The Bakersfield Californian from Bakersfield, California • Page 40

(taltfonnan Sept. 14, ABC tops first week in ratings; NBC 2nd NEW YORK (API ABC won the first week ratings battle of the new television season, but failed to match the record-breaking succe.ss of last season's "Roots" with "Washington: Behind Closed Doors." according to A. C. Nielsen ratings made available yesterday. The No.

show of 46 rated programs was "James at 15." NBC's Monday movie. Another NBC show. "Laugh In." was a close second. The Sunday and Thursday episodes of "Washington" were third and fourth, respectively, and Tuesday's was eighth. Other installments of the television adaptation of John D.

Ehrlichman's fictionalized account of the Watergate scandal finished in 16th, 17th and 25th places. For the week ending Sept. 11. NBC was a second and CBS a thin third over-all. When ABC scheduled its $7.5 million production of "Washington two weeks earlier than the usual beginning of the season, the other networks counter- programed with blockbuster specials.

The nLUtiber of programs rated 46 against the usual (i5 is indicative of the number of specials Although the counterprograming stategy largely worked. "Washington" cut into the ratings of such traditionally big draws as the Emmy awards show and the Miss America contest. And it won four of the six nights on which it was aired. NBC won the other three nights. ABC 's rating for the week was 18.3.

which represents an estimated 13.3 million households NBC had a 17.5, or 12.7 million, and CBS had a 15.6. or 11.4 million. By contrast. ABC's rating for the week ending Jan. 30.

when 'Roots' was aired, was an unprecedented 35.5. In order, the top 10 shows last week were; "James at 15." a 23 8 rating, representing 17.3 million homes; "Laugh In." 23.7. or 17.3 million; "Washington." Sunday. 23.6. or 17.2 million: "Wa ington," Thursday, 23.

or 16.7 million; "Elvis on Tour," NBC, and "Miss America," both 22.9. or 16.7 million; "Six Million Dollar Man. ABC. 22.2, or 16.2 million; "Washington." 22, or 16 million; "What's Happening! ABC, 21.5. or 15.6 million, and "Logan's Run." CBS's Tuesday movie, 21.2, or 15.4 million.

Comic threatens to end series LOS ANGELES(AP) Accusing NBC of "stifling my creativity. comic Richard Pryor is hinting he may cancel the network because it cut a brief skit from the premiere show of his ne'w comedy-variety series. His NBC contract calls for five shows. He has finished and is taping the second. The deleted skit was at the start of last night's show It showed Pryor.

nude from the chest up. denying he made compromises to get his show on the air. Then, as the camera pulls back, he adds; "I've given up absolutely nothing." A full-length shot shows him nude, save for a flesh- colored loin cloth that gives a realistic impression he's been emasculated. NBC said in a statement it felt the skit "was inappropriate and a brief edit was made. W'e think that the program is terrific and Richard Pryor is one of America's most innovative and most talented performers." A spokesman Burbank studios declined to go beyond the statement.

Pryor. appearing at a news conference at NBC with his executive producer. Burt Sugerman. was asked if NBC told him why it cut the skit. He said he was told it was done "to protect the children" watching at 8 p.m.

But he insisted that every child has a doll that appears as he did in the skit, without visible sex organs He also said he'd leave it to reporters to decide if he was sincere in his criticism of NBC or just trying to pull a publicity stunt. Sugerman said NBC's senior programs executive. Irwin Segelslein. saw the skil on tape last Friday morning and approved it. provided one line "Here I am.

standing naked" would be cut However, the producer added. NBC's broadcast standards chief. Hcrmanio Traveisas. called the entire segment "unacceptable" to NBC 'The End' a family affair LOS ANGELES (AP) The motion picture "The End is turning into a family affair for the Mahoneys. Jock Mahoney and Maggie Mahoney have ma.jor roles in the film, as do their daughters.

Sally Field and Augu.sta Mahoney. Burt Reynolds is directing the black comedy from a script by Jerry Belson Pryor said he had been asked to tape a substitute segment for yesterday's show, but had refused. "They're stifling my creativity and 1 can't work under these conditions." he said later, adding that he hopes to meet with top NBC executives and resolve the problem. Pryor, who last month got NBC to reduce from 10 to five the number of shows he's required to do in his series, said he'll decide his next move "when we see what happens" The 36-year-old comedian was asked if the networks shouldn't have some control over what they air. "They do." he said and, alluding to NBC's last-place finish in evening ratings last season, added: "And that's why they're Sammy Davis due for honor LOS ANGELES (AP) Sammy Davis Jr.

will receive the American-Israel Friendship League's highest honor Nov. 2 at a B'nai Zion Award dinner here. Davis was chosen as an entertainment world leader "whose perceptive under- of world events motivated him to pursue liberty and peace." Past recipients of the award have included Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson. John F.

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