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Show A Look at "Little House and "Sonny and Cher During the second half of last season, two once successful series began to dip dangerously in the ratings. It will be very interesting to watch these shows during the early weeks of the new season to determine whether or not Doctoring has remedied their ills. The first is Michael Landons The Little House on the Prairie on NBC. Of all the once famous "Bonanza Cartwrights, Landon has been treated most kindly by fame and fortune. Adam (Pernell Roberts) left Bonanza after only a few years in the role of the eldest son and has never been able to get his career moving as he hoped to. Hoss (Dan Blocker) died in 1972, the saddened Bonanza series surviving him by only 13 episodes. Ben (Lome Greene) tried a new series, Griff, but it lasted only half a season, and Lome moved on to dogfood commercials. Only Little Joe (Michael Landon) has achieved success which might measure up to that attained on Bonanza." For his second series, Little House on the Prairie," Landon not only acts but also writes, produces and even directs. A virtual oneman band. And that may be the problem. There is a sameness about these shows, a sameness which had the "Little House ratings wobbling weakly last season. This might have been corrected fairly easily had Landon sought stronger outside assistance; had he exposed the shows to the light of a new producer's objectivity. But he did not. Instead, Landon's answer to the gradual decline in Little House" ratings was to pour still more of himself into the series a dangerously subjective course to follow. What has been the result? Tune in and see. The second troubled series was Chers show on CBS. In the beginning, there was the Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour." But when the couple separated, so did their careers. Sonny tried a new show first, a variety hour on ABC. It offered ail the outer trappings of the old Sonny and Cher show, but none of the heart. Nothing which reached out to touch you. It failed. Then Cher took her turn, and it was a different story. The heart was there. The magic. And alone the lady displayed a far greater depth of talent than Sonnys presence, had allowed her to show. Her comedic abilities were especially surprising. But competition toughened. Without waiting to see how Chers show would weather this storm, nervous network execs pounced with endless contradictory demands about "improving the series. The pressures were more than Cher could handle. She did what she had always done in such troubled moments. She called on Sonny. The Sonny and Cher Show was born again. And for a brief period it seemed to be successful. Early ratings were fine. But the viewers had tuned in, it seemed, only to see if this TV reunion meant a reunion of much greater impact. Would the love be there again? The heart? The answer was no. All that was left was the shell of that original show, including a little girl named Chastity who now appeared exploited. The ratings fell. During the many months while repeat show have been on the air, Sonny Bono and the program execs have worked feverishly with a wide variety of gimmicks, all designed to breathe life and heart and magic back into The Sonny and Cher Show. Has it worked? Tune in and see. 'Good Times' Get it all from ... MENDENHALL'S The Evans children question their mother's behavior when Florida manages to stay calm and tearless at James' funeral and during the wake at the Evans' home, in the second of a two-pa- rt episode on "Good Times, Wednesday, Sept. 29 (7:00-7:3- 0 p.m.) on the CBS Television Network. Gerren Keith directed from a script by Lou Derman and Bill Davenport. While neighbors and friends gather at the Evans home to pay their respects, Florida's attitude causes dissension in an already saddened family. Esther Rolle Florida Evans Jimmie Walker James Junior Ja'netDuBois Willona Bernnadette Stanis Thelma Ralph Carter Michael the world do you want to go? Where in Reservations for: Hotels Airlines Steamship Lines Car Rentals Tours For professional, personalized service SE- E- Phone 637-405- 0 PAGE 6 TV WEEK PRICE TRAVEL 166 East Main in Price AUTO PARTS CO. AUTO Autolite Plugs Champion Brake Drums & Rotors Turned Valvoline Racing Oil GoodYear Belts & hoses. PARTS 62 No. 1st f West Price Utah The Anderson Lumber 637-071- 6 "ANSWER MANS Pabco Exterior Latex House Paint $95 c. T. 42 South Carbon Avo- W: Everything For the .- Phono 637 0554 Builder 6: 6 7 |