The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 88

Saturday, February 6, 1988 Part VI 13 ilos Angeles Simee TVREVIEWS And Will the Soaps Sweep Up? Tune In Tomorrow Networks Go for Sweeps' Big Gun via Cannon, 'Windmills' somehow he has blasted 100 years into the past Rauch maintained that these high-budget episodes, complete with wagon trains and period costumes, are a worthwhile expense, but more as a treat to longtime viewers than as a means of improving the ratings during sweeps. Meanwhile, NBC's "Another World" on Wednesday will have a tribute episode to its late cast member Brent Collins. And Monday, ABC's "All My Children" will present the second of two special episodes featuring, series star Susan Lucci, devoted to the "life and loves" of her character, Erica Kane, and co-starring "all the men she's ever loved" (there are nine), plus a guest appearance by her father, Eric Kane. Such special episodes "are not written with thoughts of February, May and November," said Jo Ann Emmerich, ABC's vice president of daytime programs. "But this one fit in." She said one reason the soap decided to feature the Kane character is that Lucci's contract is up this year.

If she returns, the producers wanted to give new depth to her character; if she leaves, they wanted this year to be her grand finale. "What we have found with the saturation of daytime serials is that plot lines tend to feel as if they're being repeated or copied," Emmerich said. "We're looking for something fresh and new for the audience's sake. They've been watching for 20 years we want something that's going to make them say, 'Ooo, isn't this By DIANE HAITHMAN, Times Staff Writer When it comes to the sweeps, no one does it better than the soaps. Although producers of daytime serials say they aim for drama, excitement, pathos and passion every week of the year, they know they have to bring it all to a crescendo during sweeps.

"Soaps are real conscious of the sweeps," said Sally Sussman, a former writer on "The Young and the Restless" who is developing a new soap for NBC. "For years, we kind of geared ourselves along those lines: 'Sweeps is in a "I always liked having something to shoot for," she said. "It was almost like a deadline to build something, an exciting time creatively. You can't really have a story self-contained in a month, but you can stack up major events. It's nice to go in seasons; otherwise daytime TV is just endless." Those who create the soaps face a tougher challenge than prime-time series producers for several reasons.

First, many of the shows have been on for so many years that it's more difficult to come up with something new. Second, the soaps routinely cruise at such high emotional altitude that it's hard to go much higher. And the long-running characters have had so many marriages, divorces, tragic accidents, miraculous plastic surgeries and essential organs removed that there's little left to befall them. Over the years, the soaps have tried to freshen the action by having their marriages, divorces and tragic accidents occur in exotic ABC has created a poster promoting "AU My Children" episodes. or standing in front of the Acropolis is not much different from playing it in the studio," he said.

So his serial is throwing a new twist into going on location: The show is going to Tucson, to relive a little of the Old West and going back in time, too. The character of Clint Buchanan, who is blind, defiantly decides to go for a horseback ride and falls; when he regains consciousness, he discovers his sight has been restored and SWEEPS: Series Called On to Make By TERRY ATKINSON ou ve heara now tne networks "roll out their big guns" during the sweeps. Well, it's time to roll out that cliche again, because Sunday at 9 p.m., the "guns" are almost literal at least in the case of one network. NBC is turning the impressive firepower of Sylvester Stallone in the network premiere of "Rambo: First Blood, Part II" against two new blockbuster made-for-TV movies, ABC's "Elvis and Me" (based on Priscilla Beaulieu Presley's book about marriage to Elvis Presley) and the first two hours of CBS' four-hour "Windmills of the Gods." ABC did not provide The Times with an advance review copy of "Elvis and Me" possibly because the two-hour film was still being shot less than a month ago. Too bad.

