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Show Jim BackusC Back Despite Recent P ledge sold to a network. By VERNON SCOTT UPI Hollywood Correspondent HOLLYWOOD "I weakened, 'he said lamely. I's like childbirth. You forget -- Come- (UPI), dian Jim Backus took an oath, swore and pledged he would never appear in another TV series after "I Married Joan" went down in flames four years ago but he's hooked again.. Backus has The jaucous-voice- d for "Fafilm the pilot completed ther of the Bride' and admits he's terrified the series will be the pain. Why do people drink? When you have a hangover you swear off, but as soon as you're back on your feet you're ready W . for another blast. "Same thing is true of a series. Like dope. I'm hooked. I live in terror that the series .will last for hundreds of years."' "I couldn't stand the 'I Married ' Joan' series the first time around. call me and Ann Sothern, or a But on the .s?cond shc.i they couple of other veterans and we'd were , pretty funny. Now that all rush right over to his house," 119 of 'em are o the sixth run Backus explained. "Then we'd remind him of all the pain, the poor they've become classics." Backus took every precaution to scripts, fights with the producers. " "We'd advise him not to answer phone calls from hif agent. And we would search the house for even looking in residual checks the chandeliers for hidden con- avoid the pitTalls of tumbling into another series,- - going to such lengths as forming "Series Anonymous" based on the same principles as Alcoholics Anonymous. "If an actor felt he was slipping back into a series he could tracts. not to watch any series on TV. It worked pretty well for a while, but then they began weakening, one at a time." Finally, it happened to founder Jim himself. "During meetings with the production people thy couldn't understand why I demanded that everyone of us should go' through psychiatric examination to weed out the pencil-cheweand rs "Then weM make 'em promise ear-puller- s," Jim saia. "Little things like that can drive you crazy over a schedule. On a movie it's differ39-we- ek ent. By the time you find out you hate everyone else in the cast and r crew the picture is over, so you don't flip. "But on a series little things are magnified out of proportion. Yes, sir, every TV series cast and crew needs three months basic training at the Menninger Clinic ' as sort of a shakedown." ss7 F4 Scott -- TV Notes To a Ghost '. Playhouse drama on - f Leelar-vi- n NEW YORK 'UPI) has been signed foraforth-comin- g the Westing-hous- I ff - ' ' 4 i - V the unreleased theater feature, "The Miracle," starring Carroll Baker. x' ' t1 . Constance Bennett has been signed for a TV series aimed at next season. Screen Gems will .ernor of Texas," to be filmed in Hollywood. .'. PnnaHan Air Vnrnt furnished planes, personnel and advisers for the Shooting of an episode . for the XTsyndicated i. The inii.Liii Base near Hollywood. The 4. It. musical comedy special, cast, including the talented .trio and as next 'the Tab door,' above: Jane Powell, 'Grandpa Ed Wynn. Also in the cast boy Hunter, Walter of the 'live from New York special are Jeanne Crain, Pidgeon, Myrna Loy, little Patty Duke and Broadway's Reta Shaw. David Susskind produces and George Schaefer directs this musical story of a romance-minde- d family just before the fabulous St. Louis World's Fair. CAST OF COMEDY SPECIAL The CBS Television Network's "Meet Me in . St. Louis," Sunday, April 26, boasts an all-st- aj 26 two-ho- ur two-ho- ur Musical Comedy Set April 26 All Star Cast The actress who will play the role of Tootie Smith, aged seven, in the April ; . docu- mented drama was based on the "Jumping Sisters," a corps of parachuting Canadian nurses. Maria Palmer says it's not hard to. make love to a ghost. She does just . that in "The Secret" on "One Step Beyond," Tuesday, on Channel 2. The obViennese- ject of the born actress affections is Jeremy, a visitor from her past. "It was the first time I ever on or off made love to a ghost TV,", the attractive Miss Palmer laughed. "But the situation became so real to me that the roia seemed to come, to life."' Miss Palmer said the part really wasn't too difficult. "Of course, there are things you have to be careful about when emoting op posite someone who really isn't there. "You must look at 'him' at just the right angle. And when ne gets close, you have to know where his shoulder or hand should be, and play it that way." Miss Palmer explained that acting most emotions present no problem to her. "There is an exception, though," she added. "I don'tlike to play a 'hard' woman. It sort of goes against my nature." Miss Palmer, who has been in this country since 1941, lives m , Hollywood. She has been in several plays on and off Broadway, in addition to TV and movie ' roles. Her most recent stage part was as Mrs. Frank in the national touring company of "The Diary titian-haire- d e Desiiu Playhouse." "Galfilm play, deals axy," a pne-hou- ? with the firsKman in space. One of. the two leading roles in "The Alaskans," an hour-lon- g the Gold Rush days to made be' by Warner Bro'thers for nexi iau, nas Dveu aaaigueu w Roger Moore. He will play the role of Silky Harris, an adventurer. Moore has a leading part in . 