The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 8

THE DAILY OKLAIIOMAN Monday, December 7, 1981 Former 'Dannysday' Co-Host to Debut on New NBC Television Talk Show "I'm hoping this new job will open up all kinds of things for me episodic TV for Instance." Hart smiled thoughtfully when asked how it felt to be back on the studio set of "Dannysday" after two years this time as a guesL "It felt strange. It's also weird for me to be interviewed instead of the other way around. But Danny and friends and I know they're genuinely happy for me. If it wasn't for Danny, 1 wouldn't be out there." Asked if she was apprehensive about her network debut, Hart burst into a wide-eyed smile. "We tape the first two-shows on Sunday and.

I absolutely dread Saturday night. I'm not going to be able to sleep. But I've got some friends who Kerry (Robertson, Hart's replace- are going to help me occupy my ment on the local show) are good time." Christmas Bonus From "Donahue" and "Richard Simmons." But Hart said she isn't worried. "Regis is already a proven quantity in Southern California. His show, AM Los has been the Number 1 morning talk show out there for six years.

"I don't think about failure. If it comes to that, then I'll deal with it. I might look at whatever is happing elsewhere in the market 1 don't know. I think I'll always be able to work at what I'm best at." Her career has always come first, although Hart said she wants to have a family lite as well. In fact, she is engaged to Oklahoma City-based oil executive John Snedegar of Western Pacific Petroleum.

The couple had planned to be married in November, but Hart said they postponed the wedding before she found out about the NBC job. "We've been commuting for two years. He was living in Tucson when we first met. It was a real shock when I found out he was transferring to Oklahoma City. I thought, 'Wail a minute.

I didn't move all the way to L.A. to fall in love with somebody from Oklahoma City "But things have worked out well for us. We'll just continue; to commute for a while. We do plan to marry in 1982. Once we're married, I might have to make some changes in XHowarcl MSer ALL Still, the swiftness of her success has been impressive.

After some initial work in television commercials, she became the co-host of the Los Angeles version of "PM Magazine," and also was seen on two episodes of the network daytime series, "Days of Our Lives." "The 'PM Magazine' producers looked at hundreds of people before they picked me. I lucked out. But I don't think it's all luck. -I've paid my dues. I've been in this business for 10 years and I know it very well.

In the end, I think it comes down to ability." Hart first met Regis, Philbin (national audiences remember him as co-host of Joey Bishop's late-night talk show in the late 1960s) when they did a pilot network show together last summer called "True Life Stories." Although the show wasn't picked up for broadcast, Philbin was recently hired by NBC specifically to head a new daytime entry. When it came time to choose a sidekick for the show, Philbin asked for Mary Hart. "I've never been a good planner," Hart confessed. "Things have just happened. When Regis first called me with this offer, I guess I didn't fully understand what he wanted.

I thought it might be a temporary thing. I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity. I was really surprised. "But Regis and I work very well together. The chemistry is there.

I think it's going to bo dynamite." The "Regis Philbin Show" will be up against some tough competition in that morning time slot By Gene Trrplctt 'The cardboard sign prominently displayed in the lobby of KTVY Channel 4 read: "Hello, Mary! NBC's bright ncW star." It quite an occasion. One of the- television station's most well-liked former employees and one of Oklahoma City's most popular TV personalities had made "the big who produced and co-hbst'ed "Dannysday" with Danny Williams at Channel 4 from 1976 to 1979 had landed a job as sidekick-announcer on "The Regis Philbin a new half-hour morning talkvariety program on NBC. Before "beginning taping of Ihe show in Los Angeles (her debut can bc'seon at 9 a.m. today on Channel 4) she was back in town this past weekend to visit old friends. The red carpet was out at KTVY.

"They just love her here," a promotional assistant told a reporter waiting to interview Hart Friday afternoon. The budding star was being shuttled all over town, from a guest-shot on "Dannysday" to a special lunch in her honor at an exclusive local country club. "You can tell how thoy feel about Mary around here," the assistant said. "They're really making a fuss over her." The Sioux Falls, S.D., native -who first came to Oklahoma in 1970 obviously had been a hit with her co-workers as well as the viewing audience. When Hart arrived back at the station only a few minutes late for her newspaper interview it was pretty easy to discern the reason for Mary Hart X.Howard mm Clocks Reduced 20-30 Grandfather, Wall Mantles.

FREE DIGITAL WATCH PEN her popularity. Her fair, blue-eyed 'looks are Immediately engaging, of course. But her unassuming openness and friendliness are at least as beautiful as the rest of her. "I couldn't be happier," said the former Miss South Dakota when she finally settled down for a breather in Ihe publicity office. "I'm really excited about it because I'm sort of going back to the kind of thing I used to do here (on 'Dannysday').

