The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 16

B2 IJIlli THE SUN, Wednesday, October 28, 1981 TOMSiF Randall wins round in war over 'Sidney It looks like Tony Randall won his battle with NBC. But whether his show will win the war with the moral-mongers who oppose it is another question. The battle Randall had with NBC was whether his new series, "Love, Sidney," would remain faithful to the characterization he craft-. in "Sidney Schorr," the TV Bill Carter I 'J i i I 0 I 3'-- i bringing back to prove how good TV used to be are proving how good TV used to be. The latest, "The Days of Wine and Roses," which is on Channels 22 and 67 tonight at 8, is now well-remembered as the Jack Lemmon-Lee Remick film.

But it started as a TV show PCI "it it: 700FM ABCiBnEVVS TONIGHT Join Frank Reynolds and corespondents, from New York, Chicago, Washington and around ,13 's. Eyewitness News at 6PM. as a pilot for the series. insisting he play Sidney exactly way-and that meant as a lonely, decent middle-aged man who homosexual. NBC kept saying elements would never be mentioned series even as subtly as they there tonight, and they are not this time, though, like the the references are completely and consistent with character.

satisfy the moral critics who find objectionable, and perhaps some absurd boycott of this television show. hand, maybe that vilification one thing to save "Love, Sidney" precarious future a soft comedy network following a piece of NBC shows get this much attention. junk is "Facts' of Life." "Love, on Channel 2 at 9:30, does not silly show. It is a show built which is a risky venture its troubled circumstances, it difficult challenge. for is that the combination of and rather honest warmth (as manufactured warmth common will win over enough of the audience.

essentially picks up from the contrivance. In the film, Sidney fight for little Patti, the daughter struggling young actress he Laurie is back in the midst of She needs Sidney again, and and Patti overcomes their past mush in tonight's first episode to go so far as to ask apologies. "I've Got a Crush on You" right world will pardon my and maybe it won't. Those or a little child to love may hugs one of those inevitable kids, Kaleena Kiff. Those who comedy with George Jefferson Laverne DeFazio falling into a syrup probably won't think "Love, Sidney" isn't backing right to tell this story the way it Randall his usual perfectly the talented Swoosie Kurtz taking "Love Sidney" puts up all it can muster.

enough open-minded viewers maybe that will be enough. ed so beautifully Those TV movie that served Randall kept the same deeply moral and happened to be a the homosexual in the were in the film. They're in even all that subtle entire series itself, tasteful That won't the entire notion they will mount mostly innocuous On the other effort will be the from its stuck on a weak junk. Not many The piece of Sidney," which is belong behind that mostly on sweetness, anyway. Given faces an especially All it can hope fine performers opposed to the to most TV shows) open-minded The story movie with a lost his custody of Laurie, the befriended.

Now a marital breakup. his love for her troubles. There is enough for Randall (He sings to the line: "The Maybe it will with a soft heart melt when Sidney irresistible TV equate TV screaming or vat of chocolate about melting. But at least down from its wants. With Tony prim self, and over as Laurie, the artistic artillery If there are left watching TV, on "Playhouse 90" in 1958, and it was all done live.

That live feeling is such an advantage to good work, it's hard to believe TV gave it up entirely. This show was probably one of the most searing things seen on television up to that time, and it easily holds its own in that category even today. The production has its share of flaws; it takes some time to get going, and the format, using a speech in front of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting to flash back to the events, is a bit stilted. But by the time the hard stuff comes down, with the debasement of alcoholism ruining lives and loves, the show is riveting. At least for those who can take it.

Many viewers will probably not be able to sit through the powerful last half hour or so. Cliff Robertson all but made his career in the lead role as a good-time guy who disappears into a bottle, only to find his way out again. He is excellent. But Piper Laurie, who disappeared herself as an actress for a while after an auspicious start back around the time of this show, is truly outstanding as the wife and mother who finds booze can be an even stronger commitment than love. Lee Majors returns to television tonight, a medium he quit for movies after he drastically overestimated his value as the "Six Million Dollar Man." His stint in filmdom offered him starring roles in cinema classics such as "Killer Fish," one the biggest movies to come out of Brazil in recent years.

