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Conference ljsrv1::tv_chatter

Title:The TV Chatter Notes Conference
Notice:Welcome to TV Chatter :-)
Moderator:PASTA::PIERCE
Created:Wed Dec 16 1992
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:498
Total number of notes:5416

459.0. "1996 Fall Schedule - Reviews and Comments" by ODIXIE::LOWER (What fools these mortals be!) Wed Aug 21 1996 06:30

    New thread for comments concerning 1996 fall schedule.  What shows will
    survive?  Who are the new stars?  Which shows won't make it 'til xmas?
    Anything coming up you can't wait to see or will desperately avoid?
    
    
    Rick
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459.17th HEavenWMOIS::LYONS_SWed Aug 21 1996 17:177
    
    
    I think it will be interesting to catch Aaron Spelling's latest - 7th
    Heaven.  The previews remind me a bit of Second Noah.  It just amazes
    me that Spelling hasn't dried up after all the shows he's come up with.
    
    
459.2THESE LOOK GOODPCBUOA::CHENARDThu Aug 22 1996 17:587
    I have only seen previews for comedys but so far but the ones that look
    good are:
    
    Townies with Molly Ringwald
    Men Behaving Badly with Rob Schneider
    the Michael J Fox show (name?)
    
459.3Men Behaving BadlyFUTURS::BURRELLLive long/prosper-live short/enjoyFri Aug 23 1996 13:3013
    
    
    	If "Men Behaving Badly with Rob Schneider" is the American
    	rewrite of the British show/scripts, then you're in for a treat.
    
    	That assumes that they leave much of the British script un-damaged
    	as, if you thought "Absolutely Fabulous" was Politically Incorrect,
    	then you ain't seen nothing yet!
    
    	I can't see them American Censors letting the appendix scene
    	remain. :-)
    
    	Paul.
459.4PROFILER - NBCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 14:27113
NB

           "Profiler" is a stylish, hour-long
           suspense-thriller. Ally Walker ("While You Were
           Sleeping") stars as a brilliant female forensic
           psychologist with a unique gift for understanding
           the criminal mind, who is persuaded by her former
           mentor (Robert Davi, "Die Hard") to head up an
           elite team of talented professionals who
           investigate high-profile crimes throughout the
           country.

           Dr. Sam Waters (Walker) was a fast-track forensic
           psychologist with a special skill that enabled her
           to comprehend the human psyche and, as a result,
           to "think" in pictures and visualize a crime
           through the eyes of both the victim and the
           killer. Such a prized talent often gives law
           enforcement an edge in identifying criminals, but
           it exacted a heavy price on Sam: Three years ago
           she got too close to a serial slayer named Jack,
           and he murdered her husband. Her grief gives a
           dark, personal edge to their ongoing battle of
           wits.
                                                                 [Small Cast Photo]


           Devastated and guilt-ridden after her husband's
           death, Sam retired and retreated with her young
           daughter, Chloe (Caitlin Wachs, "Days of Our
           Lives"), to live an anonymous life in the country
           with her close friend Angel Brown (Erica Gimpel,
           "Fame"). In the series' pilot, Sam is coaxed out
           of self-imposed isolation by her old friend Bailey
           Malone (Davi), head of the FBI Investigative
           Support Unit, to assist in solving a baffling
           spate of serial killings.

           Set in Atlanta, Sam joins a federal task force
           with Malone as her protective liaison. Her nemesis
           stalker, "Jack-of-all-trades," lets her know he's
           resumed tracking her while his own skein of serial
           murders continue. However, despite her
           cat-and-mouse game with Jack, Sam's mental imagery
           will be used to investigate other crimes, taking
           viewers on a roller-coaster ride as she matches
           wits with arsonists, assassins, bombers,
           perpetrators of hate crimes, and other elusive
           antagonists.


           Sam and Malone enlist a crack unit of specialists,
           including Detective John Grant (Julian McMahon,
           "Magneta"), a handsome, driven professional who is
           uneasy with Sam's unorthodox methods; Detective
           Nathan Brubaker (Michael Whaley, "Sisters"), an
           altruistic ex-attorney; Grace Alvarez (Roma
           Maffia, "Chicago Hope"), a gifted forensic
           specialist; and George Findley (Peter Frechette,
           "Dream Street"), a world-class computer hacker.

