is titled "The Bogeyman Will Get You." WTSP hires co-anchors has hired co-anchors to replace the departing Don Harrison. Starting sometime in January, John Wilson of KSDK-TV, St. Louis and Liz Ayers of KWTV-TV in Oklahoma City will read Action News weeknights at 6 and 11 p.m.

Harrison last month announced he is taking a job with Ted Turner's CNN2, a new cable-news channel. personal lives which almost any other program would confront with a heavy hand and florid rhetoric gets a deft, silent touch in A Long Way Home: Donald is called to the caseworker's office one evening to hear some news. Briefly, a piece of state-issue office furniture divides the picture into three pieces: On one side of a post stands Donald; caseworker Vaccaro faces him from the other; and forming the peak of the triangle is the corner of some welfare worker's desk. Rarely does TV offer even a token of the visual sophistication we expect from feature films. To find it in a moving, honest story peopled by first-rate actors makes for a splendid surprise.

The funniest new show of the season, Open All Night (8 p.m. Saturday on Chs. 10 and 40), premiered last week to a tiny audience. You have to at least sample it. It's from the producers of The Bob Newhart Show and it's set in a 24-hour convenience store.

The embattled owner is pudgy, versatile George Dzundza (he has a part in A Long Way Home), whose wife is daffy and whose stepson (Sam Whipple) is hilarious. Last week, the search was for an honest night manager. The stepson is addicted to junk food and therefore unreliable. only went to McDonald's for 20 minutes," he whines. "It was the first day of Chicken Finally, the job goes to Bubba Smith, over a nasty midget.

I see!" cries the midget. "You didn't hire me cuz I'm A steady stream of odd, regular customers sustains Open All Night's bizarre humor. The premiere episode made me laugh out loud several times, which might not matter to you, but impressed me greatly. The stage directions on page one must have read, ENTER PANTING. Its premiere opens with a couple frolicking in a vineyard.

"C'mon Emma! We'll go anyplace you A Long Way Home has few words but great eloquence. You've heard of a camera being The lens in this G.E. Theater presentation seems altogether sure of itself. It tracks intelligently, says as much through framing as through movement and sets a measured pace to appreciate the cast's quietly restrained performances. It is unusually fine television that has the warning signals of mediocrity.

The premise reads Movie of the Week: A boy, abandoned at a young age by his natural parents, struggles later in life to locate siblings kept hidden by a state bureaucracy. IT'S EVEN based on a true story. Their natural parents, migrant workers, actually deserted Donald, David and JoAnn Booth one day in South Miami. "Just like that," says the family-services agency executive in charge of their case. Before the state discovered the kids, Donald cared for his kin filching junk food from service stationsj milk bottles from doorsteps.

They were a close, if lean, nuclear family. But to find foster parents for all three, the state agency decides it must split up the set. Donald goes to one home, David to another, JoAnn to another. Donald, however, grows up preoccupied with reuniting his "family," even if it takes years. It does.

In the hands of producer Linda Otto and director Robert Markowitz, what might have been a syrupy tale relevant only in the context of other TV movies looks instead very much like real life. As Donald, Timothy Hut-ton, who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in Ordinary People, is once again playing a model youth tormented by trouble he did nothing to deserve. Also again, Hutton brings a depth to his performance that, coupled with his highly controlled, naturalistic style, fills out the role completely. HIS ACTING IS of a piece with this supremely natural, confident film. Dennis Nemec's dialogue is spare and (as played with generous, proper pauses) rings true.

Ditto the production details. No sets look unreal, no device seems contrived. Not even Donald's numerous flashbacks to the days of togetherness in a squalid rented house strike you as artificial. (One, in fact, looks like a Life cereal commercial turned inside out. The three children all dark and adorable are lined up at a table eating a breakfast of corn flakes doused with watered-down milk.

Young David has Mikey's big cheeks. Through them David says, "There's no milk in this! You're supposed to make it with The hardest test of A Long Way Home is its handling of the family-services agency. To its credit, the picture's only righteous outbursts against bureaucracy come from an adolescent Donald, who soon outgrows histrionics. The one potential villain, a caseworker played by Brenda Vaccaro, is not long a barrier. And when she does come to help Donald in his search, the change does not follow some light bulb popping on above her head.

Her change of heart is gradual, and believable. The more you think about the movie, the more it impresses you. Deceptively simple, it tells a dense story with uncommon honesty and a subtlety uncommon to television. Its strength it takes from its human elements. The clunkier question of a government orchestrating HIGHLIGHTS broadcast MORNING 9:00 (58 Donahue: "God Or Bombs?" Guests: Bishop L.T.

