Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 22

Pittsburgh Post-Gactte: Thursday, September 13, 1990 HOBDAY'S TV PnOCHMiS 40 Newswatch Billy Graham Crusade Topic: the Second Coming. Guest: opera singer Jerome Hines. Also, highlights of the Montreal crusade featuring singers LarneUeHar- ris and Evie Karlsso 63 Movie "Jungle Book" (1942) Growing up with animals in an Indian forest, a boy forestalls the getaway of three thieves. 1035 17 Clash of the Champions Xlt Wrestling superstarsSting. Ric Flair and Susan Sexton compete for coveted titles.

(R) tv crams too much into an hour By Ron Weiskind Post-Gazette Television Critic If only justice could be dispensed in real life as neatly as in "Law Order," the NBC drama series pre-mienng tonight at 10. In the first half-hour, two dogged police detectives track down the wrongdoer. In the second half-hour, two prosecutors convince a jury of the suspect's guilt. It's quick, clean and sure. And take a look at the defendant in tonight's opener.

It's not a crack head, a dope dealer, a petty crook. No, that would be too real, too depressing, too devoid of hope and heroes. That reminds us of overcrowded prisons and crime on the streets and all those other problems we can't solve. Television doesn't like problems we can't solve. So "Law and Order" goes after more convenient villains, feeding on popular mistrust of the rich, powerful and arrogant.

A lot of people would put lawyers at the top of the list but two prosecu Thursday prime time I 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:38 10:00 I 10:30 If A Mojor leogue Bosebail Pittsburgh Pirates ot New York Met Barney (Corn.) Miller llTAC father Dowling Gabriel's fir Primetime live IKE Mysteries ll'OYI Cosby Different Cheers Wings law Order WrAI show World iiAcn This Old frugal Mystery) VYULU House Gourmet iiAry Adorn Business American On on World Golden WUtA Smith Today Interests One Monitor Tears MnTT Movie "Adventures of Don Juan" Twilight Twilight Wr I I Zona Zone umB Reinhard Bonnke Crusade Highlights Project 90 Newswatch living by nrvH word WPGH Babes Glory Days Billy Graham Crusade yyigtj Movie "The Terror" Movie "Jungle Book" Movie "Rains of Movie "The Glass Web" Saluto-AMI Ranchipur" (Cont Illinois Gallant Eagle and American Playwrights Maria Callas Life Ait treed Bear Theater and Art "MM Movie "'Crocodile' Movie "5ee No Evil, Hear No Evil" Dundee II" (Cont DISN New Kids on the Block Movie "A Fighting Choice" ESPN College Football Houston at Texas Tech iinn Movie "Scrooged" Movie "Casualties of War" nbU (Cont) Tilt" Movie "Nightmare on Elm Street 5 Movie "Casualties of War" I Ml The Dream Child" YsJT Movie "A Face in the Crowd" "Hot INI Millions" ama Movie "lucky Stiff" Movie "Monkey Shines" (Cont.) USA Murder, She Wrote MacGyver Gibson. Joanne Samuel In an Australia of the not-too-distant future, the friends and family ot a top highway pursuit policeman become the targets of a sadistic motorcycle gang. 8:30 Different World Whitley finds comfort with Dway ne at his place until she mistakes his mother for the maid (R) Frugal Gourmet Sesame recipes including halva and a Greek bean dip. (R) Inside Business Today Babe (Series Premiere) Comedy. The exploits of three overweight sisters sharing a cramped New York City apartment.

WO GabrieTs Fire Drama. James Earl Jones stars as a man released from prison who becomes an investigator for the defense attorney who freed him (R) OO Cheers Robin and Rebecca face criminal charges following an ill-fated corporate takeover attempt. (Part 2 of 2) (R)Q Mystery! "The Return of Sherlock Holmes II" Holmes and Watson investigate the mystery of a canine spirit haunting an English country estate. American Interests "Bush and Gorbachev: Managing Partners in the New World Order?" With Jerry Hough, John Lenc-zowski. Glory Days Rutecki's life is endangered during a murder investigation when he learns that the partner he admires is on the take.

9:3000 Wings Brian foolishly flies off for a rendezvous with his ex-wife. (Part 1 ot 2) (R) John McLaughlin's On on One Guest: Les Aspin, House Armed Services Committee chairman. 40 Project 90 10:00 PrimeTim Live Law 1 Order (Series Premiere) Drama. Criminal cases are followed from investigation to incar-' ceration. Tonight: An emergency-room death may lead to a negligence charge.