           "Profiler" is a production of Sander/Moses
           Productions in association with NBC Studios. Ian
           Sander ("I'll Fly Away") and Kim Moses ("New York
           News") are the executive producers. Nancy Miller
           ("Against the Grain") is the co-executive
           producer. Cynthia Saunders ("L.A. Law") is the
           creator and supervising producer.

           Day & time: Saturdays (10-11 p.m. ET) on NBC

           Starring: Ally Walker, Robert Davi, Julian
           McMahon, Erica Gimpel, Michael Whaley, Roma
           Maffia, Peter Frechette and Caitlin Wachs

           Executive producers: Ian Sander and Kim Moses

           Co-executive producer: Nancy Miller

           Creator: Cynthia Saunders

           Executive consultant: Larry Hertzog

           Creative consultant: Ken Solarz

           Supervising producer: Cynthia Saunders

           Producer: Anthony Santa Croce

           Co-producer: John Niss

           Directors: John Patterson (pilot); others various

           Writers: Nancy Miller (head), Larry Hertzog, Ken
           Solarz, Cynthia Saunders, Jean Gennis, Phyllis
           Murphy and Bob Lowry

           Story editors: Jean Gennis and Phyllis Murphy

           Director of photography: Mike Bonvillain

           Costume designer: Tom McKinley

           Production designer: Jonathan Carlson

           Art director: Jeremy Cassells

           Music: Jeff Rona

           FBI consultant: Jim Greenleaf

           Produced by: Sander/Moses Productions in
           association with NBC Studios
459.5Something so Right - NBCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 14:2968
                Mel Harris and Jere Burns: Prime Time Preview Chat
                Transcript

           From multiple award-winning executive                 
           producers/writers Judd Pillot ("Coach") and John
           Peaslee ("Coach"), and Universal Television, comes
           "Something So Right," a sophisticated family
           comedy set in New York, which takes a look at a
           true blended family of the '90s.

           "Our goal is to take the family show and turn it
           on its head," says Pillot. Adds his longtime
           writing partner Peaslee, "Just because there are
           kids in a show, there's no reason it can't be hip,
           irreverent and sophisticated."
           Mel Harris ("thirtysomething") and Jere Burns         
           ("Dear John") star as Manhattan newlyweds who
           bring a lot of baggage, as well as three wary
           kids, to their unconventional blended family. This
           time around, twice-divorced Carly Davis (Harris),
           a functioning dysfunctional, is bent on balancing
           her high-pressure career as a corporate party
           planner with her third marriage. Luckily, her
           husband, Jack Farrell (Burns), is a solid,
           down-to-earth high school English teacher with
           patience to spare and a bit of insight into
           dealing with some prickly problems. First, there's
           the fact that Carly's 14-year-old son, Will (Billy
           L. Sullivan, "Little Big League"), has a major
           crush on his 16-year-old stepsister, Nicole (Marne
           Patterson, "Sliver"); and brainy 11-year-old Sarah
           (Emily Ann Lloyd, "Apollo 13") is considering
           moving in with her real dad and his second family.

           "Something So Right" is a production of Universal     
           Television. Judd Pillot and John Peaslee are the
           executive producers/writers. James Widdoes
           ("Boston Common") directs the pilot.

           Day & time: Tuesdays (8:30-9 p.m. ET) on NBC

           Starring: Mel Harris, Jere Burns, Marne Patterson,
           Billy L. Sullivan and Emily Ann Lloyd

           Executive producers: Judd Pillot and John Peaslee

           Co-executive producer: Bob Tischler

           Producer: Marica Govons

           Supervising producers: Kevin Kelton, Daryl Rowland
           and Lisa DeBenedictis

           Art director: Dahl Dalu

           Editor: Gary Anderson (series), Andy Chulack
           (pilot)

           Director of photography Rob McBride (series), Ron
           Browne (pilot)

           Casting director: Dava Waite

           Music by: Bruce Miller

           Origination: Los Angeles, Universal Studios

           Produced by: Universal Television
459.6MR RODES - NBCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 14:31100

                 Must Click TV RealAudio Greeting (14.4) (28.8)
               Tom Rhodes, Ron Glass, and Farrah Forke: Primetime Preview
        [Image]
               Chat Transcript

           Veteran stand-up comic Tom Rhodes ("Viva Vietnam")    
           makes his TV series and network debut in the title
           role of "Mr. Rhodes," a half-hour comedy centering
           on a hip, iconoclastic young prep school teacher,
           who is new to the profession. Looking like a
           long-haired rock 'n' roller, he stands in stark
           contrast to his colleagues.