It would have been interesting to see whether the TV version captures the book's curious mixture of revelation and reverence. However, "Windmills of the Gods" comes across as a suspense-ful thriller that may be just involving enough to keep many curious viewers away from the clutches of the real Sly and a portrayed Elvis. In this adaptation of the Sidney Sheldon novel, Jaclyn Smith plays Mary Ashley, a Midwestern college professor who's appointed ambassador to Romania and thrust into the middle of intrigue, romance and packing. Eventually (in Tuesday's conclusion) she must figure out whether it's strong, handsome embassy staffer Mike Slade (Robert Wagner) or strong, handsome French doctor Dr. DesForges (Christopher Cazenove) who loves her or is trying to kill her.

Adapter John Gay and director Lee Philips juggle multinational locales and characters with true-to-genre dexterity. Production values and cinematography shine, almost shadowing some draggy moments in the first half and a couple of unbelievable plot contrivances in the second as when one character meets another alone in a secluded spot even though he suspects that person of being a killer. The main problems with the film, though, is more glaring: the troubling nature of Smith's character. This teacher -turned -diplomat is superficially presented as an inde- "KQED should not get funds," said Roberta Achtenberg, a lesbian rights activist and candidate for Mayor Art Agnos' recently vacated seat in the state Assembly. "(The public stations) discriminate." Though some gay activists contend the stations directly discriminate, the current battle centers on a long-simmering dispute over "Monitor Radio," a daily news magazine produced by the Christian Science Monitor and distributed by American Public Radio Network to several hundred public radio stations, including KQED-FM in San Francisco and KUSC-FM (91.5) in Los Angeles.

Three years ago, the Christian Science Monitor fired a reporter because she was a lesbian. The reporter sued, but ultimately lost before the U.S. Supreme Court. In a controversial decision, the Justices found that the newspaper was an extension of the Christian Science religion and, as such, could act with impunity in discriminatory hiring and firing practices on religious grounds. Gay organizations such as the Harvey Milk Club have held that the city's routine contribution of would do 'Angels in 'Angels in the What we're not going to do is force something on these shows that isn't natural." Joel Steiger, supervising producer of "Matlock," agreed with that philosophy.

Although he is taking full advantage of the gimmick of call-ins to determine the ending of the Feb. 16 episode of his courtroom drama series, he cautioned against doing anything that really goes against the grain of the programeven in the name of sweeps. "The people who tune in week to week are going to look at the thing and say, 'What is he said. "What happens is, you knock your audience out of the box." locations. And this month is no different: "General Hospital" will take to the slopes Feb.

22-28 as the show goes to Big Bear to climax a story line "involving the frightening plight of Anna Devane at the hands of diabolical Grant Putnam." But even love in exotic locales loses its glamour after a while, says Paul Rauch, executive producer of ABC's "One Life To Live." "To have your characters do a scene while walking down a street to come up with special episodes for the sweeps last November, Hill said of his now-canceled series. He obliged with one about a beauty pageant. "The network was saying, 'OK, for sweeps we need high-concept, we need bikini beaches, we need beauty pageants. We're going into sweeps, we need the he said. "You can't say to them: 'Yes, THE SWEEPS One in a series examining the TV industry's periodic ratings rituals.

but I have this great idea for an episode about a child's nuclear "Night Court" executive producer Reinhold Weege scoffs at the idea that such episodes as his own Bull look-alike show make much difference in the ratings. "To tell you the truth, Bull with 10 Bull look-alikes is a cheap, flashy visual thing," he said. "I will move a story to a particular place in the production year if I think there is some promotable element the network might want 10 Bulls or whatever. I tend to let them do what they want," he acknowledged. "But once you're on our popularity level, unless the show gets terrible for a year or explodes or adds an element that is so much for the good, we know we're pretty much going to stay around the same ratings numbers." For some producers, the attitude toward sweeps is studied indifference.

