The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 23

May 9, 1979 S.F. EXAMINER Page 23 TV people Bill Mandel Miss Piggy holds court over an audience of human stars A the movie begins, Jim West (Robert Conrad) Is In retirement in Mexico, where be lives with five gorgeous women. Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) tours with a traveling Shakespeare troupe and burlesque show. The Secret Service happens upon a dastardly plot Someone has cloned (although no one knew what cloning was 100 years ago, of course) the leaders of the civilized world (President Cleveland, Queen Victoria, Czar Nicholas, Spain's King Alfonso, etc.) and has substituted the clones for the real leaders. Needless to say, this Is a job only West and Gordon can handle.

Current Secret Service agents object to the use of "over-aged, sagging, out of shape ex-agents," but the job goes to them anyway. The relationship between Conrad and Martin is reestablished In the same courtly, slightly competitive, two-Musketeers manner, and off the story goes Into stratospheric hyperbole. Re-ensconced in their private train, the two heroes track the arch-villain to his hideout In the Arizona desert It's Dr. Michellto Loveless played by Paul Williams In an excellent depiction of a mad scientist Not only has Dr. Michelito Loveless Jr.

cloned the world's leaders, be has constructed two super-bionlc aides (played hilariously by Bob Shields and Lorene Yarnell) he calls his "1600 Men," invented an atom bomb (which he tests in the desert for the delectation of his crowned prisoners) and is holding the world ransom for his modest demand: he wants to own and rule the Earth. Well This Is the ultimate "Wild, Wild West" story. It's carried off with a great deal of drollery, especially in the modern-antique props that represent Dr. Michelito Loveless Inventions. Shields and Yarnell use their astounding body control to move like bionic people run by pulleys and rope and metal.

A continuing thread in tonight's story is the age of both Jim West and Artemus Gordon. Neither man, truth to tell, looks that much older, but viewers of the original series (1965-1969) may well identify with the theme. In one sequence Jim West falls madly in lust with a dancing girl who turns out to be the daughter of a woman West once loved. Viewers can relate: we're still kids inside, but we're also worrying about our falling hair. There are no plans for CBS to re-float "Wild, Wild West" as a weekly series, as there are for "Return to Gilligan's Island." I'm glad the "Wild, Wild West" comeback Is lasting only one night It's fun to see our old associations updated and refurbished, but trying to breathe life Into a departed idea smacks of grave robbery.

as The Muppet Movie." The Cocoanut Grove audience was hollering for more. Jim Henson, the modest creator of the Muppets, and the voice (and arm) of Kermit Rowlf and Dr. Teeth, manages to remain invisible on both TV screen and movie, simultaneously providing both with gentle humor. His associates are equally adept Frank Oz is Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Animal and Sam the Eagle. Jerry Nelson Is Floyd Petter and Crazy Harry.

Richard Hunt Is Scooter and Slatler. Dave Goelz Is the Great Gonzo and Zoot Only Charles Durning and Austin Pendleton play continuing human roles in the movie for which Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher wrote music and lyrics. Henson says the movie is not simply an extension of the weekly Muppet TV series wherein Kermit puts together a modest little show each week. "On the television show, we invite one guest into the world of the Muppets," he said. "In the movie, we take the Muppets out into the real world." The charm of the film lies In the fact that the Hollywood guest stars and other human beings who encounter the Muppets instantly accept them as real and relate to them without question.

Henson keeps his troupe of Muppets fresh by constantly adding new characters. Some are human like, as the pair of critics who lambaste Kermit's efforts in the weekly show. Some are clearly defined animals such as Rowlf. And some Animal and Gonzo, are creatures which defy categorization. "Muppetmania" has taken over Hollywood and, one must assume, will soon overtake the nation's moviegoers.

The Muppets go Hollywood By Vernon Srott United Press International HOLLYWOOD -The old Cocoanut Grove was filled with excitement as the stars gathered backstage for a TV special. The house lights dimmed. There was a drum roll A hush fell over the expectant audience and a spotlight illuminated the green face of the star-host for the evening Kermlt the Frog. The celebrity-filled audience cheered lustily to Kermlt words of welcome. Such diverse personalities as Liberace, Candy Bergen and Peter Falk joined in the ovation.

All the excitement was for The Muppets Go Hollywood," an hour-long CBS special scheduled for May 16. Starring In the show in addition to Kermlt are Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Rowlf the Great Gonzo and all the rest of the madcap company. Sharing co-host honors with Kermit are Dick Van Dyke and Rita Moreno. Johnny Mathis and Paul Williams are guest stars. During taping of the show the Muppets mixed with the guests, most of whom forgot the fact that the little characters are only arm puppets.