           Yet for reasons that go beyond style, the
           character is likely to strike a chord with many
           viewers. "We recognize in our lives those rare,
           extraordinary teachers like Mr. Rhodes, who had a
           lasting, profound impact on us," says executive
           producer Peter Noah. "Often they opened up new
           subjects or changed our way of looking at things."
           Tom Rhodes (the character) didn't start out with
           that goal. The would-be writer thought he could
           breeze back home after a few lackluster years in
           New York and one worst-selling -- albeit
           critically acclaimed -- novel under his belt, but
           his new life as a small town English teacher at
           Harkin Academy supplies some major lessons in and
           out of the classroom. By speaking the kids'
           language and injecting insights with humor, he
           helps them solve personal and academic problems in
           ways that ordinary teachers could not.
                                  [Image]

           There's immediate chemistry between Tom and           
           Harkin's high-strung, beautiful guidance
           counselor, Nikki Harkin (Farrah Forke, "Wings") --
           once the girl of his teenaged fantasies -- who's
           hooked on therapy. He hits a snag with wannabe-hip
           headmaster Ray Heary (Stephen Tobolowsky, "Against
           the Grain"), who aspires to artistic greatness in
           some undiscovered realm and digs Tom's image but
           frowns on his casual teaching style. Elitist,
           acerbic history teacher Ronald Felcher (Ron Glass,
           "Barney Miller") also scorns his methods and
           offers his own cynical view of kids today.
           Meanwhile, Harkin's outlandish woman-child math
           teacher, Amanda Reeves (Jessica Stone, Broadway's
           "Grease"), worships Tom.

           Executive producers/creators of this Universal
           Television production in association with NBC
           Studios are Jennifer Heath ("Roseanne") & Mark
           Brazill ("3rd Rock From the Sun") and Noah
           ("Anything but Love"). Executive producers are
           Michael Rotenberg ("Bless This House") and Dave
           Becky ("Viva Vietnam"). Peter Bonerz ("Friends,"
           "Murphy Brown") directed the pilot.

           Day & time: Mondays (8:30-9 p.m. ET) on NBC

           Starring: Tom Rhodes, Farrah Forke, Stephen
           Tobolowsky, Ron Glass and Jessica Stone

           Executive producers/creators: Peter Noah; Mark
           Brazill & Jennifer Heath

           Executive producers: Michael Rotenberg and Dave
           Becky

           Supervising producers: Eric Cohen

           Producers: Gina Scheerer, Michele Wolff

           Story editors: Andrew Reich, Ted Cohen

           Directors: Peter Bonerz (pilot), Ted Wass, Brian
           Roberts, Bob Berlinger, Max Tash, Gail Mancuso,
           Peter Noah

           Creative consultant: Bill Bryan

           Director of photography Gregg Heschong (pilot);
           George LaFountaine (series)

           Production designer: David Sacheroff

           Costume designer:Elizabeth Palmer

           Casting: Megan Branman

           Editor: Jay Scherberth

           Music: Mark Heyes

           Origination: Universal Television Studios

           Produced by: Universal Television in association
           with NBC Studios
459.7SUDDENLY SUSAN - NBCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 14:4581
           After a critically acclaimed guest appearance on      
           the "Friends" Super Bowl episode, Brooke Shields
           ("Endless Love," "The Blue Lagoon"), who has been
           dazzling audiences since her star turn as a young
           child in "Pretty Baby," is starring in her first
           television series.
           The show focuses on Susan (Shields), a beautiful
           but somewhat sheltered magazine writer, who leaves
           her rich fiance when she realizes she wants more
           from life. Unlike her parents, who think she's
           crazy for giving up the life of wealth and luxury
           that would have accompanied her marriage, her Nana
           (Barbara Barrie, "Breaking Away,"
           "thirtysomething") totally supports her decision
           and helps ease the adjustment into her new
           lifestyle.

           At the hip San Francisco magazine The Gate, Susan     
           struggles with her new promotion from copy editor
           to writer of her own column on being single. Her
           boss Jack (Judd Nelson, "The Breakfast Club," "New
           Jack City") -- the brother of her ex-fiance --
           decided she earned the promotion after realizing
           that now that she was alone, confused, struggling
           to make ends meet and facing a world full of
           potential pain and failure, she was suddenly
           interesting to readers. Also working at the
           magazine are Vicki (Kathy Griffin, "Saturday Night
           Special"), Susan's witty co-worker who introduces
           her to the single world; Luis (Nestor Carbonell,
           "Muscle"), the suave photographer who has his eye
           on Susan; and Todd (David Strickland, "Mad About
           You"), the magazine's music critic whose fixation
           with MTV has won him an extremely limited
           attention span.