"I have absolutely no conception of when we're in a ratings sweep or not," said Scott Goldstein, producer of NBC's "L.A. Law." "If you mention the word 'sweep' around here, people think you're referring to the janitorial crew." Marshall Herskovitz, one of the executive producers of ABC's "thirtysomething," said the only time the network mentioned sweeps was to ask that the show not take a preemption during the period. Hugh Wilson, executive produc KQED Dispute on Gay Issue Could Cut Off $150,000 S.F. Contribution Michael Moriarty and Jaclyn Smith appear in "Windmills of the Gods," two-parter on CBS. pendent career woman, yet she's continually being guided, elevated, corrected, manipulated and saved by men.

In their absence, she commits such dumb-belle acts as walking in a dark Romanian park at night without a guard. Ambassador Ashley has less in common with the modern Ms. than with Cinderella or with Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz." Is it merely a coincidence that both are mentioned in the teleplay, and that Ashley's from Kansas? Nevertheless, "Windmills" cranks up enough intentional puzzles to keep up interest for all of its four hours. Two hours earlier (7 p.m. Sunday), ABC presents Dyan Cannon as "Rock 'n' Roll Mom," the "Disney Sunday Movie," and it's a perfect appetizer before one of those heavy 9 p.m.

meals. Cannon plays a 40ish, smalltown mother of two teen-agers who's also an amateur songwriter and singer. When a talent manager sells one of her tunes, the results catapult her into the rock world. In the best Disney live-action tradition, this two-hour film manages to be engaging despite its corniness. The frequent fun comes thanks to quick-paced direction from Michael Schultz, snappy music by Lee Ritenour, sharp dialogue by Gen Le Roy and, above all, vibrant acting by the entire cast which includes Heather Locklear (from as a conceited rock diva threatened by Cannon's rise.

public funds to subsidize both the TV and radio station constitutes indirect support of the Monitor's discriminatory policy toward gays. "We are making a statement to the nation that we're (gays) not in retreat," testified one Harvey Milk Club spokesman. "Homophobia is a growing issue." John Wahl, a San Francisco attorney and gay rights activist, told the supervisors that "indirect discrimination is inappropriate at any time and it's possible that San Francisco and KQED can be sued for carrying Monitor Radio)." But Daniel del Solar, general manager of San Francisco public radio station KALW-FM, which also carries Monitor Radio, said neither Hongisto nor the gay community had proved conclusively that Monitor Radio discriminates. "Where is the legal finding?" he asked. "Martin Luther King would turn over in his grave if he could see where we are today," said Supervisor Doris Ward.

"It's as though the '60s didn't happen. Here in San Francisco one of the most liberal cities, you have teachers getting hate mail, discrimination in the fire department, but even at that, I'm still not clear about what the wording indirectly (in Hongisto's1 resolution) means. The jury is still out whether KQED discriminates." Kaufman is a researcher in The Times' San Francisco bureau SWITZ MADE IN SWITZERLAND BUCK BROWN SOFTEST NAPPA LEATHER OrlilMl Prill 1183.00 80 Picture similar to style shown Episodes Special er of CBS' offbeat "Frank's Place," confessed that he doesn't know what sweeps are. "I just know they're real important and every now and then somebody says, 'My God, it's he said. "I don't know the religious significance of it.

With 'Frank's we're so far behind in the production schedule, we don't have much of a choice you can't do much shopping over here for special sweeps episodes." Bill Boulware, supervising producer of "227," said he had wanted Sherman Hemsley to appear on the show since its inception and did not mind targeting the episode for sweeps. But, he added, guest-star mania can be overdone. "Night Court's" Weege scorns network requests for stunt-casting, since the only figures he believes could boost ratings are major non-TV names. "I say, 'Fine get me Frank Sinatra or Burt he said. "I can squeeze anybody into that New York City courtroom, but it's hard to get Frank to come." Barney Rosenzweig, executive producer of the long-running hit "Cagney Lacey," said CBS "doesn't mess with me" when it comes to ideas for his series, but he is shrewd enough to take advantage of the increased promotional opportunities during sweeps by providing strong shows.