It was amazing to see sophisticated Hollywood celebrities talking earnestly to the Muppets as if they were genuine individuals, ignoring puppeteers which, of course, is the highest compliment one can pay a puppeteer. "1 did the 'Muppet Show' last year," Liberace said. "When you perform with them, you forget yourself and begin to treat them as real people. "The response to my appearance with them was I cross-country saga. appearance with them was cross-country saga.

I flma7ln0 Thov aro tun tw mnro I amazing. They are seen by more The scenes Included such The $600 Man Television a young, cranky, unstable adolescent medium, but its odd way of telescoping time has now produced TV nostalgia. "Father Knows Best" and, of all tilings, "Gllllgan's Island" have come in for cast reunions. Now it's the turn of "Wild, Wild West" (8 tonight, Channel 5), one of the first truly droll series. Along with the Bill Cosby Robert Culp "I Spy" and the current "Rockford Files," "Wild, Wild West" bad the guts to make subtle jokes where broader ones would do.

Robert Conrad's tough, lady-killing Jim West and Ross Martin's urbane, Dr. Watsonish Artemus Gordon were James Bond types 100 years before Bond's era, technocratic super-spies In the Gilded Age of the American West (cheez I'm starting to sound like Kevin Starr). Conrad and Martin played Secret Service agents responsible to the president himself (in those days the office carried with it a capital and traveled the country in a shining, brass-edged private railroad car with hot and cold running women. The series was also the first science-fiction TV show set in the past, giving rise to anachronistic inventions that seemed slightly dated in but pretty cutting-edge In 187a Tonight's two-hour reunion, "Wild, Wild West Revisited," is a rollicking good time that digs up the standard running gags of the series and gives them a double shine: the patina of comfy old Jokes and the chrome-twinkle of modern stories. oddball shots as Kermlt riding a bicycle with his long froggy legs.

And the Great Gonzo and his chicken girlfriend Camille, careening around the countryside in an automobile. Miss Piggy, something of a combination of Mae West and Marilyn Monroe, steals many a scene with her simple-minded but sexy ploys to crash the movies. Sharing the spotlight with the Muppets in the movie are guest stars Bob Hope, Milton Berle, James Coburn, Elliott Gould, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Telly Savalas and Orson Welles. Not since the early Disney feature-length animated cartoons has the screen seen anything as colorful, imaginative and funny than 200 million people every week in 100 countries around the world. They're fantastic." Mel Brooks and his wife, Anne Bancroft were seated ringside chatting amiably with Miss Piggy and several of the others who stopped by their table.

"You gotta talk to them as if they were real," said Brooks. They're very funny people, or whatever they are." Highlight of the show, only part of which will be seen on the air, was 15 minutes of film clips from the first Muppet feature film, "The Muppet Movie," due for release in June. It tells the story of how Kermit got into show business in the first place, traveling from a Georgia swamp to Hollywood in a Best Bets jTV tonight A Closer Look (7J0 p.m., Channel 9) details the impact of the current gas situation on Bay Area transit systems. Great Performances: The Paul Taylor Dance Company (8 p.m., Channel 9). The ensemble performs "Rune" and "Esplanade." Alexander's Bachtime Band (9 p.m., Channel 9) features a Bach concert by hand-picked young string musicians from around the country.

The Johnny Cash Special (10 p.m., Channel 5) matches the Man in Black with Waylon Jennings and Martin Mull. Dick Cavett (11 p.m., Channel 9) starts a two-night interview with Bob Hope. exchange for the release of two imprisoned terrorists (r) 1:00 am OS) Tomorrow: Frank Vogl, economics correspondent for the London Times Movies: (1) "Mary, Queen of Scots" (2) "The Set-Up" (3) "Mr. Inside, Mr. Outside" 1:30 am 9 Movies: (1) "Mr.