Knot Landing (Season Premiere) Karen agrees to a promotional trip with Jeff unaware he is the one who has been threatening her life: Danny is released from jail. 9 News World Monitor 22 Twilight Zone OALFP Jeopardyl Golden Girls 9 Kate I Alue Wheel of Fortune Wild America An underwater view of the spawning ritual of the cutthroat trout (Part 3 of 3) EattEnders 22 Addamt Family M'A'S'H 735 17 Jefferson Father Dowling Mysteries Father Dowling must stop a hit man posing as a priest from attempting an assassination at a wedding. (R) 09 Cosby Show Theo asks the three married men in the family whether romance dies after marriage (R) Q48 Hours (Season Premiere) "Murder of America's violent crime wave, featuring reports from communities across the country. Included: Cameras follow two homocide cops as they track a killer in Los Angeles 9 Movie "Kojak: The Belarus File" (1985) Telly Savalas. Suzanne Pleshette.

New York detective Theo Kojak uncovers a decades-old conspiracy to protect war criminals when he enlists the aid of a State Department worker in his investigation of the murders of several elderly Russian emigres. This Old House Installing kitchen cabinets and wooden floors throughout the addition's main floor. Adam Smith's Money World "Main Street vs. Wall Street" Looks at corporate takeovers, focusing on Armstrong World Industries. (R) 22 Movie "Adventures of Don Juan" (1949) Errol Flynn, Viveca Lindfors.

Don Juan invades the court of England and the hearts of the English ladies. 40 Reinhard Bonnke Crusade Highlights Simpsons While Bart goes to France, an Albanian exchange student stays with the Simpsons. (R) 63 Movie "The Terror" (1963) Boris Karloff. Jack Nicholson. A Napoleonic officer finds deception and horror when he pursues a beautiful woman to her crumbling seaside castle.

8:05 17 Movie "Mad Max" (1979) Mel 17 Flintstonee 4.30 Perfect Strangers Cosby Show Sesame Street Mechanical Universe 22 Tom and Jerry 40 Kids Like You Bugs Bunny 435 17 Brady Bunch 5:00 Donahue Cheers Family Feud Challengers OGeraldo 9 Magnum, PI Inside Report Innovation 22 1 Dream of Jeannie 40 Dave Roaver Presents Teenage Mutant Ninj Turtles 5.05 17 Laverne Shirley 5:30 Hews Night Court 5 JO Live News Reading Rainbow Good Neighbors 22 Get Smart 40 Outdoor Trail ALFP 535 17 Good Time Evening 600 OO News OOO New 9 Who the Boss? MacNeilLahrer NewsHour Mother and Son 22 Star Trek 40 Power Connection Charles in Charge 63 Bargain Bonanza 6.05 17 Beverly Hillbfllies 630 ABC News QONBC News CBS News 9 Comedy Wheel Ar You Being Served? 40 Lightmutic Mr. Belvedere 6:35 17 Andy Griffith 7:00 CBS Newt Current Affair Cheers Wheel of Fortune 9 Cotby Show ffl Jeopardyl Nightly Business Report Scheduled commentator: Arthur Laffer. Money Talk 22 Munttert 40 700 Club Scheduled: author Chuck Swindoll. Night Court 63 Home Shopping Spree Happy Dayt 730 Major League Baseball Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Mets. (Live) Entertainment Tonight tors are among the heroes in this show.

So producer Dick Wolf and his writers chose another easy target for the kickoff episode: doctors. A young woman with nothing more than a bad cold dies in an emergency room. Her father, a for 10-30O Barney Miller Golden Years of Television 22 Twilight Zone 40 Living by the Word 11:00000 QNews Newt 9 50 Years Ago Today 'Alio 'Allot 22 Arsenio Had 40 Back on Court ffl M'A'S'H 11:15 Sportsbeat 1130 kiside Edition Golden Girls 09 Tonight Show Scheduled: jazz singer Ruth Brown. Stingray Stingray goes under cover in a psychiatric ward to investigate reports of patients being abducted by Russians. (R) 9 Comedy Tonight Alive From Off Center In Jim Cartwright's drama "Road," four unemployed young people share their anger over Thatcher-era economic policies.

Butterflies ffl Love Connection VP Late Night- 1230 Instant Recall ONightlineP 9 Jack Benny -22 Thinning and Balding 40 Lightmutic ffl Twilight Zone CJr. 63 Movie "Black Dragons" (1942) Beta Lugosi, Clayton Moore. 1230 Barney Miller Hard Copy OOfflLateNight With David Letterman 922 Paid Program 40 His Place -ffl Movie "Cops and Robbers" 1973) Cliff Gorman, Joseph Bologna. 1235 17 Movie "The Executioner's Song" (1982) Tommy Lee Jones, Rosanna Arquette. Highlights "Afttrschool Special," ABC at 4 p.m.: Cindy Pickett and Tracey Gold star In "A Question About Sex," In which a teen-ager fights for better sex education at her school.

