Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 22

TV-Radio Wednesday TV movies Wednesday CXsi Rjt-t Csnra4 Po fcnwn Corey. Sor- Anoeton. and Bo OwtSscn Morning and Mywooes. 8e- Cl) Mickey Mouse OufefR) CS Today's Heed- a- Ckit "MRS. H1GCS OK THE CABBAGE PATCH" i mr I i II AM I MHHMHMl Bill Cosby is flanked by Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier on the premier of his 1972-73 variety series.

If Cosby 's so good, why isn 't he on TV? SS5 CD ThMllgtM (D SunriM ttamastar CS) ltiwag CD Mfiattof 29 CO SUtftulMtoUv By t4 CD 6 25 GD Hr 5:27 (3) WGNEMortai 6 JO CD fTa Worth Knowing (5) Today in Chicga (23 Ptfpctivt CD Topo'trw Morning J5 CD Today In CnJcao .6:55 GD WBBM Editorial CD Nm C7D CO Ntwt CO Ntwa CfO Today CZ Good Morning Amtrtca CO RayRaynar OD SaaamaStraal CO Captain Kangaroo GD EJactric Company CO GarfMdGooao- 01) MtatarRogert Nshborhood 9:00 CO Prlcala Right CO Calabrny SwwpatafcM CO A.M. Chicago CO Movta "Mrs. Wiggs ol the Cabbage Patch." GD SasamaStratt (29 Stock Markat Open 8:15 CS BualneMNaws CO Whwlol Forturva, (29 Buslnats Newa- makers 25 BuslnaM News makers 0:00 CO Gambit 1 CO High Rollers GD Mister Rogers. Neighborhood 10:25 CD WLS Editorial 10:30 CO LoveolUre CO Hollywood Squares QD Happy Days (R) QD Electric Company (J Ask an Expert' (33 Newstalk The 700 Club 10:55 CO News 11:00 CO The Young and the Restless CO Magnificent Marble Machine CD Showoffs CO Phil Donahue Guests: Author ol "It's Alright to Hate Your 1 1 I I Gary Deeb TV-Radio critic TONIGW BILL COSBY is a brilliant storyteller, a marvelously creative fellow who may be the most universally accepted funnyman among people of all ages. A creature of television, he Is most adept at standing before an audience or sitting on a stool and weaving quasi-improvisational recollections of everyday experiences with which most of us can identify.

Cosby's 1 -key, side-of-the-moutb musings about childhood, adolescence, marriage, and the hypocrisies of life in general have convulsed viewers since he made his video debut 14 years ago with Jack Paar. HIS COSTARRING stint on "I Spy" paved the way into TV for a generation of black actors. Later, his short-lived NBC situation comedy was a masterpiece of understated wit and humanism. And his 1972-73 CBS variety hour, while not a rating smash, had enough bright moments to warrant pleasant memories. So why isn't Bill on TV more often these days? Actually, he's trying to remedy the situation.

ABC continues to hold Cosby in consideration for a possible weekly variety show. So far, however, nothing has happened, and Bill's main TV exposure is that charming series of commercials for Jell-0 and Del Monte. In seeking a TV series comeback, Cosby is battling two harmful factors: 1 TV variety shows are at a terribly low ebb in the ratings and 2 Bill has a reputation for being tough to work with. A DECADE AGO, a variety show was TV's best bet Ed Sullivan, for instance, became a legend by doing nothing more than introduce a hodgepodge of acts for an hour every Sunday night. A typical Sullivan show consisted of one touring ballet company, two romantic baUadeers, a semidecadent rock group, some one-armed acrobats and dancing bears, a talking mouse, Senor Wences, Charlton Heston reading from the Bible, and every fourth standup comic in history.

But Americans today are sated with entertainment and a bit jaded, as a result. Almost nobody looks to a TV variety show as a window to the world of showbiz. And when the likes of Sonny Bono and Howard Cosell are anointed with their own entertainment prcams, it must finally be admitted that the luster has vanished from variety as a television form. AS FOR COSBY'S chlp-on-the-shonlder label, close observers admit Bill has a pretty rugged temper. That fact was made abundantly clear to me three years ago when I saw Cosby wow a capacity house at the Interna- 7:00 pm It's an All-Disney Night) 'THE MOONSPINNERS" Hayley Mills tackles jewel thieves in the Bay of Dolphins! Plus the Disney nature-classic, "Prowlers of the Everglades." tional Showroom of the Las Vegas Hilton, then sour the joint with a burst ot petulance.