Smith Goes to Washington" (2) "El Paso" 1:45 am ED Movies: (1) "Humoresque" (2) "April Showers" 1:50 am Movies: (1) "Claudelle Ingllsh" (2) "The Falcon In San Francisco" ED Almas Malditas Q) Over Easy: Les McCann r) 10:00 pm E) News Johnny Cash Spring Special: Waylon Jennings, Martin Mull, George Jones and June Carter Cash join in a musical tribute to spring OH VegaS: Dan Tanna falls in love with the Mid-Eastern princess he was hired to protect Moll Flanders: Julia Foster stars in the dramatization of Defoe's novel; tonight, Moll meets and marries her first three husbands (Part I of 4) (new series) CO 24 Horas 6D Boxing 63 Video West CD A Closer Look (Ch. 9, 7.30 p.m.) Merv Griffin 10:30 pm 63 Today at the Races 8 Captioned ABC News 11:00 pm Liars Club OH CD (DO) US News Dick Cavett: Bob Hope (Part 1 of 2) CO La Indomable GD Praise the Lord 63 Movie: "The Slap" MacNeil Lehrer Report 03 Untouchables (r) (id Sanford and Son (r) CD The Gong Show 11:30 pm The Benny Hill Show OGD Tonight: Johnny Carson with Chevy Chase, Merie Earle, Ricky Schroder SSI Rockford Flies: Jim is hired to be an alibi for a football player charged with murder (r) Police Woman: a female prisoner's accusations nearly cost Pepper her job (r) Movie: "Waltz of the Toreadors" ffj Bold Ones (r) 9 Movie: "Deadly Game" CD Movie: "Gypsy Wildcat" 12:00 midnight Mission: Impossible (r) Untouchables (r) 12:30 am Police Woman (r) 12:37 am Offl Mannlx 12:40 am (TJ Hawaii Five-O: Danny is held hostage in TV movies tonight Tomorrow 8 p.m. (5) "The Wild, Wild West for TV) Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, Paul Williams, Shields and Yarnell, Rene Auberjonois. Western adventures of the Secret Service agents who come out of retirement to investigate the reported cloning of heads of state. 8 p.nt (44) "The French Connection" (1971) Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey.

True crime story of international heroin smuggling in New York, and the maverick cop who stops it (Winner of five Academy Awards.) (Viewer discretion advised.) 9 p.m. (4) "Hanging by a Thread" (made for TV), Sam Groom, Patty Duke Astin, Bert Convy, Cameron Mitchell. Suspense drama about a reunion of friends who face disaster when lightning disables their tram high above a canyon. (Part 2, conclusion.) 1130 p.m. (9) "Waltz of the Toreadors" (British, 1962) Peter Sellers, Dany Robin, Margaret Leighton.

Jean Anouilh's sex romp about a retired military officer who still has eyes for the girls. 1130 p.m. (44) "Gypsy Wildcat" (1944) Maria Montez, Jon Hall, Nigel Bruce. Drama of gypsies wrongfully imprisoned by a baron. Poor AAnngt Good Excellent Blade" 94 Emergency One (r) CD Joker's Wild 6:30 pm CJDCB News Over Easy: Les McCann (r) AS) Match Game P.M.