Majors is back on TV with a series called "The Fall Guy." It starts tonight at 9 on Channel 13. He plays the best stunt man in Hollywood who nevertheless needs to supplement his income with a moonlighting job as a modern-day bounty hunter during the slow stunt season. The show is well suited to Lee, since it has lots of action and Western clothing. The storyline may be a little formulized, but it does have one major asset: a quirky, offbeat tone that is genuinely appealing or at least more appealing than you might expect from a Lee Majors vehicle. Kaleena Kiff and miere episode of Tony Randall in the pre-.

the series "Love, I The two-hour pilot on tonight is stocked with cameo appearances by actors Majors is supposed to be doubling for. The most bizarre cameo comes from Farrah Fawcett, once Mrs. Majors. Lee seems to want to engage in a little on-camera therapy, exorcising some of the bittersweet afterglow of his broken marriage with this farewell (in more ways than one, apparently) appearance by Farrah. None of this makes "The Fall Guy" anything really special as TV shows go.

But it is slightly different, slightly odd, and that qualifies as reason enough to give it a shot at being one of the sleeper hits of this TV season. 1130PM ABC NEWS NKjHTLINE Join Ted Koppel for todays top story, indepth and complete with live satellite interviews following Channel 13's Eyewitness News at 11PM. 1 cday's television 6:15 CD News. 6:20 (D News. Down To Earth.

6:25 News. 6:30 0 Romper Room. CD Learning To Read. CB3MI Morning Stretch. CB New Zoo Revue.

(4) Tony Brown. (Tj Bauman Bible. Country Music. Jimmy Swaggart. 6:45 CD A.

Mi' Weather. 7:00 Today. CD Wake Up. CD Good Morning T7 ifjm Pick "SbekaJIsrijS'i IkOTtGliesBl vtf Rob-1 ert Dnnan Paul Tsongas, Tom VVicker, Part 2). im O' bays 0 Pur 'V 'V QQ.

All Mv. Children. Movie'. -i ifi uesdavf'ThiV Musi' Be .1.1969) Suzanne Pie-' ysheffgi Bn'McShane. A oman-'1 feads wup of strip through, ieven 6ufoiean countries "Mlracfe hfitm'fi WSfl.

jane Wvman, Van Johnson, A young soldier and a ionelv woman fall in love only to be separated by war. s- Morning 5:30 Knowledge. (20) News. 5:50 Sunday 5:55 Jim Bakker. 6:00 Tom And Jerrv.

Health Field, i Panorama. Christopher Closeup. Encounter With Lew Doolittle. 6:05 Dialogue. Afternoon 12:00 OCDGD'.

"1 News. -i 7 Q3 Big Valley. i Charlie Rose, 1' Guest: designer Halstdtt. (56 Kids Break. (56) Woodwright's Shop.t Super Pay Cards.

ly i j- Family Feud. 12:30 The Doctors. I CD The Young And The Restless. i 0D Ryan's Hope. classics that public television is Donahue.

"Sexual Preference Development." Guest: psychologist Alan Bell. Donahue. "Prenatal Life And Early Childhood." Guests: psychiatrist Thomas Verny, Dr. Burton L. White.

W.O.W.! Sesame Street. 700 Club. 9:30 CD Leave It To The Women. 03 Lucv Show. Password Plus.

Chico And The Man. (T) Good Morning, Washington. Here's Lucy. Movie. "Rosemary's Babv." (Part 1) (1968) Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes.

A young woman ij horrified to discover that her husband has promised their unborn child to a coven of witches. John Davidson. "The Animal Lovers." Guests: James and Gloria Stewart," Betty White, Natalie Cole, Ray Berwick, Jeff Altman. Up To The Minute. (56) Scoobv Doo.

Woodv Woodpecker And Friends. 4:30 0 Laverne Shirley Company. CD Carter Country. CD Afterschool sharing an apartment with a woman half his age and her young daughter. CSdD The World Of Fernando Botero.

The life and work of contemporary Columbian surrealist painter Fernando Botero are documented. REBROADCAST 10:00 Quincy. (Season Premiere) Quincv takes a romantic interest in an amnesiac and discovers that her life is in danger. 09 Inside Washington. News.