In the middle of a hilarious, rambling story about the first time he asked to borrow his father's car, BUI suddenly put a damper on what had been building into a spectacular evening. SOMEWHERE BACKSTAGE, a carpenter began operating a buzz saw. It interrupted Cosby's story, badly damaging his mood and timing. But instead of simply ordering an end to the buzzing and continuing with the story, BUI excused himself and walked behind the curtain. A half-minute later, the buzz saw had stopped and Cosby popped up in front again.

But he was scowling and in no mood to go on. So he glanced at his watch, told three or four toUet jokes, and took his final bow far short of a full performance. And it's that jagged personality, combined with the general decline of TV variety shows, that has made BUI Cosby an exile from his primary medium. Let's hope the situation gets corrected soon. THE LOCAL LINE: Roy Leonard eel-ebrates Thanksgiving by awarding his "Turkeys of the Year" beginning at 10:05 a.m.

Thursday on his WGN Radio show. Among Roy's designated birds will be WIN buttons and the World Football League. And this columnist will drop by with my own choices for "TV Turkeys of the Year." The word out of WV0N Radio is that Wesley South's "Hot Line" talk show is set to return to its five-nights-a-week status by January. The program has been slashed to just three nights weekly, triggering a storm of outrage from Chicago's black community. George Gillette, president of Globetrotter Communications, which owns WVON, blamed the cutback on station dissatisfaction with South's performance as "Hot Line" host.

"It's a question of professionalism," said GUlette, "and it now appears that Wesley South is ready to do the job he's capable of." But other observers insist that "Hot Line" was shrunk strictly as an attempt to snare higher ratings with music, and that the show is being fully restored' because of black protests. c. Lmrm mM Tan f34) Until a am. Depression-era best-seller about a woman with large brood who strives to avoid eviction on the screen mainly for the comedy of Fields and PitU. 34 m.

Channel 7 "BILLIE- Billt Pattf Dt Jm imi 1965 Until p.m. If you want to see bow much concepts of male-female behavior have changed in the last 10 years, check out this little comedy about a so-called tomboy whose involvement with athletics disturbs ber political! father. 7 p.m. Channel 9 "MOBY DICK" Chi. Pc ItMiaM CickM BMMHt ttWMCl LM 0MI FitMr MJla Oma Wti lrM Hkit Aaartwi Dlnctta tr Jeha Hailt 1956 Until 9:30 p.m.

Cklor Harpooned at the start by the miscasting of Peck as the demonically driven hunter of the white whale, this still is more entertaining than most filmed classics. 7 p.m. Channel 44 "MONSIEUR VINCENT" Vlnctirt Piul Pltrra FWMy Ctr4lnal Ridwll Aim CltriOK Count 4 Xt JtM Dtkonurt Ctofttttf Omdl Lit Oilmra Annt tl Antria OariMln Dtrnwi DirtclH Manrlca Cladw 1974 Until 9 p.m. This biography of the French saint who devoted his life to helping the poor is one of the best and most touching of all religious films. 7:30 p.m.

Channel 5 "THE MOON SPINNERS" Nlkky Ptrrii Hiyy Mills Franc Firrll Jwn Onoiweoa Mil Pit McEntn JlritM Ell Wtlltek AUOm HitlB Inmj PN( DirectX by Jtmts Niilton 1963 UntU 9 p.m. Color Young woman visiting Crete to record folk music gets involved with a young fellow who is seeking a gang of jewel thieves. Typical Walt Disney entertainment. 10 p.m. Channel 11 "WANDA." Winda Bnfctra U4M DtniKs MickMl Hillim OlrteM fen Barfear UOtn UntU 11:30 p.m.

The mul-titalented Miss Loden also wrote this grim tale based on a newspaper story of an unknown girl sentenced to 20 years for her minor part in an unsuccessful bank robbery. 10:30 p.m. Channel 2 "TILE DOBERMAN GANG" Btftfi Srren Mtb Bimty Hal Rta Jm JH Pirt DlnKM kr DtfK ClwaiMW 1974 Until 12:30 a.m. Color A con man and an animal trainer groom canines to be bank robbers. 10:30 p.m.

Channel 7 "THE NIGHT STALKER" Dama McOavIa Canl Lvnltr Slmtn Oakland 1974 UntU 12:07 a.m. Color Reporter McGavin tries to prove to a cynical boss there's a vampire loose in Las Vegas. The spooky kind. 10:30 p.m. Channel 9 "THE DEADLY BEES" Our Oalamaa tvtafflW Llk Prank Flnlay Olrtcta ky FrtMl Prancli 1967 Until 12:10 a.m.

