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Show m MEDIA MONITOR Tough role tests Wagner's 'Scruples' by Steve K. Walz , . ti , ' ; , : New York Since Lindsay - ' ' ''. Wagner's departure from her ' "' 'T ' ' . Emmy Award-winning series , V-' -' ; , , 'Bionic Woman,' the gorgeous . J.-'i ' , , blonde has fought long and hard z " -W ' ," , , ' to rid herself of the Jamie -jf. i . f ' Sommers persona, tackling im- , J t ' , pressive time-period roles in 'Dr. rg "" Meg Laurel' and 'Jenny Logan.' u , ' , I 5 This week Lindsay will grace the I 4 f , i , . ; - small screen in perhaps her most , -r Sr 3'' . x controversial role since 'Paper i ' f ' J 't : Chase,' when she headlines in the ' C- , ; K s . V tele-version of Judith Krantz's fV f- '; ' X . pot-boiling best-seller 'Scruples.' , lt ' - i. , " f 1', Lindsay portrays Billy Ikehorn. the , . - chic owner of the most exclusive ij" tA. ' . " , - ' shop on Rodeo Drive in Beverly I , ' v , . i ' , Hills f t k- " r ' 1 Focus jit - i - , y The book has an overabun- if J ' ' dance of lurid sex, but according fflLfs,; -; " ' , r . -' ) " ' to Ms. Wagner, who is currently f : ,' ( lensing' a police action thriller V ; f , - ' flick, 'Hawks,' on location in New 2' ' ; ?, ' ?" - York with Sly Stallone, the TV f -j,' J , " , , , version has been "sanitized." rf -r , ''''' "We've literally taken out all of . , "r f the sex and focused on the main ff ' 1 " f character (Ikehorn) and on the .-fjRt ; development of her personal life. " WT" I We don't get involved too much .gf. ' J with the fashion industry, either," jL ' i said the 30-year-old actress. i , V I Lindsay does admit, though, , vf, , I that she wasn't too crazy about f '7 doing 'Scrples' when it was V "t originally thrust in her direction, i 5 ' "I didn't want to read the book ' before I read the screenplay. And ' " ' actually, it was an offer I couldn't refuse. I didn't choose it they came to me and offered a great "With 'Scruples,' part one revolution and spoke her mind as deal of money. Of course, I was needed the most work, since we a well-respected professional." concerned about it when I started needed to show the transition of But, Lindsay is hoping that . reading the script, but Ron Billy from an ugly duckling into a 'Hawks' will accelerate her movie Samuels (her producer-manager) beautiful person. We had to make ambitions, felt strongly about it and said that that part work. Of course, I didn't Lindsay's ascent to the top, i 'Scruples' was going to get lots of always agree with what had to be though, hasn't been all peaches attention," Lindsay remarked, pulled from the book," she and cream. She's paid an emo- seeking to defend her actions. added. tional price, which the glamorous Of course, once the deal was F . - - - star has rectified by living away ' consummated, it didn't lessen tna 01 an eraf from Hollywood in her Mt. Hood, Lindsay's lust for artistic perfec- Ms. Wagner's presence on the Oregon, retreat. Wagner claims, tion: "I feel very responsible doing tube will probably diminish during "This is absolutely necessary for the kind of work that I'm doing, the next few years, save for her me. Where I go, it's like you're in and people should take respon- ambitious 10-hour mini-series on the middle of God's country." sibility. Just to get ratings is the life of Margaret Meade, whom Yes, enjoying peace of mind is irresponsible. We affect people's she called "a creative challenge synonymous with success, and lives and minds with the kind of to portray since she really started Lindsay now seems to have work that we do. the beginning of the sexual everything under control. TV C0MPUIO0 SERVICES, INC. ! i |