4-1- Miss Palmer Makes Love . Lee Marvin , . TV Of Season Named For TV 'Meet Me In St. Louis' version of "Meet Me in t. Louis' is Patty Duke This is the part Margaret CrBrien played in the 1944 movie . version. Patty has been cast of the season-T- ab Hunter, Jane Powell, Walter acting for three years and has Reta had important roles on several Pidgeon, Jeanne Crain, and Duke TV specials emanating from Show, Ed Wynn, Patty guest star Myrna Loy has beea New- York. She also averages musitwo performances a week on signed to head the in Me "Meet cal the CBS-Tdaytime serial, St comedy special ChanLouis," Sunday, April 26, "The Brighter Day." nel 5 at 8 p.m. "Meet Me in St. Louis" is the Broadway producer Robert L. Joseph, who also writes from delightful story of the romantic The all-st- ar . - two-ho- ur V St. upsets in a Louis family when they discover they must move to New York, leaving their friends and, worst of, all, missing the fabulous St. Louis World's Fair. The memorBlane able Hugh Martin-Ralp- h score includes such hits as the Remember thav 'amous dra- title song, "The Trolley Song,' matic series called "This Is Tour 'The Boy Next Door" and "Have F.B.I." which ran for years on Yourself a Merry Little Christ radio? Its creator, Jerry Devine, mas." " .Ml " and the material are now in' Detecvolved in a TV series under a show; and "International new title,' "Criminal tive," starring Arthur Fleming. being prepared by Official Films, Inc. with Stephen McNally.as the The summer replacement for star. Other new Official Films "Person to Person" on CBS will packages for next season are be "Ted Mack and the Original "Mustang," dealing with Mustang Amateur Hour," currently on th&t fighter plane pilots in World War network at 5:30 p.m. Sundays. II: "Snow Fire," adventure tales "Amateur Hour" will switch into involving a white stallion; "What the 10:30 p.m. Friday spot on Are the Odds?" a ew game July 3: Jack Gaver time to time, has been commissioned to adapt two short dramas for the CBS taped series, "Theater for a Story." He is doing de Maupassant's "A Piece of String" ana xne lxiai ana Death of Socrates," based on Plato's writings. ry -.- 1...- " .11. at-Large- , In "Meet Me in St. Louis." enact Tootie, the youngest child adapted by George Baxt from the Reta Shaw will play Katie the boow by Sally Benson, Tab Hunt- maid, who has lived with the er will play John Truett, "The Smiths for years. Grandpa anBoy Next Door," who is disap- other permament boarder with is to be played by pointingly slow to succumb to the family the romantic overtures of neigh- Ed Wynn. Reta Shaw, currently being bor Esther Smith, played by Jane seen as Ernest Truex's wife on Powell. Walter Pidgeon and Myrna Loy "The Ann Sothern Show, is rewill portray Esther's harried par- membered as Mabel, the portry ents. Jeanne Crain will be seen and hilarious secretary, in "The as the couple's older daughter Pajama Game" both on BroadRose, who has her own romantic way and in the movie version of entanglement, and Patty Duke wi'1 the hit musical. SHOW OF MONTH TIME SET "The Browning Version," Terence Rattigan's compassionate play about one critical day in the life of an English schoolmaster, will be presented as the "Show of the Month" on Channel 5 Thursday, April 23 at 6 p. m. "The Browning Version" is the story of Andrew Crocker-Harri- s, an ailing and embittered schoolmaster in a private school in the south of England, whose nagging, faithless wife treats him with contempt, whose pupils mock him and whose academic associates look on him with scorn. He faces his humiliations resolutely and breaks down only when one of his pupils presents him with a copy of Robert Browning's translation of a Greek drama. From this single gesture of affection and esteem, he is encouraged to face the future with renewed self-respect- ." of Anne Frank." Marshal Captures Slave Ship Bound for Orient Matt Wayne (Richard Coogan) intercepts a human slave cargo from the Ori- ers he goes in search of the markin turn, have who, ed him for death, in "A Hundred Barrels," episode of "The Califorians," Tuesday, April 21, 7 p.m. on Channel 4. Wayne also takes this opportunity to propose marriage to nis confidante, Wilma Fansler (CarWhen Marshall . ring-ead- ole Mathews). The cast includes Jennifer Raine as Ellen;. Alan Caillou as the captain, and Robert P. LieS' as Mr. Bowden. CHANGE OF .PACE Two (UPI) seTV the familiar figures from ries "Zorro" get a change of pace in the new . Walt Disney film, "Toby Tyler." Henry Calvin, who plays the part of the clumsy Sgt. Garcia in "Zorro," will play a circus ' strong man. His deaf mute assistant in "Zorro," Gene Sheldon. Plays the role, of a clown. HOLLYWOOD , u f ! |