Matthiesen, Rev. John A. Ford. 33 John Davidson: Guests: Lynn Redgrave, Charo, Connie Sellecca, Dr. Burton White.

Donahue: "Adoption Search Controversy" 9:30 3D Mike Douglas: Cohost: Bobby Vinton. Guests: Shabba-Do, Howie Mandell, The Volantes. AFTERNOON S) Benson: Benson is recruited by the FBI in a scheme to trap a lobbyist suspected of bribing federal officials. (C) 8:30 CD Wall Street Week: "Return Of The Chartist Pope" Guest: Adriaan Schrikker, technical consultant, Jeffries and Company. 9:00 PM (10) Let The Children Live Guest, Norn Crosby (Pel.

Adv.) 9:00 (3) "A Christmas Special: Liciaie Pavarotti" Notre Baae Cth. Montreal (fd. Adv.) 9:00 CD A Christmas Special With Luciano Pavarotti: The Metropolitan Opera star sings "Ave Maria," Holy Night" and other Christmas classics from the Church of Notre Dame in Montreal. McClain's Law: A prime suspect in a series of lunchtime rapes counters with a lawsuit charging McClain with police brutality. Dallas: Cliff Barnes tells J.R.

to submit to his demands for Ewing Oil property or face foreclosure on the note which Cliff now holds. 83) Darkroom: An imaginative teenager believes her older sister is dating a vampire, and a poor couple think up a 12:30 Over Easy: "Creativity" Guest: Maestro Kurt Herbert Adler, manag- ing director of the San Francisco Opera. (C) 4:00 CH) Merv Griffin: Guests: Charles Az-navour, Claude Terrail, Daniel Hecter. Hour Magazine: Gary Collins explores how our childhood memories can affect our adult lives; Pat Mitchell meets an 11-year-old tennis champ; a visit with newsman Harry Reasoner. 5:00 (3D how our childhood memories can affect our adult lives; Pat Mitchell meets an 11-year-old tennis champ; a visit with newsman Harry Reasoner.

5:30 CD Over Easy: "Creativity" Guest: Maestro Kurt Herbert Adler, managing director of the San Francisco Opera. (C) EVENING 7:30 PM (44) PM MAGAZINE Visit 1 favorite Anericai noiumeit the Gateway Arch (Pd. Adv.) 7:30 Muppets: Guest: Phyllis (KS The George. way to continue getting their dead uncle's pension. 10:00 PM(10)LetTheChildreiLive Guest, Danny Thoaas (Pi.

Adv.) 10:00 TV's Censored Bloopers: Flubs made by television personalities on camera which were never intended for public viewing are seen; Dick Clark hosts. (R) 03) Falcon Crest: (Premiere) Chase Gioberti (Robert Foxworth) and Angie Channing (Jane Wyman), the conflicting heads of a California wine-making family, are reunited by the death of their father and brother Jason Gioberti. 99 Strike Force: Murphy and his squad go after a rapist who has attacked 22 women after following them home in broad daylight. Guest, Toiy Orlando (Pd. Adv.) 11:30 3D Tonight: Guest host: George Guests: Sandy Duncan, Stan Kann.

The Children Live Guest, Jose Feliciana (Pd. Adv.) WEDU rS- WFU fTol WTSP fTol WW WUSF fjo) WCLF I40) WXLT (44) WTOG 1 3 ms 1 NBC lIUJ BC LirJ CBS I'OJ CiJ VlID 50 Jim Bakkar 60 Haalfh Field 6:00 Braakf't Boat 700 Club Bugi Bunny 7:45 Waarhar 60 Today In Fla. 6:30 Living 70 Waka Up 7:00 Good Morning Frlandi 10 Yoga 4 You 6:30 Gontte Bon 70 Good Morning 7:30 Morning America 1:30 Mr. Rogora 70 Today Show America 9 00 ITV Gunsmoke Donahue John Donahue Bewitched Pr.gr.m, Davidson Mike 45 Weather C. Capps Douglat oo Romper Richard Sneak Action 60'i Jim A 7 15 Room Simmons Previews Bakker 111 I I 1 30 Charlie John Alice Motion With Another I II QL I V45 Rose Eastman Marian LH 00 Wheel Of Love The Price Consultation Shape Love News ZZ- I I 15 Fortune Boat Is Right Up Boat II 5 I I 30 Battlestars The Old Song Of INN News I I 45 Houseworks Praise II lTV News Newt Pulse Art Jimmy Family Perry 1 15 Program- Plus! Raid Swaggart Feud Mason 130 ming Ryan'i Over Ryan's I I Jh45 Hope Easy Hop 100 Days Of All My Young And Once Upon Glory All My Movie: Our Lives Children The Restless A Classic Of God Children "Escape I 30 Big Blue Guide- Me Never" I 45 Marble lines mC 00 Another One Life As The Lilias, Yoga Changed OO 15 World To Live World And You Lives To Live 9 Turns Inside Faith jl i 22 2 00 AS We Texas General Guiding Retirement The GAn.t!i?li Ol5 See It Hospital Light Rock Hospital Friends OZ 30 Lilias, Yog.

