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Show Pulse BRET MAVERICK by Steve K. Walz To be rather blunt about it, I've never been turned on by Western video series. True, I did praise "Best of the West," but that offering is more of a spoof than anything else. To go out of my way to criticize the Phoenix-like return of crafty old James Garner as "Bret Maverick" might be tantamount to blasphemy. Nevertheless, Never-theless, I must take exception with this updated offerinc NBC is banking on the fact that James Garner draws audiences. Now while that may be true, you can never hide uneven writing from a TV critic or the viewers at home. And "Bret Maverick" Mav-erick" suffers from uneven writing. What really bugs me is the fact that too much is being taken fnr orantoH in w Q.uiiiWU mi James Garner terms of tne performances . rendered by Garner. Just because Garner looks dapper in his western outfits doesn't mean that the rest of the show will take care of itself. The talented thesp is being overworked, and that is something that Garner won't stand for in the long run In "Bret Maverick's" favor are his co-stars, the wonderfully off-beat Stuart Margolin as Indian scout Philo Sandine, Ed Bruce as rugged Sheriff Guthrie, and perky Darleen Carr as reporter Mary Lou Springer. But as of yet, they don't have any identity to call their own "Bret Maverick's" comeback episode was called The Lazy Ace," but if the action doesn't pick up soon iheyll be redubbing this show as "Lazy Pace " |