OCR Text |
Show WEEKLY REFLEX DAVIS NEWS JOURNAL.! MARCH 6, 1 680 NORTH DAVIS LEADER; MARCH 6, 1980 a. tf SOAP OPERA WEEKL lesson in a fans soapsters language: Comeback juggle career moves A Off-came- By RUTH THOMPSON Comeback. Its one of the first words a fan learns along with actor, extra, star, play, started actress, movie and and with fans who reading les- pre-scho- ol sons on series, Sesame Street serial , and (The young are special. really savvy.) Of that vocabulary, comeback is the word most often incorrectly used. What does it mean? To a purist, it refers to a performer who voluntarily or too often involuntarily because of lack of offers has been away from show business for a spell, totally away from all the media. By that rule, the columnist who said that Mariette Hartley was making a comeback by starring with Alan Arkin in the movie, Proper is wide of the Channels, mark. True, the radiant Ms. Hartleys last movie was nine years ago (Skyjacked), but thanks to her blithe Polaroid commercials with James Garner she was so well showcased, and paid, that she could afford to say No, thanks to anything she didnt want to do. When she showed up in television specials, or with Mike Douglas, the choice was hers. of the Maude, Harold and film, which as a movie By NANCY M. REICHARDT starred Ruth Gordon. The HOLLYWOOD The big film has a large cult follownews on the West Coast is that but the ing, play despite Elizabeth Harrower has been some good notices personally as head writer on for Janet Gaynor closed replaced of Our Lives. Taking Days four after performances. How the DOOL writing chores does she feel about it? Rarin up to go. The smell of the grease- will be Nina Laemmle. The writer has been an paint, the roar of the crowd English executive consultant for got to her. She is hoping for a such films story as Born Free and new play to come along. Or Sara, as well as Three For maybe television? Most eloquently typifying the Road. at This isg her first a the classic comeback is Taina attempt soap opera. Ms. Laemmles Elg, now rightfully back in the storylines are slated to begin business on Broadway in this month. AnothStrider. Though she was appearing executive exit was made by nominated for a Broadway er Wes Kenny; A1 Rabin will Tony five years ago as an take over the shows execuactress, she was wrongly tive producer spot. as an stereotyped because of her big Gene Kelly David OBrien (Steve film, Les Girls. Last ChristAldrich) from The Doctors no with in offers mas, sight was all set to appear in the she took the only job she could Paper Mill Playhouse produc... tion of Winslow Boy when get in a boutique. the theater burned to the ground while the company was in Palm Beach rehearsing for their opening. However, David was thrilled when head-writin- er long-abse- actress Claire Trevjr approached him and said how much she enjoyed watching TD every day. As a result of that meeting Miss Trevor was invited to spend a day on the set, which she enthusiastically accepted, much to the delight of the shows cast. Speaking of TD, Nicholas Walker (Brad Huntington) is appearing in New York in the Circle In The Square theater production of Major Barbara when hes not emoting on the small screen in his new role. Nicholas, who was born in Bogata, Colombia, began his acting career at the age of 13. On trays a stage the actor por- proper English boy, something thats right up his alley, since Nicholas has spent a lot of time in England where his parents still reside. (Have a question about soap operas? Drop us a line in care of Newspaper Enterprise Assn., 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017.) The hottest affair in Hollywood happens every Friday on Stage 23 at Paramount Studios. At 4:30 et p.m. on those days its like a dress time rehearsal for the Taxi series episode that will be filmed before a live audience later in the evening. Taxi airs Tuesdays on ABC. But it is at the that some of entertainments biggest names drop in to watch the show in action. Actors and actresses from every phase of the business have visited the set, and its a weekly habit for Robin WilAustralia. Ginger Rogers, at liams (Mork & Mindy) or 68, is still a dazzling dancer, stars from other