Color English pop star goes to a small island tor a rest, but a swarm of poisonous yellowjackets almost make the rest permanent. 12:17 a.m. Channel 1 "SULLIVAN'S EMPIRE" Jan Marlla Milnar JM CI evlayar km Dm Oain Patrick LIMM CtilM Dra Kara Jam, Direct ad ky Harrty Man m4 Tatrwi Carr 1967 UntU 1:15 a.m. Color Three sons search for their wealthy father whose plane has gone down in the South American jungle. 1: IS a.m.

Channel 2 "THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA 1VERS" MarfM rwa Sartor IIWH Mntaru Vaa Haftl Tay MaraciM LMakark Wait OMI Kir Dwntn Mrt. Ion JMIHl Aarm Oirecr' lawn MtKitM 1946 UntU 3:40 a.m. Melodramas don't come much steamier than this one from the MOs Stanwyck, who murdered her aunt as i child, Li married to one of the witnesses of the crime and blarkmaUed by the other. 3:40 a.m. Channel 2 "TARZANS HIDDEN JUNGLE" Tana ki lii tcn DttH Mare cftttr 18S5 UntU 8:10 a.m.

The King of the Jungle deals with unruly white 02 Utue Reseats (44 Supertwrees SS My Opinion 400 CO Cangen's bland riD Mister Rogers CS Foror Against 02 Three Stooges (R) 9 6pidermM(R) 4:15 C9 Soul Train 4 CD Rocky and Friends OL TheEJectric Company 34 MunskwtfR) 4:45 CO News-Jack Taylor 5:00 CD Newe-BiaKurtlt CO liewe-Kalber Pauley CD Newt Drury-Brown CO IDreamot Jeannle(R) CfD Sesame Street 129 Black View of the News 02 Batman (R) (44) Superman (R) 5:15 (29 Mundode Juguette 5:30 CD News-Walter Cronklte CD News Harry Reesoner CO Bewitched (R) 02 Monkees(R) House of Frightenstein 5:45 (29 ElMenantlal. Wednesday Evening 6:00 CD News Kurtls-Jacobson CO News-John Chancellor CD News-Flynn-Daly CO Andy Griffith CfD Electric Company 02 Brady Bunch 34) Leave It to Beaver (R) 6:30 CO New Price Is Right CO Dick Van Dyke QD Dr. Who 02 Adam-12(R) 4) Get Smart (R) 6:45 (29 Informaclon 6:55 CD WBBM Editorial CD WLS Editorial 7:00 CD Tony Orlando and Dawn CfD Disney Night CD When Things Were Rotten CO Movie "Moby Dick." (29 Cazando Estrellat 02 tronslde(R) QD Public News center Movie Vincent." 7:30 CO Movie "The Moon Spinners." QD Opennlng At a Theater Near You 8:00 CD Cannon CD Baretta QD Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic (29 La Hora Familiar 02) Merv Griffin 9:00 CD CBS Inquiry "The American Assassins." CD Starskyand Hutch QD The Tribal Eye (29 Spanish Wrestling (43 Billy Graham Taxes Crusade 9:30 CO American Lifestyle 02 Last ot the Wild 10:00 CD News-Kurtlt-Jacobson CO News Kilber-Pauley CD News Flynn- Daly Newt Taylor-O'Connor QD Movie "Wanda." I29 Inlormecion 02 Best of Groucho (44) Supersleuths(R) 10:30 CD Movie "The Doberman Gang." CO Tonight Substitute host: McLean Stevenson. Guest: Liz Torres. CD Movie The Night Stalker CO Movie "The Deadly Bees." 69 LaTlerrs 02 It Takes a Thief 04) Peter Gunn 11.