(26) Independent View. Three films are presented: "Black Girl," "Harriet And The Promised Land" and "Space Trace. (1 hr.) 10:30 CD Ben Wartenberg At Large. "Progress In Medicine." Ben Wallenberg discusses medical science and practice with Dr. Lewis Thomas, Dr.

Philip Handler and Dr. Donald Fredrick-son. (55j Hogan's Heroes. Sgt. Schullz, Hogan's unwitting courier, is ordered transferred.

11:00 CD News. 03 I Love Lucv. G3(5J American Story. M'A'S'H (56j Benny Hill. (26 Dick Cavett.

Guests: The Modern Jazz Quartet Milt Jackson, John l.pwis. Radio cl irectory News reports On the hour WBAL, WPOC, WCBM, WCVT, WEBB, WBMO, WBMD-FM, WFBR, WITH, WVOB. On the half hour WPOC, WFBR, WITH, WBAL, WAYE, WVOB. 10 minutes of hour WJRO. 5 minutes of hour WCAO, WWIN, WMAR-FM.

15-minute newscasts 7 A.M. WBAL, WITH. 8 A.M. WBAL, WITH. Noon WBAL.

5 P.M. WITH. 6 P.M-WBAL, WCBM, WITH. 10-minute newscasts throughout the day WCVT. 2-hour newscasts.

4:30 P.M.-WBCJ-FM. Briefs every 2 hours. WLIF Throughout the day. WEAA-FM Stalion identification AM Stations WAYE, 860 kHz. Religious pro- gramming.

(Dawn to dusk.) WBAL (ABC), 1090 kHz. Current and standard pop music. WBMD, 750 kHz. Sundays: Reli- gious and ethnic programs. Weekdays: Religious programs and country music.

(Dawn to dusk.) WCAO (ABC Contemporary), 600 kHz. Top 40 pop music. WCBM (ABC Entertainment), 1 680 kHz. Current and all-time hits. WEBB (Mutual), 1360 kHz.

Jazz, rock and soul music. (Dawn to dusk.) WFBR (NBC Information), 1300 kHz. Standard pop music. WITH (CBS and Mutual), 1230 kHz. Mood music.

WJRO (Entertainment), 1590 kHz. Adult contemporary. WSID, 1010 kHz. Current and standard soul music. (Dawn to dusk.) i WTOW, 1570 kHz.

Sunday: Reli-1 gious and ethnic programs. Weekdays: Religious (Dawn to dusk.) i WWIN (National Black Net- work), 1400 kHz. Rhythm and blues. FM Stereo Stations WBJC (National Public 91.5 mHz. Classical and Broad- wav music, iazz, interviews.

WBKZ, 95.9 mHz. Adult conlempO rary music. WBSB, 104.3 mHz. Adult contem-' porarv music. i WCVT, 89.7 mHz.

Rock, iazz, educational programs. WEAA, 889 mHz. Progressive iazz, educational programs. WIYY, 97.9 mHz. Album rock.

WKTK (ABC FM), 105.7 mHz. Top 40 and albums in stereo. WLIF, 101.9 mHz. Mood music. WLPL, 92.3 mHz.

Current and standard rock. WMAR, 106.5 mHz. Mood music. WPOC, 93.1 mHz. Modern country music.

WRBS (UPI Audio), 95 I mHz. Sacred music and religious pro; grams. i WXYV, 102.7 mHz. Contemporary rhythms Super Pay Cards. Edge Of Night.

Encounter With Lew Doolittle. 11:00 Wheel Of Fortune. CD The Price Is Right. CDCD Love Boat. Medical Center.

Up To The Minute. Mister Rogers. 11:30 0 Newlvwed Game. 03 I Dream Of Jeannie. Battlestars.

That's Hollywood. Another Lite. (56) Electric Company. All In The Family. 5:30 0 News.

CD MA'SH CD The Muppets. 03 Gomer Pvle. GD Electric Company. Andy Griffith. Entertainment' Tonight.

(T6) Hour Magazine. Gary Collins meets Ann Hamilton, mother of George Hamilton, in Part 3 of a series on celebrity moms; Pat Mitchell interviews Gregory Harrison (Part 1); a visit with Phyllis George. What's Happening! Villa Alegre. Laverne Shirley Company. 1:00 0 The Rockford Files.