productions and her starring club act is on the lot, like Henry Winkler big news in any city or resort (Happy Days), Donna Pescow (Angie), Cindy Wilwhere she plays. A reunion that does also liams and Penny Marshall (Laverne & Shirley) to drop qualify as a joint comeback is by. John Ritter (Threes and also on Loveboat the luring from retirement of Company) was guesting on a Jane Wyman, the former wife series filming a few stages of presidential hopeful Ronald away, and a desperate assistReagan and the winner of an ant director who was looking Oscar (for Johnny Belinda), for Ritter for a makeup call and Dennis Morgan. Hes now finally found him on the a successful rancher, and they Taxi set. are apparently doing this turn The entertainment luminarenter the dusky more or less for the fun of it ies quietly seating area of the stage to with no thought of the watch proceedings. The their acting careers. Friday afternoon ritual has Cornell Wildes appearance the Taxi producers, writers last year on television in and secretaries, etc., descend which on the Fantasy Island, to take their teamed him with the also places atstage the rail of the. eleYvonne DeCarlo, vated audience area at the was characterized as a call of director James for most Burrow. As each scene is comeback, remembered him as a leading completed, the assistant man, not a character actor. director cries out, Principals However, he is a producer and to the rail! It is there that all is reported to have been production people active even during the time and actors, offer suggeswriters he was not tions to make a different and move there or change a line But a real comeback is that of here. the most startling Janet Gaynor, who retired at It is creative committee in the height of her fame as a the ultimate. This movie star in 1939 when she makes for a happy cast married the late fashion because they are offered the designer, Gilbert Adrian. Only opportunity to make construclast year she told television tive contributions. It is the interviewer Joe Franklin that modus operandi of the producThe Mary she never regretted her deci- ers that made sion and that hers has been a Tyler Moore Show a perennihappy life. In fact she gained al hit, and it is the stuff of shows success in a second career as Emmy Award-winnin- g a painter. took three last (Taxi Now a plump senior citizen season). It is these production but with her radiant ingenu- values and the excellence of she the actors that the other stars e-like charm intact said yes to an offer to act come to see. But also, as one again: a Broadway adaptation visitor summed up: was also Comeback misapplied to the television pairing of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Ginger Rogers on ABCs Loveboat. It was a reunion, yes, in that they had not made a joint appearance in a since they movie 42 years ago. But both (though they are reputedly as rich as they are famous) are active troupers. Fairbanks tours not just the United States, but as far away as ra run-throu- run-throu- nt " vt c ! Carroll ACROSS 1 Singer Johnny 39 Note of the scale 5 60 Minutes' Rather 8 Of a poem 12 Thin Man" dog 13 Native miner14 15 16 17 18 20 40 Group of cattle 42 Singer Leslie 46 Actress Polly Lowell DOWN 22 Actor Donny 24 At home 25 Actor Keith 28 Knock 30 Dined 33 Merit 34 Actor Glass 35 Glacial ridge (Plural) 36 Amer. humorist 37 Comedienne 19 21 23 25 26 Studies carefully Electrified particle Body joint Fidelity Vereen The Straw Man: 50 Actor Rip 51 Spanish artial cle Refurbish 53 New York Producer Norman State canal Become grad- 54 Became older 55 Freeze ually larger 56 Victories Perceived Bal- 57 Meat animals Actor sam 58 Chess pieces Veteran 59 Editor's "let it newsman stand" fine-tuni- 1 1 1 Undisturbed 2 Confused 3 Nimoy movie: Trek 4 Today Show's David 5 20-2- 0 Hugh emcee 6 Constellation 7 Proximate 8 Welles 9 Judge 10 Thought Actor-direct- Bolger 27 Anger 29 Indefinite article 30 Donkey 31 Philippine peasant 32 Sea eagle 34 Egyptian sun god 35 Singing actress Julie 37 Actress Dawber 38 100 square meters 39 Countries 1 4 Actor Buddy 42 Beehive state 43 Kind of dancer 44 Actor Evi-ga- n 45 Actor Pickens 47 True 48 One: German 49 Cozy place 52 Military hero |