Ml Secretarla 63 Rafaela tB Survival CD Make Me Laugh 7:00 pm The Odd Couple (r) (33 Weeknight NBC News CBS News ABC News (8) Cross-Wits MacNeil Lehrer Report Qfl) Newlywed Game (IT) Merv Griffin Domenlca Montero Q) Villa Alegrt (19 Movie: "The Bridge on the River Kwaf (1957) CD Sanford and Son (r) 7:30 pm Dating Game 31 Hot City Disco Tic Tac Dough Evening Magazine: a look at the booming economy of Lake Placid; the possibility of a goveralnent cover-up on nuclear power OtD Family Feud A Closer Look: the financial crisis of Bay Area transit systems (fj P.M. Magazine 6D Maria Soledad 83 Today at the Races flB Footsteps: children Movie: "Return to Peyton Place" CD Dick Van Dyke (r) 8:00 pm National Geographic Special: "Grizzly" OC5) Real People Off Movie: "The Wild Wild West Revisited" Qlli Eight Is Enough: despite the family's concern, David takes off on a trip with a female friend of his ex-fiancee Great Performances: "Paul Taylor Dance "Esplanade" and (D Viviana 63 Public Policy Forum 0 Camping Out: outdoorsmanship CD Movie: "The French Connection" 8:30 pm (X) Sha NaNa: Billy Crystal 03 La Muneca Rota 6D Los Dedos de la Mano 0 Open Studio: the role the Long March (1934-'36) played in the Chinese Revolution 9:00 pm Upstairs, Downstairs: "An Object of the disappearance of a valuable diamond brooch causes gossip when Lady Marjorie's widowed mother comes to stay OSKB Movie: "Hanging by a Thread" Special: "Alexander's Bachtime string musicians who come from all over the country to play in Carnegie Hall concerts perform under the direction of Alexander Schneider 63 Overseas Chinese TV CD Turnabout: women's participation in athletics 9:30 pm CD Pecado de Amor 3:00 pm Woody Woodpecker (r) (3) Days of Our Lives Hollywood Squares Mike Douglas: co-host John Davidson with Don Rickles, Dom DeLuise, Shields and Yarnell, Gloria Gaynor Omi Edge of Night (I) Andy Griffith (r) Foods for the Modern Family Tic Tac Dough QJ) Newlywed Game Battle of the Planets (r) CD Casper (r) 3:30 pm Merv Griffin: Dick Van Dyke, Burt Bacharach, Lesley-Anne Down, Tony Bill. Dayton Ka'Ne Young People's Special: "Makin' profile of country singer Ronnie Milsap (3D The Brady Bunch (r) Sesame Street QJ Movie: "Moon of the Wolf" (1972) Joker's Wild (H) Ryan's Hope Complicadisimo 65 Cuando Se Quiere Ser Feliz 5S The Munsters (r) Ml Gilligan's Island (r) CD Bugs Bunny (r) 4:00 pm Tom and Jerry (r) (D Mike Douglas OffSO Alter school Special: "The Seven Wishes of a Rich Kid" (B Hogan's Heroes (r) Cepillin Phil Silvers (r) fed Six Million Dollar Man (r) 4:30 pm Match Game 79 (8) The Odd Couple (r) Electric Company G3 Isabelita 6D Spanish Comedy 83 Journal F-Troop (r) CD The Flintstones (r) 5:00 pm fj Captain Cosmic C30HSKEB News Mary Tyler Moore (r) Newlywed Game News: Steve Davis (i) Bonanza (r) Mister Rogers QJ Young People's Special: "Makin1 Music" 63 Noticiero 20 65 Heartbeat West SS That Girl (r) (So) Superman (r) CD The Brady Bunch (r) 5:30 pm Bewitched (r) Bob Newhart (r) Carol Burnett (r) Sesame Street OJITJ ABC News OED Noticiero 63 The Phantom Creeps: (Chapter 6) (B Lilias, Yoga and You 63 Get Smart (r) Hogan's Heroes (r) CD The Brady Bunch (r) 6:00 pm Six Million Dollar Man (r) (E)(S) News News: Hambrick- Tompkins News: McElhatton-Moore News: Amburg-Jensen QJ) Movie: "Follow That Dream" 6D Cumbres Borrascosas Q3 Movie: "Lady of Burlesque" (1943), Barbara Stanwyck; mystery tB Foods for the Modern Family 39 Movie: "The Golden Mister Rogers Carol Burnett (r) 63 Noticiero 20 63 Heartbeat West That Girl (r) CmJ Superman (r) CD The Brady Bunch (r) 5:30 pm Bewitched (r) Bob Newhart (r) Carol Burnett (r) Sesame Street Q9 ABC News CO 63 Noticiero 69 The Phantom Creeps: (Chapter 7) Q) Lilias, Yoga and You 5 Get Smart (r) 99 Hogan's Heroes (r) CD The Brady Bunch (r) Phil Silvers (r) Six Million Dollar Man (r) 4:30 pm Match Game 79 GD The Odd Couple (r) Electric Company The Gong Show Mary Tyler Moore (r) GO Isabelita 63 Spanish Comedy F-Troop (r) CD The Flintstones (r) 5:00 pm Captefn Cosmic GD News Mary Tyler Moore (r) Newlywed Game News: Steve Davis GD Bonanza (r) 6:00 am CD The Growing Years OS International Zone QJ) It's Your Health CD Religious Programming (y 700 Club 6:15 am Ed Allen Real Estate and You 6:30 am CD Mr. Ed (r) Sut Yung Ylng Yee QJ Captain Kangaroo Not for Women Only GD Guten Tag CD Dusty's Treehouse 6:50 am News for the Deaf 7:00 am Cartoon Town OS) (3D Today Thursday Morning 00 Good Morning America 69 Stock Market Today 700 Club 9 Not for Women Only CD The Archies (r) 7:30 am (fj Jean LaMotte 63 Stock Market Update $9 Captain Mitch Cartoons GO The Brady Bunch (r) 8:00 am Captain Kangaroo Lilias, Yoga and You do) Thursday Morning 6D Stock and Bond Report CD Banana Splits (r) 8:30 am Romper Room Mister Rogers 61) Corporate Report Public Affairs The Partridge Family (r) Fred Flintstone (r) 9:00 am I Love Lucy (r) GD Dating Game 12:00 noon Medical Center (r) CD News CD Days of Our Lives News: Maxwell-Fowler All My Children Dick Cavett: Bob Hope (Part 1 of 2) (r) 63 700 Club Movie: "The Diamond Wizard" Andy Griffith (r) CD Underdog (r) 12:30 pm (J) Donahue As the World Turns Over Easy: jazz pianist Les McCann (r) 09 The Gong Show CD Huck and Yogi (r) 1:00 pm Movie: "Man's Favorite Sport" (1964), Rock Hudson, Paula Prentiss; comedy GD The Doctors OdD One Life to Live Educational Programming Movie: "Zorba the Greek" (Part 2) CD Beverly Hillbillies (r) 1:30 pm CO Another World Ironside (r) Guiding Light CO Esfera Azul 63 The Rock QB Movie: "The White Horse of Summer" CD Gomer Pyle (r) 2:00 pm OffD General Hospital Masterpiece Theater: "Lillie: disaster clouds the opening of Lillie's play in New York (r) CO Rosalia 63 Children's Hour CD Leave It to Beaver (r) 2:30 pm Andy Griffith (r) M.A.S.H(r) CO Los Hermanos Coraje 63 Praise the Lord CD Popeye (r) 3:00 pm Woody Woodpecker (r) GD Days of Our Lives Hollywood Squares Mike Douglas: co-host John Davidson with Shecky Greene, Conrad Janis, Freda Payne, Michel De La Vega Edge of Night Andy Griffith (r) Real Estate and You QJ Tic Tac Dough QJ Newlywed Game Battle of the Planets (r) CD Casper (r) 3:30 pm Merv Griffin: Shelley Winters, Susan Saint James, Helen Gurley Brown, Sylvia Kristal Movie: "Beneath the Plane of the Apes" (1970), James Franciscus, Kim Hunter; science-fiction 3D The Brady Bunch (r) Sesame Street QJ Movie: "Satan's Triangle" QJ) Joker's Wild Ryan's Hope CO Torneo de Estrellas 63 Cuando Se Quiere Ser Feliz The Munsters (r) Gilligan's Island (r) CD Bugs Bunny (r) 4:00 pm Tom and Jerry (r) GD Mike Douglas: (Ch. 5, 3 p.m.) GD Hogan's Heroes (r) Dating Game My Three Sons (r) CO Cepillin Card Sharks OO All In the Family (r) A.M.