Rocky is assaulted bv two toughs after he is awarded a parcel of land in an oil rights lottery. CD Love Boat. A widower and his son fall for the same girl, and a bachelor develops an allergic reaction to his girlfriend. REBROADCAST Q3 Tomorrow. Guests: author Tom Wolfe; singer Connie Francis; actor James Coco; Dr.

Norman Vincent Peale. Starsky And Hutch. A radio disc iockev kills two people in an effort to extort $10,000 from a popular country singer. Entertainment Tonight. 1:10 I Spy.

1:30 Tomorrow. Guests: author Tom Wolfe; singer Connie Francis; actor James Coco; Dr. Norman Vincent News. 2:00 Private Secretary. 2:10 CD Mike Douglas.

Co-host: Susan Anton. Guests: Billy Fellows, The Archers. Encounter With Lew Doolittle. 2:15 CD News. 2:30 Q3 News.

Today In Your Lifo. 3:00 News. 3:10 tews. (20) Romper Room. People Are Talking.

10:00 All In The Family. CD Richard Simmons. CD Hour Magazine. Gary Collins discusses "label mania" with consumer reporter David Horowitz; Pat Mitchell visits with actress Lynn Redgrave; Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld 'gives the facts on Vitamin E.

03 700 Club. Las Vegas Gambit. Rhoda. Morning Break. Host: Carol Randolph.

One Day At A Time. Sesame Street. 10:30 Blockbusters. CD Alice. Specials.

"Tough Girl." A 16-year-okJ girl with a rough exterior meets a deaf student who helps her to accept herself and his friendship. Closed-Captioned. 03 Scoobv Doo. Charlie's Angels. The Incredible Hulk.

The Muppets. The Rockford Files. (56) Bugs Bunny. Krofft Superstars. 5:00 0 Good Times.

CD Barney Miller. 03 Gilligan's Island. GD(56) Mister Rogers. You Asked For It. (56) Woodv Woodpecker.

Percy Heath, Connie Kave. 03 AWACS: The Senate Votes. Roger Mudd examines the results of the U.S. Senate vole earlier in the day on the Reagan Administration's Plan to sell AWACS radar planes to Saudi Arabia. CD WKRP In Cincinnati.

Arthur Carlson's mother arrives and demands to see how the station stands financially. 0D ABC News. GO ABC News. The Odd Couple. Saturday Night.

Host: Eric Idle. Guest: Joe Cocker. 12:00 Tonight. Host: Johnny Carson. Guests: Dick Cavett, Natalie Cole, Lance Burton.

CD Hawaii Five-0. 03 Perry Mason. Perry Mason. Love Boat. A widower and his son fall for the same girl, and a bachelor develops an allergic reaction to his girlfriend.

REBROADCAST. 12:05 CD Movie. "Terror Out Of The Sky." (1978) Efrem Zimbalist Dan Hag-gerty. Two bee specialists and a free-lance pilot attempt to prevent a strain of killer bees from invading the country. REBROADCAST 1230 gO) Jim Bakker.

8:30 Q9 Great Space Coaster. GDH Mister Rogers. Bugs And Popeve. (20) Cartoons. (26) MacNeil-Lehrer Report.

REBROADCAST. :00 Donahue. CD Up To The Minute. CD People Are Talking. Hear the story of a woman who lost 16 years of her life.

Dennis The Menace. GQdD Educational Programming. Leave It To The Women. I Loye Lucv. CD Richard Simmons.

CD General Hospital. 03 Cartoons. Tom And Jerrv. (56) Krofft Superstars. People Of The First Light.

REBROADCAST. 3:30 03 The Flintstones. OS'S) Growing Years. (26 Studio See. "Mustangs" Join some Colorado cowboys in a wild mustang roundup; ride tubes down the Farmington River in Connecticut.

REBROADCAST. 4:00 0 The Brady Bunch. CD Happy Days Again. CD Edge Of Night. 03 Speed Racer.

Q) Sesame Street. and Spain, a portrait of the late artist and his work features reminiscences by his daughter, son and many colleagues. REBROADCAST 8:30 CD WKRP In Cincinnati. Bailey temporarily allows Johnny Fever to move in with her. 9:00 The Facts Of Life.

