OCR Text |
Show by Joey Sasso CONFIDENTIAL REPORT: 'Love Boat' has run a ground in West Virginia where thousands of viewers are seething over the ABC-TV series. Eight thousand West Virginians signed a petition protesting an episode portraying a naive family from the state. "They create the image of West Virginians as a bunch of bumpkins and hillbillies," complained the state's Secretary of State John Manchin who delivered the petition to ABC's New York headquarters. "If they think that is in good taste, their taste is lousy," he told me. The controversial 'Love Boat' segment first aired in January. Despite Manchin's protest, it was rerun in May. In the episode, Donny Osmond portrayed a young singer in his first big job performing on the ship. His West Virginian family, including sexy blonde Loni Anderson, joined the voyage as a surprise and their 'country' behavior caused him embarrassment. "We did not feel this was a negative portrayal," says Julie Hoover, an ABC vice-president in charge of television standards and practices. "The characters came out as having very strong, genuine values ... as being a very good family," she told me. "We were sympathetic to Mr. Manchin's view but we did not agree with it. We felt this episode was a very balanced and fair one." Manchin is not convinced. "It was a most dastardly attack upon the sensitivity of the people of West Virginia," he said. "They were indignant that anyone would dare defame the honor and good name of our state. We don't need entertainment that will make fun of people." CONSUMER NEWS WIRE: You'll be seeing more of dishy 'Dukes of Hazzard' star Catherine Bach this fall but it's a hazardous close season for the TV beauty who's getting a bigger share of the hit series. She almost wrecked a big chance when she crashed a jeep while racing in a celebrity special for CBS. Curvy Cathy overturned the vehicle on a bend and had to be rescued by spectators. "Fortunately Cathy only suffered a few cuts and bruises." says a friend. "She's a pretty tough lady who does most of her own stunt work in the series." . . . Supermodel Cheryl Tiegs has confided that she still loves her director husband Stan Dragoti but cannot live away from ace photographer Peter Beard. Friends are predicting that Cheryl will marry Beard the moment her divorce comes through, yet at least one intimate is whispering that the photographer is already getting ready to dump her ... Burt Young, who co-starred in both 'Rocky' movies, is romancing lovely actress Adrienne LaRussa. formerly of NBC-TV's. 'Days of Our Lives.' TV CLOSEUP: Genteel Jaclyn Smith, regarded as the most angelic of 'Charlie's Angels,' goes for opposites in her men guys with personalities totally different from each other and from hers. Twice the result has been heartache. And, according to friends of the star, the hurt is sure to be repeated if Jacyln's romantic fling with actor Alex Cord leads to the altar. Their names have been linked since she and Dennis Cole separated, though no one in Hollywood seems to know when or how they fell in love. "Suddenly they were a twosome." says one insider. "It's the mismatch of all time. We only hope she takes a good look at her past marital mistakes and doesn't make another ... Toni Tennille's career now takes a new direction as she is seen daily on her own one-hour television variety-talk show which airs on stations throughout the U.S.A. "Up to now I've been best known as a singer, a songwriter, and an actress." says Toni, "but now I want to be known as the hostess of a variety-talk show." " j |