"I'm always cognizant of the importance of getting our name in the paper," Rosenzweig said. For all the attention to sweeps, however, Ted Harbert, ABC's vice president of motion pictures and scheduling, said the networks take a more hands-off approach to their series during sweeps now than in years past. He explained that six or seven years ago there were fewer special programs and miniseries on the air, so networks had to concentrate on gimmicky series episodes to differentiate sweeps periods from the norm. "I used to do that all the time-sit there and come up with hot ideas for a sweeps episode but given the kinds of shows all the networks do now, I don't think they the producers are as amenable," Harbert said. "These shows are not like 'Starsky and Hutch' or 'Matt Houston' or 'Charlie's We Continued from Page 1 current NBC comedy series "227." Teen heartthrob Scott Baio will turn up on NBC's "My Two Dads." And viewers of NBC's courtroom drama "Matlock" and Fox Broadcasting's comedy "Married With Children" will get a chance to cast a telephone vote on how a sweeps episode will end.

Most TV series producers deny that the sweeps control their creativity, but they agree that sweeps are no ordinary time of year. Early in the season, discussions begin with the network about which episodes might be earmarked for sweeps, the period when ratings are taken on every TV station in the country for the purpose of setting advertising rates. Though no rules exist by which the network determines what is sweeps material, one can expect more births, deaths, murders, marriages, remote locations, outrageous stunts and guest stars. Or episodes that feature one key visual element that lends itself to promotion spots such as another "Facts Of Life" episode this month in which Natalie's housemate, Blair, accidentally dyes her hair green. Irma Kalish, executive producer of "Facts of Life," said the network is more interested in identifying appropriate sweeps episodes than in imposing its own ideas of what should be in them.

"They the network didn't tell us to do a show about one of the girls having a sexual experience, but when they heard we were planning it, they slated it for sweeps," she said. "We've never had any problem; we're always thinking of shows that could be big for sweeps." But for at least a few producers such as Hill, catering to sweeps counts among the chief annoyances of trying to produce a series with creative integrity. Although Hill stressed that the networks are not to blame for the phenomenon would love to see the sweeps go he believes their "panic" on behalf of their affiliated stations often forces producers into compromising positions. NBC pressured "Rags to Riches" PERSIAN By NORMA KAUFMAN Si AN FRANCISCO The San Board of Supervisors has given itself a month to ponder Supervisor Richard Hon-gisto's controversial plan to withhold a $150,000 annual city contribution to public radio and TV stations KQED-FM and KQED-TV on grounds that the stations discriminate against gays. For the last month, Hongisto has urged his fellow supervisors to support his resolution that would cut off funding to "any organization or program that is directly or indirectly discriminatory," but the board sent it back to Hongisto for a better definition of indirect discrimination.

At issue is an ongoing clash between the stations' allegedly anti-gay programming and San Francisco's large gay population. KQED spokeswoman Alice Cahn said she was most bothered by Hongisto's implication that the stations discriminate "in employment or programming. "This is censorship," Cahn said at the regular board meeting Thursday, "and any allegations made today 'or before (today) against KQED are unfounded." wsLwm ORIENTAL RUGS BALLY BALLY MADE IN SWITZERLAND FINE CALFSKIN BROWN, NAVY i GREY prici WE MUST REDUCE CURRENT STOCK 70 NOW! "ALDO BLACK original "DANTE" BALLY OF SWITZERLAND The original owners of Nairn Brothers are retiring after 40 years, and this is an unusual opportunity to purchase all handmade rugs from Iran, China, Turkey, Pakistan, Indian ana Romania. TT I MADE IN DnLIl 7L SWITZERLAND BLACK BROWN A SOFTEST NAPPA LEATHER SALE REG. Fine Tabriz 7W $6500 $18000 Kerman 9x12' $1449 $4100 OldSarook 12x19' $9000 $21000 BukaraWool 6x9' $749 $1700 Chinese Wool 12'x18' $3695 $7400 SIZES 6 TO 13N-M-W CJ Ef CASUALS ORIS.

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