Skootefs III p45 And You PJ55S 00 Sesame Rockford People's Merv Odyssey Inside A A 15 Street Files Court Griffin Track Magazine A LL Zl 30 Laverne 100 Gi ligan rZ HiiS" Shirley Huntley Island 00 Mister mJJm Hawaii Hour Lilias, Yoga Street 15 Rogers Five-O Magazine And You Hunt Lucy pV SmOvo' M.A.S.H Frugal Enter. Happy Day, tajnment 6HBU.3or -Wi BW ABCNews f.r$on, 0 00 Business Tic Tac You Asked CBS News Perspectives M.A.S.H MmerV 7 30 MacNefl FmSj Th. Entertain Perspectives This Is All In The PM 45 LQhror Feud Muppots Tonight The Lifo Family Magaz.ne 00 Washington NBC St. Judo's The Dukes Weekend TheGood Benson 15 Week Magazine Children's Of Hazzard Ufa Waltons 30 Wall Street Hospital Spectrum Of Bosom 45 week Telethon The Arts Sudditt ZS go Christmas McCl.in't Dallal The Duchess Faerie Darkroom Movie: rtis Snecial Law Of Duke K. Price Devil's II Qd m'l I Luciano psciple" LU 45 Pavarottl JL 00 Soundstago To Be Falcon The News Strike 2 1 Om "nB0UnC'd Kingdom News 45 Jumpstreet Living 00 Dick Sews Niwl Ntwi nlIv.

1 1 1 15 Cavort club Night Live I I I 30 Captioned Tonight Carol MinhtihT. I I I 45 ABC News Burnett Nightllne a Si- Behind Fridays Movie: 1fi The Screen "Mummy's I 1 X30 SCTV CBS Movie Revenge" I Network 90 "Hooch" 1 (gABtLG Qyffl- ONwL Oy.I?,g ESPN USA SHO HBO TMC CINE 700 Top O' The Jimmy Funtime Sports Various Movie: Movie: 15 Morning Swaggart Center Program- "Rough "Smokey 30 Bullwinkle Jim ming Cut" And The Movie 45J: Bakkor Cont'd Bandit, II" 800 The Jim Jeannie The NFL Alive And Movie: Movie: 15 Bozo Bakker Story Weill "The "Zero 30 Show Newark My Three Sports Getting To Sixty" 45 Reality Sons Forum Of Wisdom" Cont'd 00 8 Straight Movie: Football Movie: 15 Talk "The Review "Penelope" 30 Bewitched Lonely This Week Movie: 45J; Profession" In The NHL "The 00 Movie: Romper Sports House Of Movie: Son Of I 1.15 "Fuzz" Room Center Represen- "The Monte rV I I 30 tatives World's Cristo" I 45 Greatest 00 John Movie: Men's Movie: Athlete" 15 Davidson "Separate Basketball "Julius I I 30 Show Tables" Rutgers Caesar" Movie: I I 45 Vs. "Forbidden At0 Donahue News UCLA House Of Planet" 15 Represen- I tatives Movie: I dm5 1 "Doctor 100 Prisoner: Let's Make Movie: Boxing Movie: Zhivago" 15 Cell Blk. A Deal "The Top Rank "Rough 30 INN News Pitfall Maltose Cut" Movie: 45J: Falcon" "Black 00 Dick Treasure Beauty" '5 vn Vk Hunt 30 Andy Match 4fa45 Griffith Game 7 4. 00 I Dream Bonanza Funtime Shorts Movie: Jv VJ 15 Of Jeannie Block "Tarka IX 30 Scooby The The NFL Movie: The Otter" 1 1 1 45 Poo Flintstones Story "Hot Lead .00 Popeye Movie: Munsters Basketball And Cold Movie: A 15 "Shake North Feet" "Smokey LL Zl 30 Bugs Bunny Hands With Leavo It Carolina And The "T45 Friends The Devil" To Beaver Vs.