(Season Premiere) Tootie gets drunk while trying to prove she is mature CD Movie. "Hide In Plain Sight." (1979) James Caan, Jill Eikenberry. A stone mason undertakes an eight-year search for his two children, who were relocated by the government under a witness protection program. CD The Fall Guv. (Premiere) A stunt man moonlighting as a bail bondsman sets out to capture a bailiumper, the most powerful man in a small southwestern town.

03 Movie. "Rooster Cogburn." (1975) John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn. When a federal marshal sets out to track down a gang of desperadoes, a spinster with a grudge against the gang insists on ioining him in the hunt. Merv Griffin. "Hit Maker." Guests: Kal Rud-man, Rita Coolidge, Little River Band, Four Tops, Rick James.

:30 Love, Sidney. (Premiere) Tony Randall flars as a middle-aged New Yorker America. ffi Three Stooges. Understanding Human Behavior, New Zoo Revue. (20) Bugs Bunnv.

7:30 CD Morning With Charles Kuralt. Q9 Little Rascals. Hodgepodge Lodge. Great Space Coaster. (20) Woody Woodpecker.

8:00 G3 The Flintstones. (Q Educational Programming. Porky Pig. Mighty Mouse. (26) Lilias Yoga.

(20) Movie. "The Lavender Hill Mob." (1952) Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway. An unlikely band of bank robbers attempts one of the oddest bank heists in history. (5'o) Firing Line. 1:30 CD As The World Turns.

2:00 Another World. 0D One Life To i Live. 1 I $6) Nova. 2:30 CD Search For i Tomorrow. The Munstes.

3-00 Texas. CD Guiding Light. 8:00 Real People. Featured: a ghost town; a haunted church; a flying saucer on Washington's Mt. Rainier; a couple who have a wax museum at home.

CD Mr. Merlin. Would-be rock stars Zack and Leo try to obtain a formula for success from Max. CD The Greatest American Hero. (Season Premiere) Ralph the reluctant hero is once again called upon to use his super powers when America's national security and national pasttime are threatened.

Q3 Kojak. Koiak gets a child molester off the streets, but is ordered to release him. GDO The Golden Age Of Television. "The Days Of Wine And Roses" Piper Laurie and Cliff Robertson star as a husband and wife who fall into the pit of alcoholism. The Waltons.

A 19-year-old wandering minstrel causes Mary Ellen to leave her family at the time they need her most. Movie. "The Wild Bunch" (1969) William Holden, Ernest Borgnine. Outlaws cause violence and destruction while battling the Mexican army. Picasso: A Painter's Diary.

Filmed on locations in France 6:00 6:30 7:00 Welcome Back, Kotter. News (56j Barney Miller. Little House On The Prairie. Sanford And Son. Lottery.

0 Joktrs Wild I 7 family Feud CD -Evenihq Magazine "Evening i nieets people' own commer- cials and interviews coach Don Shula and his son Dave. 03 Sanford And Son. (2M MatNeil-Lehrer Report. Enferfiroment Tonight. 7 M.

Magaiine. 'f A inireral lake reputed to effect" '-miracle Michael Endy lefts his "Spirit" at.o frightening 'haunted house; a. 'Beach Boys Ian who uses special recording )X- techniaues. to duplicate the v- igroup's sound. -i 1P.Mr"Magaiine.

P.M. lookv at some of the most beautiful spots on earth in Kauai, Hawaii. Tic Tac Dough. 6j Good Times. All In The Familv.

7:59 CD Baseball. Game 7 Los Angeles Dodgers at New -Yor. Yankees (If ic-' essary) Closed-Caotioned. Evening OCDCD News. 03 Get Smart.

0(5J studio See. "Mustangs." Join some Colorar do cowboys in a wild mustang roundup; ride tubes down the Farmington River in-Connect-1 icut. REBROADCAST. Carol BurnettFriends. Guest: Vincent Price.

(56) The Muppets. Guest: Bob Hope. (26) Electric Company. NBC News. 03 Hogan's Heroes.

Nightly Business Report. Happy Days Again. CBS News. Laverne Shirley Company. Shirley, wins a contest that entitles her to a honeymoon weekend at a classy hotel.

ABC News. 0 Tic Tac Dough. CD CBS News. CD ABC News. Q3 Sha Na Na.

Guest: Fabian. over Easv. Guest: Harold Russell. NBC News..