The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 147

TV WEEK, NOVEMBER 15, 1981 COUNTRY IS HERE TO STAY! One of television's most experienced and creative producers is not surprised at the growing popularity of country music. Bob Banner, executive producer of the new series of Country Top 20 two hour specials, notes however, that the country music which is sweeping the United States today is more cross-over pop than the traditional country of 20 years ago. Country Top 20 airs on KTTV (Channel 11), Saturday at 9PM. Among the many stars sharing the spotlight with cohost Johnny Lee and Nancy Sinatra are Crystal Gayle, "Big Bird," John Conlee and Terri Gibbs. Banner, who personally oversees the taping of Country Top 20 each month in the main showroom at the Imperial Palace Hotel, Las Vegas, recalls that he produced one of the earliest, most successful country music television series.

"The Jimmy Dean Show was on ABC for four years and considering that it was successful when ABC was not the competitive network it is today, we were proud of our achievement," the veteran producer said. "We actually took our show to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, then the home of the Grand Ole Opry and televised the first two Country Music Awards show." Banner notes that there were some early country music television series such as "Porter Wagoner" which were primarily seen in the South, but never achieved any real national popularity. "Now, country-oriented shows are all over national television," he says. As Country grows more popular, Banner, a musician himself, forecasts that it will become even more middle-of-the-road for listening with many more recording artists "crossing Banner's new series features the top 20 country hits of the month as traced by Radio Records, plus some "breakers," country songs on their way up. Crystal Gayle chats with her good friend "Big Bird." TELE-TALK WNET.

New York's PBS station NBA games, boxing and many has developed and is now distri- other different events presented buting a comprehensive booklet on "CBS Sports designed to encourage discrim- Sunday." Russell is beginning iniating television viewing. The his third year of expert analybooklet. "Television and Your sis for CBS Sports. Named "the Family: A Viewing Guide." of- greatest player in the history fers activities involving com- of the National Basketball Assomercials and news broadcasting ciation," the former Boston Celand offers viewing tips for tics center was the first black families or individuals. Its aim coach in any major sport.

Duris to improve a person's viewing ing his 13-year career, Russel habits by having viewers anal- was selected the league's most yze and evaluate what they see valuable player five different on television. The guide covers: times. Ten Steps Toward Critical Television Viewing; Is It Better Former Miss America and tel- On Screen Or Life: Planning Your Television Viewing In Advance: Investigating Television News; Be Your Own Television Critic; and Letting Your Opinion Be Known. According to Vice President Stephen Salyer. "The guide is an indispensable resource for people who are concerned about controlling the quality of programs which are broadcast on television, both for themselves and their children." The guide is available for $2.

including postage' and handling, from Education Division, 356 W. 58th Street. New York. NY. 10019 or call (212) 664-7100.

67. Jack Klugman, star of NBC's "Quincy" series, says he knows about "fixer-upper" property. "I bought a fixer-upper near San Diego to convert into a horse farm where Jacklin (his thoroughbred) will stand stud." said Klugman. "So far. I've spent about $800.000 on the house and we haven't even started on the barns." Dick Stockton and Bill Russell will handle the play-by-play and expert analysis, respectively, for CBS Sports' coverage of National Basketball Association games for the 1981-82 season.

CBS Sports' 40-game schedule of NBA regular season, playoff and championship series games began Oct. 30. with the opening night contest between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers. Following a Christmas Day contest between the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns, regular Sunday telecasts will begin January 17. Stockton's wide variety of sports broadcasting experiences includes play-byplay commentary of NFL games, actress Mary Ann Mobley was recently admitted into the University of Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame.

Mobley, who was born in Brandon, Mississippi won the Miss America title representing that state while a student at "Ole Miss" in 1959. She joins another famed Mississippian. literary great William Faulkner. in the Hall of Fame. She knew him while she was a student and was remember by him in his two-volume biography by Joseph Blotner.

New York, is currently producing two-hour New Year's day special, "The Show: A Journal of the Arts." a retrospective of 1981's major events to air over the Public Broadcasting Service January 1. The program, described as a "journal of the arts," 'will highlight significant achievements during 1981 in the worlds of art. literature, film, music, theater. the performing arts and broadcasting. The program uses performance, criticism.

debate, character profiles, documentary segments and reports to look back on the year past and forecast major events in the year ahead. Merlin Olsen, star of NBC's new "Father Murphy" series. and former Los Angeles Ram football star, gives full credit to Michael Landon for his abilities as an actor. "Michael has spent many hours working with -teaching me," said Olsen. "He's superb because he is a director as well as an actor.

One of the best pieces of advice he ever gave me was to forget about my size 250 pounds) and to act as if I was 5'10" tall and weighed 160 pounds." Page 23.