1 Bandit II" 00 Scooby Brady Tulsa C-Span WiW Movie: LT 15 Doo Bunch Call-In Babies "Zero 30 Pink Beverly Shorts To Sixty" S4S Panther Hillbillies Block 600 The Tic Tac Andy Basketball Calliope Movie: Hepburn Movie: 15 Muppots Dough Griffith Report "Somebody And "The 30 Welcome Bullseyo Gomer Sports Up There Tracy Getting 45 Back Hotter Pyle Center Likes Me" Of Wisdom" 700 Barney You Asked Winner Basketball Alive And Inside Movlr. 15 Miller For It Boston Weill The NFL "The 30 Laverne Enter- Sanford College Sports Son Of 45 Shirley tainment Son VS; Probe 1 Monto 0 8 00 Odd New York Mr. Magoo's Vlllanova Soccer Movie: Movie: Movie: Cristo" 15 Couple Report Christmas Buffalo "The Cat "The "Doctor 30 Baskatball Meet The Carol Stallions From Outer Octagon" Zhivago" 45 Loyola Mayors Vs. Space" 00 vs. Movie: Basketball Basketball New Jersey Movie: I1 15 Minnesota "In The Atlanta Houston Rockets "Dressed md30 Good Old Hawks Vs.

To Kill" 45 Summer- Vs. Soton Hall 1 00 "Time" Milwaukee Movie: Movie: ml fl 15 Bucks "The "The I I 1 30 Newt Heisman Fifth Bushide I W45 Trophy Show Floor" Blade" 00 Benny Sports Movie: Movie: 15 Hill News Center "The "Forbidden I 30 Saturday Maude Spirit Bizarre Movie: Movie: Planet" I 45 Night 1 Of Youth" "1941" "Smokey News Movie: Hockey Movie: And the 1 0 15 "Th Movie "Hollywood Bandit II" I 30 Movie: Resur- "Time For High" I 4feai45 rectlonOf Sergeants" (33) Entertainment Tonight: Rita Coolidge discusses her family, her career and ex-husband Kris Kris-tofferson. 8:00 f( 10) Let The Children Live Michael Landoa, Diaia Canova, Host one of TV's Biggest Events! (Pd.Adt.) 8:00 St. Jude's Hospital Telethon: "Let The Children Live," Telethon con-tinuing'until 1:00 am. The Dukes Of Hazzard: Just before a big drag race, Boss Hogg hypnotizes Luke into junking the General Lee.

novinG AFTERNOON 1:00 "Escape Me (B-W) (1947, Romance) Ida Lupino, Gig Young. A musician leaves his loving wife for his brother's fiance. EVENING 12:35 2:00 "Shadows Over (B-W) (1947, Mystery) Sidney Toler, Victor Sen Young. Charlie Chan sets off through the streets of Chinatown to solve a particularly puzzling new mystery. 3:00 "Bullets Or (B-W) (1936, Drama) Edward G.

Robinson, Joan Blondell. In order to get evidence necessary for a conviction, a former detective infiltrates a gang of criminals. 4:30 "Sail Into (B-W) (1957, Adventure) Dennis O'Keefe, Kathleen Ryan. A Barcelona boat captain becomes involved with a gang of thieves who want to transport stolen art treasures. (1976, Comedy) Gil Gerard, Erika Fox.

Three inept hoods attempt to organize a gang of Southern moonshiners for the New York mob. 1:00 831 "Mummy's (B-W) (1973, Horror) Paul Naschy, Jack Taylor. Supernatural events begins when a mummy searches for a body to house his wife's soul. HIGHLIGHTS cable 6:00 p.m. (HBO) Hepburn And Tracy: Scenes from the films of one of Hollywood's most popular teams the energetic Hepburn and the understated Tracy.

8:00 p.m. (HBO) The Octagon: A retired kuhg fu camp returns to action in order to combat a secret band of Oriental kill ers. Chuck Norris, an expert at the kicks, chops and jumps of the martial arts, takes on the Nija trainers of international terrorists. 11:30 p.m. (HBO) 1941: Mayhem and madness on a grand scale seize California six days after Pearl Harbor.

John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd head the cast of zany characters. 1.