Pirate baseball, KDKA at 7:30 p.m.: The Pirates face the Mets, live from New York. "Babes," Fox at 8:30 p.m.: New sitcom about three overweight sisters. Wendie Jo Sperber, Susan Peretz and Lesley Boone star. "Law A Order," NBC at 10 p.m.: New drama series that begins with the police Investigation of a case and ends with the trial of the suspect. George Dzundza and Michael Moriarty star.

"Knots Landing," CBS at 10 p.m.: In the season premiere, Sumner sees faces from the past, Paige wonders where husband Tom went and Val Is harassed by Danny. LOT INSPECTED FRESH CANADIAN 09 learn to Read 22 Robert Tilton 40 Project 90 E) 700 Club 63 Gift Shop 10:05 17 Little House on the Prairie 10.3000 CD Wheel ot Fortune Classic Concentration OD To Be Announced 03 Against All Odds 40 Focus on the Issues 1055 Newt 1100 003 Price Is Right QHome OOCO To Tell the Truth Here's to Your Health 22 Highway to Heaven 40 Something Beautiful Perry Mason Martha Warheld 09 Mister Roger 03 Government by Consent 11.35 17 Andy Griffith Afternoon KDKA-Pitteburgh (CBS) WTAE-Pillsburgh (ABC) WJAC-Johnslown (NBC) WTRF-Wheelino (CBS) WTOV-Steubenville (NBC) 9 WVVOR New Jersey (Ind.) (D WTAJ-Altoona (CBS) CD WPXI-fittaburgh (NBC) (B WOED Pittsburgh (PBS) WQEX-Pitttburgh (PBS) 17 WTBS-Atlanta (Ind.) 22 WPTT-Pittsburgh (Ind.) 40 WPCB-Pittiburgh (Ind.) WPGH-Pittsburgh (Foi) 63 WNEU-Pittsburgh (Ind.) Lati-minute program change or cancellation may be made by local ataliona or the network. Indicate chaed-captioned tor the hearing impaired, (ft) Indicate repeat program. Morning 8 JO 9 Today's Monitor 03 Sesame Street 03 Sit and Be Fit 22 Dudley Doright Q) Jim Hanson's Muppet Babies Turbot Fillets .7" lb )) OF COMMERCE f( ACCEPTED I PER ll SPEOFNS( FRESH NEW BEDFORD 5Q Sea Scallops ....11 lb. FRESH NORWEGIAN f75 Salmon i lb.

All of our fresh fish ond seafood is federally lot in spected by the United States Department of Commerce. 1:05 17 Movie "Salvage (1979) Andy Griffith. Joel Higgins. 1:30 0003 Bold and the Beautiful Sit and Be Fit 03 Mister Rogers 22 Laverne ft Shirley Brady Bunch 00QO(DAthe World Tumt One Life to Lira OO Another World 9 Laredo We're Cooking Now 03 Sesame Street 22 1 Dream of Jeannie 40 Psychiatry and You Fun House 230 Joy of Painting 22 Paid Program 40 Exposing the Lis ffi Disney's Adventure of the Gummi Bears 3:00 03 Guiding Light General Hospital Santa Barbara 9TJ. Hooker Sesame Street Welcome to My Studio 22 Tom and Jerry 40JoyofMutc DuckTalet 63 Silver Variety Sale 17 Tom a Jerry' Funhouse 330 Gourmet Cooking 22 Mighty Mouse and Friends 40 Day of Discovery ffi Chip 'n' Dale' Rescue Ranger 3:35 17 Flintttonet 4:00 Oprah Winfrey Afterschoot Special Cosby Show Donahue 9 Hawaii Fiv-0 People's Court Mister Rogers For Veterans Only 22 Jettons 40 Adventures in Dry Gulch Tale Spin 63 Silver Variety Sal Rainbow Trout Fresh Tuna Ocean Perch Pasteurized Crabmeal Visit Our Gourmet Deli Smoked Fish Fresh Clams Cooked Shrimp Benkovitz Seafoods Hours: Monday to Friday simdaySAMtoSPM 23rd Smallman Streets, Strip District 263-3016 Department v.