San Francisco (f) Donahue: Cheryl Tiegs Sesame Street GJQ My Three Sons (r) Morning Scene 63 Praise the Lord Yoga for Health The Brady Bunch (r) CD Another World 9:30 am Room 222 (r) OCX All Star Secrets Morning Show QJ Joker's Wild fjj My Three Sons (r) Dr. Kildare (r) I Love Lucy (r) 10:00 am Big Valley (r) OS) High Rollers OdD Laverne Shirley (r) 0 Educational Programming 01 The Price Is Right Marcus Welby, M.D. (r) 10:30 am Od)(2D Wheel of Fortune Whewl OITJ $20,000 Pyramid 56) Mike Douglas CD Not for Women Only 11:00 am Donahue: "Gifted Children's Rights" OGEffi Password Plus OG3) Young and Restless 053 Family Feud 63 Soul Beat o) Dinah CD News Talk 11:30 am (D Hollywood Squares Midday: Walker-LaCosse Search for Tomorrow (ED Ryan's Hope Bewitched (r) Cross-Wits CD New Zoo Revue Crossword answers New York Times Daily Doodler IslHWildUoM 1LTSI A aTr liPloTi I iM QiM 7lT; om7o; n'tj-H tpTtj mTT lIIS lMBRjE Ap yyi, MlaT EjjQRHlITjij sir 5sr. els vie jflg pa mw Aj-JLlMs 'Ki'-'A'. RE ElDEJ SWDla YIE Carlton is lowest.

Less than 1 mg. tar. U.S. Government Report: Box or menthol: 14 Carlton have less tor titan lkntoge. Carlton Boi.Jess than 0.5 mg.

"tar" and 0.05 mg. nicotine. Carton MentM Ins itian 1 mg woint. 1 mj. Vantage 11 -ncown.

8 tij 9 an brat, lows: Carton Ba ss than 0 5 "iar and 55 nicctn Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health. Bn Iks than 5 mg 0 DS mg nto'iJU. Soft Pack and Menthol: I mg. "taw," 0 1 mg. mcotmc a pet ogaiette.

FTC Repofl May '78..