-00 84) The 700 Club 11:30 QD Captioned News 02 Thriller (R) 12:00 CO Tomorrow Tom Snyder 12:07 CD Movie "Sullivan's Empire. 12:10 CD Newt 12:30 CD Bill Cosby (R) CO WGN Editorial 12:40 CO FBI(R) 1:00 CD News (5) Gamut 1:10 CD WBBM Editorial 1:15 CD Movie "The Strange Love of Martha tvets." 1:30 (5) News 1:35 (O Meditation 1:40 CO Biography (R) 1:45 (7) Reflections 2:10 (O News 2:15 CO SMInuttstoUve By 3:40 CD Movie "Tanran's Hidden Jungle." 5:10 CD Meditation TOMORROW am MACVS THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE A galaxy of celebrities fantastic floats balloons prize-winning bands! Helen Reddy and Peter Marshall are co-hosts, with Ed McMahon as the roving man-on-the-street. One hour earlier, seethe preparations for the parade through the eyes of Shari Lewis and her tiny "friends." Wednesday's TV highlights Kids," Charlotte Sheedy and her daughter Alexandra. QD Villa Alegre (23) Business Newt 02) Romper Room 11:10 (25 Stock Comments 11:20 25 Ask an Expert 1 11:30 CD Search for Tomorrow CO Three For the Money CD All My Children OD Ullas, Yoga, and You (32) New Zoo Revue 11:55 CO News-Edwin Newman Wednesday Afternoon 12:00 CD Lee Phillip CO News Jorie Lueloff CD Ryan's Hope CO- Bozo's Circus (5T French Chef Business News 02) Popeye (L9 Superheroes(R) 12:20 (29 Ask an Expert 12:30 CD As the World Turns CO Days of Our Lives CD Let's Make a Deal OD Consultation 02) Banana Splits (44) Prince Planet 12:50 (29 Midday Market Report 12:57 CO WGN Editorial 1:00 CD Guiding Light CD $10,000 Pyramid (O Bewitched (R) (ID Jennie 06) Terry'aTlme 02) Petticoat June tion(R) 84) MundoHispano 1:30 CD Edge of Night CO Doctors CD Rhyme and Reason CO Love, American Style (R) (26 Ask an Expert 02) Lucy(R) 2:00 CD Match Game (5) Another World CD General Hospital CO Farmer's Daughter (R) QD Evening at Symphony Q9 Business Newt 02) That Gtri (R) (44) Big Valley (R) 2:30 CD Tattletalee CD OneUteto Uve CO Father Knows luat ten CS World News 02 Magma Gorilla 3:00 CO Cive-rt-Take (5) Somerset CD You Don! Say (O Flintttones(R) 01) Sesame Street 06) Business News 02) Popeye (44) Popeye with Steve Hart 3:20 CS Market Final 3:30 CD Dinah! Guests: Eydie Gorme, Carol Burnett, UN Palmer, and Marty Pot. CO MtkeOougist Cohost: Sommer.

10:30 a.m.-44 "The 700 Club." Tribune editorial cartoonist Wayne Stayskal discusses The Tribune and cartooning Repeated at 11 p.m. 7 p.m. 5 "Prowlers of the Ever-glsdes." A 1957 Disney fUm on the Everglades showing an alligator stalking his dinner, a skunk trying to crack an alligator egg, and the struggle for survival faced by baby alligators. 7 p.m. 7 "When Things Were Rotten." Renaldo is accused of spying for the Sheriff of Nottingham and is forced to stand trial.

7:30 p.m. 11 "Opening Soon At a Theater Near You." First of a series of specials featuring fUm excerpts of new movies, commentary, and criticism by hosts Roger Ebert of the Sun-Times and Gene Siskel of The Tribune. 8 p.m. 7 "Baretta." An alcoholic nurse's 9-year-old sister disappears after witnessing a murder, and Baretta searches for her. 8 p.m.

"Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic." Maestro Leonard Bernstein conducts the New York Philharmonic in Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony and the "Andante CantabUe." Stereo simulcast with WFMT 98.7. 9 p.m. 2 "The American Assassins." The second part of a four-part special deals with the assassination of John F. Kennedy. am "HEREAFTER" A fantastically funny show! Josh Mostel as the devil's youngest son makes a pact with a trio of down-and-out entertainers.

With Vivian Blaine. 11:30 am Winner of Six Academy Awards-Including Best Picture! "A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS" Judith Crist called it "A film for all time! A great motion picture!" Starring Robert Shaw, Orson Welles, Susannah York and Paul Scofield as Thomas More. pm BUFFALO BILLS VS. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS An explosive match-up between two superb Buffalo's O.J.

Simpson and the Cards' Terry Metcalf. Reported by Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis and Don Meredith. Preceded by NBC Sports' "Grandstand." 7:00 pm "LIVING FREE" Nigel Davenport and Susan Hampshire star in the stirring, true-adventure sequel to "Born Free." Can Elsa's three cubs be trained to survive in a danger-filled wilderness? Wednesday AMFM highlights waart cwMvcti la Wtlto- BlrttKMv," HtMn SrmMiwiT N. a. 1 Bariiwi "IrmMwnt Fantttflgu." WNIS IPM T.

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