The Tribune from Scranton, Pennsylvania • 31

The Morning Times, Scranton, Pa. Saturday, September 2, 1989 C- (Pit '4; tSuH 1ft. IILSjSUnie Broadcasters felt bite of Tuesdays crash TV tonight by Faye Zuckerman In an era of expansive technology for the broadcast industry, Tuesdays blackout was a near-night-mare for a radio station and television station affected by the catastrophe. WEJL-AM and WEZX-FM, housed in the Scranton Timet building virtually collapsed. WYOU-TV and WGBI, who occupy space along Lackawanna Avenue had similiar dilemmas to face.

WYOU hauled out its Spacelink truck to generate power to two live remote" trucks parked on Lackawanna Avenue. Since the blackout happened during the afternoon while soap operas were being transmitted via satellite from tne network, WYOU kept its programming running smoothly. News director Jim Depury said the only interruption was a live broadcast by Liz Linskey from the site of the explosion. Behind the scenes, was a different story: commercials had to be inserted into the broadcast from one truck while the other truck kept the network feed going. Ordinarily, this is not a two-step process.

DePurys concern was not with the afternoon programming but was concentrated on what to do for the 5:30 p.m. newscast. WYOU meanwhile was waiting for a generator to arrive via truck from New York City. 'Well just park a few chairs out front for the newscast, DePury said. Its nothing new; we do it for Live In Youi Hometown spots.

Although thepower returned by the 5:30 p.m. newscast, DePury did come up with an outdoor anchor desk for Sparano that evening. Another concern was the damage the shutdown had on vital computer programs including weather data. WGBI-FM used extra power from WYOU to keep afloat, the station, which is run by automation, only shutdown for a short time. WEJL and WEZX turned to a fflEtiltfffll llEffliPE) MTV Video Music Awards to be telecast Wednesday V'? back-up generator for power only to realize that it was inoperable.

Poor maintenance made it virtually im possible to start up. The next step was to go directly to the transmitter tower, said WEZX program director Jim Rising. With some compact discs, a CD player and some patch cords, a crew raced to Bald Mountain to at least try to get the FM station up and running. Dead air plagued WEZX for a little over two hours until the makeshift studio was set up at Bald Mountain; WEJL lost its afternoon airtime completely. For a few weeks, the broadcasters will assess the damages, check the ratings that were lost during the time period and figure out revenue loss from commercials that were zapped out entirely.

NEW FACES: Melissa Becker has been promoted to News 22 general assignment reporter. She previously was the stations overnight assignment editor. Joe Klapatch took over that post. A graduate or Kings College with a degree in communications, was a news reporteranchor at WILK-AM in Wilkes-Barre and also had been an intern at WYOU. Klapatch had been an assigment editor at WNEP-TV.

Hes also worked at WEJL-AM, WEZX-FM and a sports director for WARD-AM. Klapatch, also a graduate of Kings, has taught electronics technology and drafting and design at Lackawanna Area Vo-Tech School. George Michael will receive the 1989 Video Vanguard Awards. With his unique pop sound, he electrified audiences with his compelling, seductive presence, a style made famous largely through his videos. For the first time, the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast around the world via satellite.

In keeping with the international theme, the Awards will include a new feature, the International Viewers Choice category. This segment will recognize the viewers choice for Best European, Best Australian, Best Japanese and Best Latin Rock videos. Viewers in each territory will choose their favorite videos indigenous to their area. Music speaks to youth all over the world and MTV reaches the worldwide audience. It is a natural evolution of the program to not only accommodate this audience, via state-of-the-art satellite technology, but to include these viewers on a personal level through this new International Viewers Choice category, notes Lee Masters, executive vice president and general manager of MTV: Music Television.

Votes for the winners were cast via high technology, either by fax or by a special 800 number, as well as through the mail. Eighteen awards will be presented for excellence in thd field of video music, including the Hall of Fame, Viewers Choice and International Viewers Choice, the Best Videos of the year as selected by the MTV audience. Thematically, this years awards show wjll emulate the basement of a major art museum. 1 Music videos have become at accepted art form, Masters explains, but they still wouldnt work on the main floor of an art gallery. The more experimental pieces belong in the basement and thats the spirit were trying to capture with this years Awards.

p.m.: The Old Time Redlo Hour. WARM $90 AM. The Jack Benny Show and Bums and AUen are spoUighted. 7 p.m. Dick Clarks Rock, Roll and Remember.

WILK 980 AM. Featuring the music ofBuddy Holly. a p.m.: Flashback. WEZX 107 FM. The Psychedlic Hour Is featured this week.

p.m.: Swing Street Jan. WVIA 90 FM. Dan Evans as host plays mainstream, traditional, swing and bebop and presents musical tributes and the Jazz Almanac. 10 p.m.: Superstar Concert Bertee. WEZX 107 FM.