           "Suddenly Susan" is produced by Warner Bros.
           Television. Clyde Phillips created the series and
           Gary Dontzig and Steven Peterman serve as
           executive producers.


           Day & time: Thursdays (9:30-10 p.m. ET) on NBC

           Starring: Brooke Shields, Judd Nelson, Barbara
           Barrie, Kathy Griffin, David Strickland and Nestor
           Carbonell

           Executive producers: Gary Dontzig and Steven
           Peterman

           Creator: Clyde Phillips

           Co-executive producer: Dan O'Shannon

           Supervising producer: Ian Praiser

           Producer: Frank Pace

           Co-producer: Perry Rogers

           Executive story editors: Rick Singer & Andrew
           Green, Linda Mathious & Heather MacGillvray,
           Maryanne Melloan

           Creative consultants: Mimi Friedman & Jeanette
           Collins

           Associate producer: Jean Zuhorski

           Director of photography: Frank Raymond

           Art director: Greg Richman

           Editor: Larry Harris

           Origination: Warner Bros. Television, Burbank,
           Calif.

           Produced by: Warner Bros. Television
459.8DANGEROUS MINDS - ABCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 14:5344
"DANGEROUS MINDS"

     Although irreverent in attitude and unconventional in her
     methods, ex-Marine Louanne Johnson (Annie Potts) is a very
     special teacher. She inspires students, motivates them and
     ultimately makes a difference in their lives both inside and
     outside the classroom.

     A recent arrival in a racially diverse California high school,
     Louanne is the fourth English teacher within the school year to
     come and teach the bright but tough and troubled students in the
     Academy program. These "right on the edge" teens score high on
     intelligence tests but lack motivation.

     Louanne brings to her Academy students not only poetry and
     pencils, but a sense of hope, by giving them a chance for a
     better future -- even if it means breaking some of the rules at
     Parkmont High.

     Initially, Louanne's determination and tireless zeal cause
     skepticism among the students and faculty. Slowly, her students
     recognize that her commitment is sincere as she propels them into
     doing their best even in the most adverse of circumstances. She
     hopes that the faculty, too, will support her efforts to take a
     scholastic and personal interest in the lives of these at-risk
     students.

     In addition to Annie Potts as Louanne Johnson, "Dangerous Minds"
     stars Tamala Jones as Callie Timmons, Cedrick Terrell as James
     Revill, Michael Jace as Jerome Griffin, Jenny Gago as Amanda
     Bardales, Greg Serano as Gusmaro Lopez, Maria Costa as Blanca
     Guerrero, LaToya Howlett as Alvina Edwards, Vicellous Reon
     Shannon as Cornelius Hawkins and Stanley Anderson as Bud Bartkus.

     The hour-long drama, based on the hit feature and memoirs of the
     real Louanne Johnson, reunites the movie's renowned producer,
     Jerry Bruckheimer ("Top Gun," "Crimson Tide," "The Rock"), and
     its writer, Ronald Bass, who won an Oscar for "Rain Man." The
     series' executive producers are Bruckheimer, Bass, and the Emmy
     Award-winning ("Northern Exposure") producing team of Diane
     Frolov and Andrew Schneider. Michael Vittes is the co-executive
     producer and Jim Hayman is the supervising producer.

459.9SPIN CITY - ABCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 14:5436
"SPIN CITY"

One of America 's favorite performers, Michael J. Fox, teams again with
Gary David Goldberg, the producer who launched Fox to stardom in "Family
Ties," in this sophisticated ensemble comedy. Fox stars as Michael
Flaherty, the Deputy Mayor of New York City, who quickly realizes that
playing politics not only applies to his professional life, but to his
personal life as well.

As the right-hand man to the ambitious Mayor Randall Winston, Michael
presides over a staff that seems more like a dysfunctional family than a
group of co-workers. There's Stuart, the number two man in the office,
who's convinced he should have Michael's job; Paul, the press secretary,
who gamely presses on, though he's perennially out of the loop; James, the
idealistic young speechwriter from the midwest; Nikki, the efficient
accountant with a chaotic personal life; and Carter, a gay activist who
recently joined the administration as special assistant for minority
affairs.

