Dial File: New faces a power surge to flagging networks

Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997 | 8:42 a.m.

AAAAAAH -- fresh meat.

Blunt, perhaps, but that sums up a refreshing network trend: the pursuit of new faces. Well, new to series TV, anyway.

Casting news has turned up these nuggets: Separate sitcom deals for Broadway/ movie actors Harvey Fierstein and Nathan Lane, and even one for slightly less respected thespian Cindy Crawford. At least it might spare us such promos as:

"You loved her in 'Designing Women,' you adored her in 'Dangerous Minds,' you went insane over her (for about a minute-and-a-half) in 'Over the Top': Now get ready for Annie Potts in "The Actress Who Didn't Know When to Quit."

Or: "He was a lovable mug in 'Taxi.' A lovable mug in 'Who's the Boss?' A lovable mug in 'The Tony Danza Show.' Now see Tony Danza as you've never seen him before: As a lovable female impersonating mug in 'Who's the Queen?' "

Or: "Why watch another Tom Arnold sitcom? Because it's there."

Hemorrhaging viewers and desperate to staunch the bleeding, network TV needs to unmask some fresh faces -- although I stand by last week's plea to return Johnny Carson to late night, for the reasons stated -- instead of indulging its traditional reliance on recycled prime-time stars.

Gay icon Fierstein, who has also gone mainstream in such films as "Independence Day" and "Mrs. Doubtfire," is not new to TV, having been the best thing in Dudley Moore's dismal sitcom a few years back, as a supporting player. With Ellen DeGeneres blazing the gay sitcom trail, the timing is right for this truly funny, dramatic, talented entertainer to headline his own show.

Lane has conquered Broadway ("Guys & Dolls," " A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"), movies ("The Birdcage" and and the new "Mouse Hunt") and late night TV (hilarious appearances with David Letterman). This powerhouse performer would be a tremendous kick in the rump to prime time.

And Cindy "Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Revlon!" Crawford? Well, let's just say that guys would tune in to watch her take a nap, and her mole could star in its own miniseries. But who knows? Like Brooke Shields, she might reveal a surprising knack for sitcom buffoonery.

Bottom line: The networks need new blood coursing through their tired veins. Let the transfusion begin.

OUT WITH THE GOOD AIR, IN WITH THE BAD: It's been a discouraging week for network news. Following ex-boss Rick Kaplan out of ABC News and into cable's CNN -- now that Kaplan runs CNN -- are correspondent Judd Rose and the marvelous Jeff Greenfield, one of the wittiest, smartest media analysts on the air. And the trade-off on the network side?

NBC gets Geraldo Rivera.

Speaking strictly professionally, Rivera is an irredeemable sleaze-bucket, his self-rehabilitation efforts notwithstanding. One of the founding fathers of tabloid TV -- he clearly bailed out because the sleaze backlash crippled his daytime ratings, not because of his laughably transparent moral concerns -- the culture has been worse off for his presence and his lowering of the level of discourse on television. Even his supposedly higher-brow CNBC show was long fixated -- to the virtual exclusion of everything else -- on the O.J. trial, perhaps the Tabloid Tale of the Century.

So, naturally, NBC rewards him with a six-year deal estimated at $36 million -- about $6 million per year -- while most of the network's other stars earn approximately $4 million less annually. Even Tom Brokaw -- now presiding over what could marginally be called an evening newscast but is closer to a truncated Xerox of "Dateline" -- has chafed, saying he doesn't want Rivera on the nightly news.

In the ever-shrinking world of network news standards, take comfort where you can find it.

SURFIN' THE SCENE: Bravo to the Sci-Fi Channel, which in January will add repeats of the chilling, criminally short-lived "American Gothic" -- it was actually created by ex-teen tunesmith Shaun Cassidy -- starring Gary Cole as supernaturally spooky Sheriff Lucas Buck. "Someone's at the door." Be sure to answer it. ...

Chris Noth, one of the numerous cogs that have been replaced on the "Law & Order" juggernaut -- he played Detective Mike Logan from the show's inception in 1990 until he got the boot in '95 -- is returning to the role. TV Guide reports that Noth will re-team with Jerry Orbach (still portraying Detective Lennie Briscoe on "L&O") and fellow refugee Dann Florek, who played Capt. Cragen, for the NBC flick "Exile."

Good deal. Not to diss Ben Bratt, who, portraying Detective Rey Curtis, has fit in nicely as Briscoe's partner, but Noth's Logan was a riveting presence who lent "L&O" more dramatic weight than his successor. And, frankly, anything that adds to the visibility of the long overlooked, finally Emmy-rewarded drama -- prime time's best -- is welcome. ...

Network viewing shares are plummeting? No problem. Just add another -- yes, a seventh -- network. Entertainment Weekly reports that Lowell Paxson, co-founder of the Home Shopping Network, is trying to jump start yet another little weblet -- oh, joy, more witty sitcoms about kids who talk like grown-ups and grown-ups who act like kids -- called PAXnet. The plan, by the middle of next year, is to start with reruns of "Touched by an Angel," "Promised Land" and "Dave's World." Suggested alternate network name: CBSRedux. ...

"Ally McBeal" has been renewed for the 1998-'99 season. Say amen.

THIS & THAT: Though still attracting decent numbers, Channel 10's pledge drive fell significantly short of its $185,000 goal, netting $121,938 from 1,237 new and renewing members. This time around, the pledge breaks were shorter than in the past and the drive was without such wide-appeal moolah-getters as "Lord of the Dance" and "Three Tenors." For this drive, the Fleetwood Mac special was the top grosser with $15,000, while a special with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli earned $12,300 and a Yanni tribute pulled in $11,900. ...

Nevada Public Radio, the licensee of KNPR 89.5-FM, has received a $375,000 "challenge" grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The money will be used for programming, equipment upgrades and maintenance of the facilities. KNPR must match the $375,000 with approximately $1.1 million in non-federal funds over the next three years. ... As reported Wednesday, the Oak Ridge Boys will star in a new, weekly TNN series, originating from the Las Vegas Hilton. It will air Tuesdays at 5 p.m. Production begins in January, and the show debuts April 7.

CROON A TUNE: Yeah, we tease Wyatt Cox 'cause we've got him on the spot: Wyatt knew that the lyric "well, the names have all changed since you hung around, but those dreams have remained and they've turned around" was from John Sebastian's theme to "Welcome Back, Kotter," which also briefly made the pop radio rounds.

Up your nose with a rubber hose, Wyatt. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.

Next? What sitcom theme observed that "there's good in everyone and a new day has begun, you can see the morning sun, if you try -- and I know things will be better, oh yes they will for (series title)"? And what pop star sang it?

Be the first to supply the answers -- preferably the right ones -- and get yourself a little Dial File smile when we print your name, making you a Croon-a-Tune Hall-of-Famer. As always, be sure to provide the spelling of your name and a daytime telephone number).

GOD REST YE, MERRY COLUMNIST: You Croon-a-Tuners can have extra time to mull over that one since this columnist will be off for the holidays, roasting his chestnuts over an open fire. (Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year to all).

In three weeks, Dial File will reappear to once again vanquish the villainous vapidity that threatens viewers and make the world safe for couch potatoes everywhere.

But until then ... Barkeep! One eggnog -- shaken, not stirred.