An evening of music with Steve Winwood. 11:30 p.m.: Metal ahop. WEZX 107 FM. Top metal cuts of the week are featured from Aerosmlth to Tesla. 3 a.m.: Album Feature.

WEZX 107 FM. Aerosmiths 1987 comeback album Permanent Vacation is played in its entirety. Telethon begins Sunday Jernr Lewis annual telethon to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association has become synonymous with Labor Day. And this year Is no exception. On Sunday at 9 p.m.

on WNEP-TV, Ch. 16, Lewis kicks Off the 24th edition of the 22-hour telecast live from Las Vegas. The format this year is pretty past. much the same as in the pas Celebrities such as Liza Minnelli, Country music group Alabama, Billy Crystal, Louis Gossett Jr. and Telly Salvas will donate their time and talents to the fund-raiser.

The stars supply glitz, glamour and entertainment, and make passionate appeals for funds from the TV audience. Joining Lewis in Las Vegas as cohosts this year are Ed McMahon, Tony Orlando, Casey Kasem and Julius LaRosa. Sammy Davis Jr. is master of ceremonies for live segments from New York City; comedian Norm Crosby hosts from Los Angeles. Musicians LaToya Jackson, Randy Travis and Christopher Atkins will be on hand to add spice to this charity event.

HIGHLIGHTS Bring Me the Head of Dobie Gillis (1988), Ch. 22, Sunday at 9 p.m.: Last seasons most notable blast enci quir (Dwayne Hickman, his beatnik friend Maynard G. Krebs (Bob Denver), snooty Chatsworth Osborne Jr. (Stephen Franken), confident Zelda Sheila James) and demure Thalia enniger (Tuesday Weld portrayed her in the series; she is played by Connie Francis in this movie). Gillis knd friends left the airways in 1963 a successful four-year run.

The movie opens nearly 25 years later. Dobie has fulfilled his fathers dream by taking over the family business. He has married Zelda as she always suspected he would. They have a teen-age son Georgie (Scott Grimes). Georgie is as befuddled about firls, life and business matters as is father was as a teen-ager.

But Soon Dobie is facing his pwn probr lems when his longtime crush Thalia returns to town. His consultations with Maynard and the audience at the famous The Thinker statue are the only moments that bring back the feel of the great old comedy series. The jokes, story and acting leave a lot to be desired. Repeat. Cover (1985), Ch.

28, Sunday at 9 p.m.: Heres the first need (originally titled Code Name: Emerald) be- fore airing on television. Deep Cover, a thriller set during World War II, stars Ed Harris (The Right Stuff) as a double agent. His assignment is to ensure that D-Day oes off without a hitch. (Unavailable for review.) My Two Loves (1986), Ch. 16, Sunday at 9 p.m.: This melodrama from 1986 is a typical TV-movie mishmash of histrionics and overacting.

Dont let the likable cast Sada Thompson, Mariette Hartley, Lynn Redgrave and Barry Newman fool you. This is a dreary drama about recently widowed Gail Sprin-er (Hartley) who is being courted her late husbands best friend Ben Taylor (Newman). Although flatterd by Bens advances, Gail realizes she is attracted to a new friend at work Marjorie Lloyd (Red-rave). Eventually Gail and Majorie ome lovers. rSo you could say that Newman portrays a gentleman caller: Redgrave a lady caller: and Thompson, as Gails close-minded mother, a name-caller.

Meanwhile, Gails daughter (Sarah Inglis) and Bens son (Robert L. Leonard) spend a lot time discussing their parents, personal problems and coping with teen-age life; they are more sensible and believable than the adults. Skip this one. Otherwise youll be subjected to such notably ridiculous dialogue as Gail whining, It feels oodto have real girl-talk again. I ive no one to confide in.

Repeat. CABLE CALLS I Moon Over Parador (1988), IBO, Saturday at 8 and TMC, Saturday at 9 and Sunday at 7 p.m.: Paul Mazurskys comedy offers a decent international cast Richard Drey-fiiss, Sonia Braga, Jonathan Winters and Raul Julia. You may even tie a few times at this political spoof in which Dreyfuss portrays a self-centered actor masquerading as the dictator of a Central American country. SPORTING GOODS Tennis, Ch. 22, Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m.: Live coverage of the 1989 U.S.

Open Tennis Championships from Flushing Meadow, '-IB Baseball, Ch. 28, Saturday at 3:15 p.m.: Check local listings for live regional coverage of either New York Mets at San Francisco Giants or Cleveland Indians at Detroit Ti-gfers. (Faye Zuckerman is a sydnicated television columnist.) MTV: Music Television will announce the winners of the Sixth Annual 1989 MTV Video Music Awards Wednesday at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. For the first time, the Awards will be close captioned for the hearing impaired. Joining Arsenio Hall, who hosts the Awards for the second year in a row, are some of the biggest names in music.