Add to the mix Ashley, Michael 's very sharp girlfriend who is a member of
the enemy camp -- the press -- and one gets the feeling that if Michael
stops moving for even a second, the chaos will catch up and run him over.

Michael J. Fox stars as Michael Flaherty. Also starring are Barry Bostwick
as Mayor Winston, Carla Gugino as Ashley, Alan Ruck as Stuart, Richard Kind
as Paul, Alexander Gaberman as James, Michael Boatman as Carter and Connie
Britton as Nikki.

Other cast members include Deborah Rush as Helen Winston, the Mayor 's
wife; Victoria Dillard as Janelle, Michael's administrative assistant; and
Taylor Stanley as Karen, the college intern.

"Spin City" is produced by UBU Productions/Lottery Hill in association with
DreamWorks.

459.10SABRINA - ABCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 14:5739
"SABRINA, THE TEENAGE WITCH"

     What happens when you take a normally curious sixteen-year-old
     and reveal to her that she has the powers of witchcraft? Melissa
     Joan Hart, star of cable's popular "Clarissa Explains It All,"
     tackles that very question in the bewitching new coming-of-age
     comedy, "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch."

     In this comical adventure, based on the popular Archie Comics
     heroine, Sabrina, a modern-day sorcerer's apprentice, lives with
     her two eccentric aunts. As if adjusting to a new town and new
     friends weren't tough enough for a teenager to handle, Sabrina is
     presented with an even bigger surprise for her sixteenth birthday
     -- she's a witch!

     Guided by her aunts, who come from a long line of witches, and
     Salem, a mischievous warlock doing penance as a black cat,
     Sabrina struggles to harness her newfound powers while
     unwittingly wreaking havoc on friends and foes alike. Adding to
     the task, Sabrina must keep her special talents under wraps from
     her classmates: Her quirky and free-spirited best friend, Jenny;
     her friend and potential love interest, Harvey; and Sabrina's
     nemesis, Libby, who would love to see Sabrina fall flat on her
     face.

     Sabrina soon learns that magic isn 't quite as easy as just
     wiggling your nose. It's going to take a lot of practice. And
     just wait until she starts her flying lessons!

     The series stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina, Caroline Rhea as
     Aunt Hilda, Beth Broderick as Aunt Zelda, Nate Richert as Harvey,
     Michelle Beaudoin as Jenny, Jenna Leigh Green as Libby, Paul Feig
     as Mr. Pool and Nick Bakay as the voice of Salem.

     Paula Hart and Nell Scovell are executive producers and Norma
     Vela is co-executive producer of the series. Carrie Honigblum and
     Renee Phillips are supervising producers. "Sabrina, The Teenage
     Witch" is produced by Viacom Productions.

459.11COMMON LAW - ABCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 14:5933
"COMMON LAW"

     Comedian Greg Giraldo stars as John Alvarez, an Hispanic,
     Harvard-trained attorney at a lucrative Manhattan law firm, who
     is not your typical lawyer. With a witty, irreverent attitude and
     an unconventional appearance, John definitely stands out among
     his more conservative colleagues.

     Born and raised in Queens, John remains loyal to his blue-collar
     upbringing and, though successful, will always be true to his
     family and good-natured neighborhood friends.

     There's one lawyer John has won over with his endearing ways --
     Nancy Slaton (Megyn Price), a beautiful, young attorney from the
     Upper East Side. Since they are from different worlds, sometimes
     John's a little exasperating to Nancy, and sometimes Nancy's a
     little too ambitious for John, but they are very much in love. So
     much so, they recently moved in together, much to the chagrin of
     John's disapproving, old-fashioned dad, Luis (Gregory Sierra). To
     further complicate matters, their romance must remain a secret
     because their firm frowns upon office romance.

     Rounding out the ensemble is pompous Henry Beckett (David
     Pasquesi), the most likely candidate to eventually be running
     John's firm; insecure Peter Gutenhimmel (Carlos Jacott), a friend
     and colleague of John's who happens to be a partner's son; and
     vibrant Maria Marquez (Diana-Maria Riva), the firm's
     quick-witted, Hispanic office manager.

     "Common Law" is a production of Witt-Thomas Productions in
     association with Warner Brothers Television.

