The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 52

2-T THE ATLANTA WNSflf Xigusl 7, ATS IT-- Mr. i ano una If is Hcippy DciysAre Just Stcirting comedy about a widowed Japanese man and his two children, and a pretty young American girl he; hired as governess. The comedy? Morita said, will develop from the conflicting cultures, much as the same devloped in movie "The King and "The two childrert will be played by; Gene Profunato and June Angela, who are actually brother-and-sister. They come from Japanese and Italian parents. And they have charisma.

The governess will be played by Susan Blanchard, who appeared on All My Children. She is a gem, a fine actress who has a great career ahead' of her." Morita said one of the problems he and the producers had to face was the question of whether a Japanese fellow, could be funny, although he had already demonstrated that in Happy Days and by appearing as a stand-up comic in night clubs for 12 years. "One of the problems we faced was how do you make a Japanese guy funny," he said. "I followed my own instincts in terms of trying to be funny. It is true the Japanese are a very reserved, conservative people.

Because of a tradition and the cultural heritage, it is very rare for any- By PAUL JONES Constitution TV Writer Pat Morita has abandoned Arnold's Drive-In, the popular teen hangout on Happy Days. 1 He will star in his own series beginning in September. But he is not all that certain that he, did the right thing in giving up the spot which attracted Fonzie and Richie, Howard, Marion, Joanie. Ralph and Pptsie, "I really hated to leave Happy; Days," said the Japanese-American actor, who is known to millions of television and movie fans. "I had created a funny little monster that the kids throughout America loved.

And it! was very hard to walk away from a hit. "On the other hand, I could ill afford to pass up the opportunity. I left with terribly mixed emotions. I have a big hole in my heart I loved working with the kids on Happy Days. They were absolutely magnificent." Arnold, the proprietor of the drive-in will still be there.

He will be played by Al Malinero, the lovable cop from The Odd Couple. And Fonzie and the gang will continue to hang out there. Morita will be seen in the new ABC-TV series, Mr. T. and Tina, a situation one to see the Oriental sense of humor.

Most of the laughing is kept in the home, I hope I can change all of that. "Our comedy is- going to come largely from the human chaos that evolves from the cross-culture differences. I think that can be an immensely rich area which we can develop. "whenever American is introduced to a the Japanese guy seems always to want to bow from the waist. The American guy wants to shake hands.

This invariably winds up with the American guy's thumb in the Japanese guy's eye," Morita said he spent 12 years play-, ing nightclubs as a stand-up comedian. "I worked in nightclubs for a long while before I decided to give it up and take up acting. I miss it But it was a tough way to make a living. It is a hard life, living out of a suitcase. But there is a certain magic about playing the big clubs that I don't feel doing movies and TV shows." Morita was interned during World War II.

When the war ended, he made a stab at attending medical school, but he said he found that the hands which might have held a scalpel were too often wielding a pool cue. fori I ij 7 i i 1 iiMnKir i mi maxiriu -m mm nnn i maBmrn Pat Morita (L) and Susan Blanchard Plummer Must Carry the Burden of 'Sound of Music' Plummer has been known to many on television. sics on stage and screen. first visit to Hollywood in a call it attracted more than By comparison, only a "Every actor would prefer dozen years. "And certainly 100 million persons to thea- handful of souls have seen to be identified with his best my part in 'Sound of Music' ters and probably at least as Plummer perform in the clas- work," said Plummer on his wasn't my best great burden.

But Plummer rates among the finest Shakespearean actors in the world today. The. Canadian-born performer would indeed prefer to be remembered for his Hamlet or Henry or perhaps Macbeth. But "The Sound of Music" or "Sound of Mucus," as HOLLYWOOD (UPI) -Alas, poor Plummer, he bears an unusual cross. Christopher Plummer must live the rest of his life with the image of Baron von Ttapp, the character he Slayed in "The Sound of lusic" opposite Julie Andrews.

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PRESENT INVENTORY. 4VflWf TVgtJJJMKJJJjSL. I fftVA (SHOP THESE 3 CONVENIENT tOCOHILLS 321-3060 Wdfii APITOL IOC ATIONS mU 8HuWLtiW OHNIHil tll. 7lWv Jl Jf Jk SANDY SPRINGS 256-M81 KHHSifirw "VS1! HJARA Jonesboro) 71-3060 1 1 JQt' iuiiiMht.iw.iiiiiil FmMm rSnC ti-. inB uu.Jt See 'The Olympiad' on PBS Ghannel30 staiting today at 5:00 p.m.

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