IETS laOm 835 17 Bewitched 12:00000 9:00 Sally Jessy QT) QQ Newt Raphael Challengers OO 03 Live Regit g) Family Ties 1 Kathra Lee QD Sesame Street Joan Riven 03 Write Course 9 Comedy Wheel 22 Taxi ODGeraldo 40 700 Club 03 Body Electric 63 Designer Discount 22 Happy Day Fashion 40 Richard Robertt 12:05 17 Perry Mason SFIintttonet 1Z30 Voung and 63 Savings Safari the Rattiest fc05 17 Little House on Loving the Prairie GD Generations 9:30 9 One Norway Street ffl Discovering Instructional Psychology Programming 22 All in the Family 03 Homestretch Odd Couple 22 Paid Program All My Children 40 Paul Gaudino Exercise (D Days of Our S) Bugs Bunny Lives 10:000 O03 Family Feud 9 Bonanza Pittsburgh's Talking QD Wild America Let's Make Deal 03 Frugal Gourmet 9 Nine Broadcast Plaza 22 Happy Dayt 40 Getting Together (DJoanRiirert Bob Hew hart 14 SI mer Vietnam medic, insists that someone at the hospital screwed up. But he has no evidence. In real life, the cops would roll their eyes and gently send the man on his way. But detective Max Greevey (George Dzundza) says, "He was very convincing," and gets the go-ahead to investigate. Besides, he distrusts doctors, too.

When his partner, Mike Logan (Chris Noth), speaks well of doctors, Greevey states that he thinks 99 percent of physicians are good people. "Law and Order" then proceeds to indict virtually everyone in the emergency room for failing to try to save the woman's life. Greevey treats them with the very self-righteousness that he accuses doctors of having. Evidence quickly mounts against one of the hospital's most renowned physicians. By the time prosecutor Ben Stone (Michael Moriarty) is through with the case, you wonder how this guy didn't manage to kill half the patients in New York.

"Law Order" paints its villain into such a tight corner that there's no suspense, no doubt, no resonance to the series. Where's the drama in an open-and-shut case? But, to be fair, the format serves as a straitjacket for producer Wolf and company. By trying to force two concepts into a single hour, "Law and Order" doesn't have time for such niceties as character development or thoughtfulness. Dzundza and Moriarty are good enough actors to put a spark of life into their roles, virtually everyone else remains a cipher, including the defendant. Although NBC tries to take credit for innovation with "Law and Order," the same two-in-one format was tried back in 1963 on ABC, in a show called "Arrest and Trial." That series ran 90 minutes, which gave the writers more room to work.

On the other hand, the lawyer in the series represented the defendant. Nowadays, it's just not fashionable to presume that someone might be innocent. Fat women aren't exactly fashionable, either. Fox's "Babes" stars three of them. The new sitcom, pre-miering tonight at 8:30, wants to have its cake and eat it, too.

Being a Fox comedy, of course, "Babes" sets out to be gross. The three overweight sisters (Wendie Jo Sperber, Lesley Boone and Susan Peretz) spend most of their time making jokes about their weight or about food. A bed collapses beneath them. One prepares breakfast by dumping an entire box of cereal into a gigantic bowl. She's the same woman who deals with men she doesn't like by butting them with her head.

But when someone refers to the youngest sister, Marlene, as a porker, we are meant to see him as a chauvinist pig. The show says, in its own way, that no one deserves to be put down or discriminated against because of the way he or she looks. It also says that you can be overweight and still retain your self-esteem. Both messages are positive and worthwhile. Goodness knows we've had enough worship of looks and thinness for their own sake, to the point of anorexia.

But there is something very cynical in encouraging the audience to laugh at obesity in the coarsest way possible, only to turn around and insist that it is offensive to make fun of it. But cynicism and coarseness are the very qualities that distinguish most Fox sitcoms. "Babes," being loud, rude and often crass, fits right in. TV SHORT Nickelodeon, the cable channel specializing in children's shows, will hold auditions for its live-action shows at Century III Mall, West Mifflin, Saturday and Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. Children between the ages of 8 and 13 are eligible, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Those auditioning will perform "physical challenges" and will take a screen test. Grand-prize winners will be flown to Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, to appear on one of the channel's shows. I ft 'Hi i 7 i miimn -ilr il ir 1 I inn Stop by, and join in the conversation. John G. Craig editor; Virginia Linn, metropolitan editor, and Mark Roth, assistant managing editor, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, left to right, will lead the discussion at an open meeting at 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 27 at the Northland Library in McCandless. What's the topic? That's up to you. The editors will discuss everything from McCandless police news to the Mideast crisis, from crossword puzzles to comics to circulation problems. Clarke Thomas, senior associate editor who writes many of the PG North editorials, will be on hand to take questions, too.

Everyone's invited, and it's free. Just, come to Room 3 in the Northland Library, 300 Cumberland Road. That's between McKnight Road and Route 19. Bring your questions and your comments. Let's talk! BILLY GRAHAM SPECIAL From Albany pittsburgl) TOklGIjT 0:00 VJPGE3 53 lsjfc sJBi.