459.12LIFE'S WORK - ABCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 15:0039
"LIFE'S WORK"

In the tradition of Roseanne, Brett Butler and Ellen DeGeneres comes
stand-up comedienne Lisa Ann Walter as the star of this fresh, new comedy
series.

Lisa Hunter is a happily married, middle-class mother of two with big
expectation s for herself and her family. Now, after years of
child-rearing, odd jobs and law school at night, she is about to take on a
new challenge as an Assistant State's Attorney for Baltimore.

Never having met an argument she didn 't like, Lisa is eager to prove
herself as a prosecutor, which will inevitably translate into a demanding
workload and long hours. But, she's the kind of woman who can never do
anything halfway, and she knows her new job will take her away from some of
her family responsibilities. Her husband, Kevin, a college basketball
coach, understands her need to have a life outside of their home, but he
sometimes wonders what's in it for him. Her kids have their demands and
concerns, too.

Adding to this formidable task are her new co-workers, including her boss,
Jerome Nash; a skeptical fellow attorney, DeeDee; Lyndon, a 27-year-old
lawyer with big political aspirations; and Matt, the eccentric whom Lisa
must turn to for everything from peanuts to a computer.

As with so many women in the '90s, it's a major challenge for Lisa to
juggle family and career, but she didn't fight her way through all those
years of school to not take a full swing at realizing all her hopes and
dreams. With her indomitable spirit and feisty wit, Lisa will do whatever
it takes to make her family's life work.

Lisa Ann Walter stars as Lisa Hunter, Michael O 'Keefe as Kevin Hunter,
Molly Hagan as DeeDee, Larry Miller as Jerome Nash and Lightfield Lewis as
Matt. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

Warren Bell is the executive producer. Lisa Ann Walter and Sam Baum are the
producers for Touchstone Television.

459.13TOWNIES - ABCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 15:0135
"TOWNIES"

     Molly Ringwald, Jenna Elfman and Lauren Graham head an ensemble
     cast in "Townies," a new, half-hour comedy from the executive
     producers of "Roseanne" and "Grace Under Fire," which celebrates
     the friendship of a close-knit group of working-class New
     Englanders, who are determined to get the most out of their 20s.

     At the center of this bunch are Carrie (Ringwald), Shannon
     (Elfman) and Denise (Graham) -- three friends who still live near
     the Gloucester high school they all attended together. Denise is
     a new mom who is heading down the aisle to marry the baby's
     father, Ryan. Shannon and Carrie have different ideas about their
     futures. While their approaches often conflict, they definitely
     know they're not ready to settle down. For now, they work hard as
     waitresses in a local restaurant -- and they play hard too.

     Despite a depressed economy and an ever-present fish smell,
     Carrie, Shannon, Denise and the rest of the group manage to enjoy
     themselves and make the best of things. For them, Gloucester is
     rich with unexpected passions, unresolved crushes, memories of
     record-setting parties and periodic restlessness. The security of
     lifelong friends, the closeness of family and the history of a
     small New England town are more than enough to keep them there.

     "Townies" also stars Ron Livingston as Kurt, Billy Burr as Ryan,
     Joseph Reitman as Jesse, Lee Garlington as Kathy, Dion Anderson
     as Mike and Conchata Ferrell as Marge.

     Created by Matthew Carlson, "Townies" is executive produced by
     Matthew Carlson, Marcy Carsey, Tom Werner, Caryn Mandabach,
     Harvey Myman and Linwood Boomer. Filmed before an audience at CBS
     Radford Studios in Los Angeles, "Townies" is a Carsey-Werner
     production.

459.14CLUELESS - ABCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 15:0341
"CLUELESS"

     This colorful and fun-filled new series is based on the
     delightful, blockbuster motion picture, "Clueless." Join the
     irrepressible Cher as she blithely guides us through the epic
     intricacies of Beverly Hills teenage life.

     Although those around her might have a tendency to disagree, Cher
     considers herself a responsible person. After all, she takes care
     of her widowed father, Mel, a high-powered attorney, and plans
     his social calendar as well. And she's always doling out her
     unique brand of advice to others. Fortunately, that leaves lots
     of time for her greatest passion -- shopping. Like every other
     privileged California teenager, Cher requires a few bare
     necessities: Designer clothes, cellular phones, manicured nails,
     beepers -- and more importantly, boys.