Madonna will perform for a television show for the first time since her startling performance of Like a Virgin electrified fans and critics alike in the first MTV Awards show in 1984. The Rolling Stones will be featured via satellite; Paula Abdul will choreograph and perform a special medley; Jon Bon Jovi and Richie eambora will perform an acoustic number; Def Leppard makes a rare television appearance; and The Cult and The Cure will make their first televised performance on an American awards show. Rounding out the music performances are Cher, rapper Tone Loc and Bobby Brown. In addition to the announced performers there will be a surprise musical finale. Comic relief will be provided by Richard Lewis, Andrew Dice Clay and Robert Townsend.

MTVs West Coast Julie Brown will offer her own unique slant on the awards, delivering color commentary from back-stage. Presenters provide a diverse cross-section representing the worlds of film and television as well as music. Some of the more unusual pairings are Miles Davis and Donny Osmond and Alice Cooper and Christina Applegate. Michael Hutchence from INXS, Motley Crue, Nenah Cherry, Richard Marx, Jody Watley, Christian Slater, lone Skye, Weird Al Yankovic, Lou Diamond Phillips, Corbin Bernsen, Jasmine Guy and James Woods are also set to present. Grammy-winning pop sensation (SfrreElP) TODAY I p.m.: Pitt Panther Football WICK 1400 AM Pitt vs.

Pacific. 1:30 p.m.: Lyric Opera of Chicago. WVIA 90 FM "Oberon" (Weber). Conductor: John Nelson. Cast: Cheryl Majercik, Allan Glass-man, Michel Myers, James Michael McGuire, Nova Thomas, Bruce Longworth, Melanie Sonnenberg, Terry Hodges, Caroline McGee.

10:05 p.m.: Phillies Baseball. The Phillies take on San Diego. II p.m.: The Jim Bohannon Show. WILK 980 AM. Earl March, creator of the Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows.

SUNDAY p.m.: The British Invasion Sllvsr Anniversary Series. WGBI 101 3 FM. Songs and comments from The Searchers, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Manfred Mann. Ktltj Kell -fcffcTil new hat Jeff Stein, was launched. He thinks a heroine whos a nun gives the series texture.

Stein admitted that numerous actresses were considered for the role, because Beachams first obligation was to Dynasty. But he took a chance and sent her the script, and, she said, her immediate response was, This is my part. Its mine. I had fallen in love with it, she said. I read the part and it was as though someone had written it for me.

They hadnt, of course, but thats how I felt about it. The idea of Sable Colby playing a nun sounds ridiculous, she knows. But, she said, Anybody who knows me knows that it was more of a stretch for me to do Sable than it will be for me to do Kate. Unfortunately for the new show, Sister Kate, has been handed the tough 8 p.m. Sunday time slot, opposite CBSs Murder She Wrote.

So, it seems, it may need a miracle. Stephanie Beacham plays Sister Kate this fall on NBC Sundays at 8 p.m. Colbys star wears a By Kay Gardella orphans run by Catholic Charities. I think shes definitely good inside, said the actress, wno welcomes wearing a navy blue skirt and white blouse for a change, instead of all those fancy dresses of Sable Colbys. She definitely has an understanding of Catholic morality.

She just, herself, is a difficult person. Before Dynasty definitely canceled, it looked like Beacham would be shuttling back and forth' between studios working on both shows. I was happy with the idea of doing Kate, ana I would have been perfectly happy doing Sable. But everything was going so well, I just thought, well, let the executives sort it out. 1 Beacham took off for Bali, did a little surfing and rug buying, and when she returned Dynasty was dead and she had no more contractual obligations to producer Aaron Spelling.

Sister Kate, produced by NEW YORK DAILY NEWS For Stephanie Beacham, playing a nun in the new NBC fall Sunday-night sitcom, Sister Kate, comes a lot more naturally than her last role, the devious Sable Colby in Dynasty. My early education was by nuns, said the reserved British actress, who explained that she was 4V4 when she was sent to the Convent of the Sacred Heart in England. I loved the nuns that brought me up, and at the same time I was very frightened of them. So Im looking forward to being as frightening as Sister Kate as Sister Mary was to me. I realize now that she really was a wonderful person.

But it really took me a long time to quite realize how wonderful. Beachams nun is a nonsentimen-tal, unemotional, no-nonsense person whos put in charge of a houseful of PRIME TIME VIDEO 1915 Pittslon Ave. 564 N. Main Ave. 343-8899 34-YIDEO ONE OF THE LARGEST VIDEO STORES IN THE CITY Over 5,000 Titles Multiple Copies of New Releases Free Yearly Membership no benefits Lifetime Membership $9.95 full benefits Nintendo Rentals over 300 games CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY IS COMING II I.