"Regis does everything strictly ad lib, just like Danny and I did. It's the kind of thing 1 do best." Hart left Oklahoma City in late 1979 with the expressed goal of making good in television, but she admitted she didn't expect fortune to smile on her as soon as it did. With ths purchase ot a Grandfather Clock Doc. 5-12 WORTH SOUTH 10629 N. MAY 2200 SW 74 755-6027 686-4200 my life.

"But we don't have to live by anybody else's rules. I do want to be married and have a family, but I do need to have my career as well. But I don't think my career is locked into California or New York. Pick Up Your Phone and Dial The Voice With A Smile Your Helpful Classified Ad-Visor 235-6722 Cityan, 18, Dies in Hunting Accident Gifts for her 20 off An Oklahoma City man died Sunday morning when a gun being unloaded by his hunting companion accidentally discharged, police discharged, hitting Brown in the back. Police declined to release the mens' addresses at the request of the families.

The two had been close friends for years and had attended Southeast High School together. Burger went to two nearby homes to call lahoma City, had been squirrel hunting about one-fourth mile east of Sli and Westminster and were unloading their guns when the accident occurred. Investigators said Burger thought his gun was empty and closed the chamber. When he did, Ihe rifle lid. for help, but found no one at home, police said.

He then flagged a motorist who called for assistance. Brown was dead on arrival at Midwest City Hospital. Burger was questioned and released, detectives said, and no charges are expected to be filed. "It was an accidental shooting." one officer said. Michael Drown, IS was dead on arrival a Midwest City Hospital.

Brown' and Karnes Burger, 18. also of Ok Two Teens Killed in Weekend Muskogee Crash Phillip Wade Cooper, with a tree. Miss Luzad- 18, of Fort Gibson, and or was a passenger in Debbie Luzader, 15, of the Cooper vehicle. Muskogee, were killed I A Fort Gibson teen- I ager anil 'a Muskogee I girl were killed Satur- i day night in a two-vehi- i cle accident in Muskogee, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol report- i od. when Cooper lost control of his pickup truck.

It struck another piek-iin and then collided Both were dead from head injuries upon arrival at a Muskogee hospital. UTiV UANS i -x 7:1 JfH 1 I texas internatiohal mtropuces mew mm NEW ORLEANS $80. KANSAS CITY $39. LLAVi; 1 AitluvS I OKLAHOMA CITY KAN'SAS CITY l-'HEQUI-NCV 5:24 p.m. Daily I.LAVI: I AKKIVI: KANSAS CITY OKLAHOMA CI TY l-HLQUliNCV IWa.ni.

D.iily t.liAVI: I AltlllVI. I OKLAHOMA I TV OKl.hANS l-UhQUKNCV 1:57 p.m, D.iily OKLAHOMA CITY IKIiUUKNl'V v.m. lias mm pirec? siryice BfaiimmEwmmmmm. We fly to the nation's capital every day. Fly.

for Peanuts, $149, every afternoon at 4:23 p.m. fNEONlY NON-STOPS TO HOUSTON ANP THE TEXAS CONNECTION. Fly at 10:05 a.m. or 6:55 p.m. daily; from Houston you can make the Texas Connection to many cities throughout the U.S.

and Mexico. OUR LOW PEANUTS RAPES SAWE YOU HONEY. We offer Peanuts Fares on many of our flights daily. And there's no advance reservation, minimum stay or round-trip requirements. For the fare available on your flight call your professional travel agent or Texas International.

CHARGE YOUR TICKETS W1TM TBfiE AlilMCAN EMPRESS' CARP. Let Us Help You Select A Gift For The One You Love. 89th Anniversary Sale fCharge your Texas International tickets to! New Orleans and other destinations with the American Express Card. And use the card for your hotel, car rental, restaurants and other travel expenses. The American Express Card.

Don't leave home without it. For more information and reservations, call your professional travel agent. Or call Texas International at 236-5058. OPEN UNTIL 8:30 NIGHTLY MONDAY THRU SATURDAY an vvkai'I'inc; OKLAHOMA'S OLDEST JEWELERS DOWNTOWN MAYFAIR WINDSOR HILLS NORTHPARK 101 Park Avo. 232-8flM 4901 N.May 946-1441 23rd A Morldlan 947-0707 122nd N.May 755-4040 USE YOUR B.

C. CLARK CHARGE VISA MASTERCARD AMERICAN EXPRESS.