     Accompanying Cher on her way cool escapades are her best friend
     and fellow shopper, Dionne; Cher's rival, fashion victim Amber;
     and Dionne's street-wise boyfriend, Murray. And trying to get the
     good-natured Cher to deal with the real world -- away from the
     mall -- are a few very patient teachers, and her idealistic
     pseudo-stepbrother, Josh.

     Join Cher and her friends on their endless joyride through life
     -- and of course, expect a few stops along Rodeo Drive -- in this
     spirited and fashionable series from executive producer Amy
     Heckerling, who also wrote and directed the feature film.

     The series stars Rachel Blanchard as Cher, Stacey Dash as Dionne,
     Michael Lerner as Mel, Donald Adeosun Faison as Murray, Elisa
     Donovan as Amber, David Lascher as Josh, Twink Caplan as Miss
     Geist and Wallace Shawn as Mr. Hall.

     Amy Heckerling is the executive producer. Pamela Pettler and
     Twink Caplan are co-executive producers of the series.
     "Clueless," the series, is produced by Paramount Network
     Television. The Paramount Television Group is part of the Viacom
     Entertainment Group, a unit of Viacom Inc.

459.15RELATIVITY - ABCPASTA::PIERCEThe Truth is Out ThereThu Sep 05 1996 15:0468
"RELATIVITY"

     From the critically acclaimed team of Marshall Herskovitz and
     Edward Zwick ( "My So-Called Life," "thirtysomething") comes
     "Relativity," a new, one-hour drama. "Relativity," created by
     Jason Katims ("The Pallbearer," "My So-Called Life"), is a
     refreshingly realistic and romantic dramatic series that focuses
     on the complexity of modern relationships.

     "Relativity" stars Kimberly Williams, David Conrad, Cliff
     DeYoung, Mary Ellen Trainor, Jane Adams, Poppy Montgomery,
     Richard Schiff, Robert Katims, Lisa Edelstein, Devon Gummersall
     and Adam Goldberg.

     Isabel Lukens (Williams) is a beautiful, intelligent -- if not
     slightly lost -- 24-year-old from Los Angeles, who has escaped to
     Rome to consider a marriage proposal from her long-term
     boyfriend, Everett Moreland (guest star Randall Batinkoff).

     While sightseeing , she meets Leo Roth (Conrad), also from Los
     Angeles, who is in Italy in part to celebrate his 26th birthday
     and in part to gain some perspective on his life following the
     recent death of his mother.

     Isabel and Leo find themselves feeling deeply connected to each
     other and spend several intense, romantic, whirlwind days in
     Rome, falling in love despite themselves. Torn between this new,
     undeniable connection to Leo and her long-standing,
     tried-and-true relationship with Everett, Isabel brings herself
     to break it off with Leo and return home to Everett, whom she
     finally agrees to marry.

     Isabel comes home to her off-beat -- but loving -- family. Her
     father, David Lukens (DeYoung), is also her boss at Epicenter, a
     Los Angeles magazine. Her mother, Eve Lukens (Trainor), the
     emotional center of the family, has returned to college, perhaps
     to stave off a mid-life crisis. Younger sister Jennifer
     (Montgomery) is an arty, hip, self-absorbed 21-year-old, and
     older sister Karen Lukens Nichols (Adams) has been spending more
     time than usual with her family since her workaholic husband is
     always at the office.

     Meanwhile, Leo is dealing with his own family problems. His
     brother, Jake (Gummersall), has been depressed and withdrawn
     since their mother's recent death. Leo arrives home to learn that
     Jake has been truant at his high school. At odds with his father,
     Barry Roth (Schiff), who is overwhelmed by fatherhood, Leo
     finally accepts that he must begin to take on the role of parent
     to Jake. Other members of the disparate Roth clan are Leo's
     sister, Rhonda (Edelstein), and grandfather, Hal (Katims). Leo's
     best pal, Doug (Goldberg), offers support and unsolicited advice
     to his lovelorn friend.

     Although Isabel continues to insist their relationship is over,
     the attraction between them is too strong to resist. She must
     face the truth: Leo is her true soulmate, and she'll have to find
     a gentle way to break off her engagement to Everett.

     The series will explore the growing relationship between Leo and
     Isabel, the way they change each other's lives and the resulting
     impact on their very different families.

     "Relativity" is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television in
     association with the Bedford Falls Company. Marshall Herskovitz
     and Edward Zwick are executive producers. Jason Katims and
     director Mark Piznarski are co-executive producers.