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Show at "Alls Fair A Look Richard Crenna is something special to our memory bank, to television, we have been priviledged to watch this actor stretch and grow right before our very eyes. First, he was the bumbling teenager with the breaking voice on "Our Miss Brooks." Even if you are too young to have seen the original run of this series, the episodes are still being shown on many stations, even today there is no mistaking the potential ability Crenna showed. After some six years as Luke McCoy, Crenna plowed under his straw hat and country accent to portray a state senator in Slatterys People. The critics were astounded. Richard Crenna had not only grown up, he had become a marvelous dramatic actor! Although Slattery's People lasted only two seasons, it firmly established Crenna as a for, thanks star. Lets take a major look in 3D (Difference, Depth and Durability). 1. Difference: Richard Barrington (Crenna) is a Washington columnist turning 50 years of age. Charley Drake (Bernadette Peters) Is a liberal photographer half Richards age. Their moments together, therefore, r, but also a represent not only a war, which explains the derivation of the programs title: Alls fair in love and war. Episodes range (if that is the word) from an argument over whether these two should stop seeing each other because of the difference in their ages to an argument over whether they should spend the weekend in conversation or in bed to an er love-affai- liberal-conservati- argument over whether Richard has a right to object to another man spending the night in Charlie's living room. 2. Depth: We have already commented on the depth of Richard Crenna's talent. As for Bernadette Peters, she is such a versatile, accomplished actress that we often find in 3D ourselves forgetting how young she is. They are a marvelously talented twosome. And that maybe the crux of the problem. The writers love them. They write line after line for this pair. Trouble is, in their desire to take full advantage of such talent, the writers have nothing left over for the others on the show . The result: Richards pal, Al, and Charleys roommate, Ginger, are only shadows of real characters. So the show spends all its time in a verbal boxing match between Richard and Charley, two totally different characters spouting terribly, terribly clever lines about politics and philosophy and Vietnam and Watergate lines which the writers proudly quote to their friends and which many critics surely adore, but which are no more like actual conversation than are some of the clever lines we have seen written on restroom walls. 3. Durability: The romance is a clever story basis. We loved it when Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper starred in the movie, Love in the Afternoon." But as the storyline for a continuing series, it quickly wears thin. To CBS programmers, the political war theme must have seemed appealing during an election year, but after the surprise impact of the first few jokes, the concept serves only to rob the series of believability. To make this program successful, the writers must be persuaded to broaden the storyline, quit writing for their own amusement, and make characters of those shadowy supporting players. Otherwise, Alls Fair will disappear before it has an opportunity to provide more than a single page in the television scrapbook of Richard Crenna. er three-dimens- ional BABIES Q: The new talk about natural childbirth (because TIME FOR TRAINING Q: I understand John Travolta, my favorite on Welcome Back, Kotter, recently starred as Bo Decker in the Bus Stop. Was the critical reaction good? M.L.L., Albany, N.Y. A: No. Mediocre would be more like It. Trouble wee, Travolta's character In Bus Stop acted and sounded far too much like Travolta's character In Welcome Back, Kotter. Consensus was that In spite of obvious natural ability, the young actor would do well to get some heavy assistance via acting school. The difficulty will be to convince Travolta, heady with success, that such training Is necessary. play of the movie "Having Babies) started me wondering about the most important arrival of this year the baby boy of Waltons star Richard Thomas and wife Alma. Did she take training in the Lamaze method of natural childbirth? N.L., Butte, Mont. A: Yes. Alma did, but Richard did not. He was aware that many people claim the natural method brings the husband loser to his wife, but says, I didnt need anything to make me closer to my wife... or to my baby. WORKING WIFE Q: Isnt it true that Lee Majors, "The Six Million Dollar Man, is hoping Charlie's Angels will be a flop because he hates losing his wife, Farrah Fawcett, to the TV game? F.P., Dover, Del. A: No. Quite the contrary. Lee feels that when he and Farrah are both working, it adds understanding and pleasure to their marriage. The way Is was, he explains, I would come home from the studio all worn out, and Farrah would be ready to go out. Now, she knows what I mean when I say Im too tired. MORE MM Q: The tube is not the same without new weekly episodes Swiss Adam 12, starring Martin Milner (Route 68, Family Robinson"). Is Milner looking for a new series? J.F., TONSIL TERROR Q: The way that receptionist on Danny Thomas' The Practice sounds is ridiculous. Can that be her real voice? Portland, Ore. of all series A: Yes. Milner Is one of the most sought-afte- r stars and gets the pick of the litter In terms of pilot scripts. Right now we understand one of his top possibilities for next season Is a Jack Webb series based on the files of Canada's Royal Mounted Police. Meantime Milner Is World with Robert Culp In Flood, a two-hoPremiere Movie on NBC. A: Yes. And lots of people have written in to say they love it! Fact is, this voice has earned Its owner Dldl Conn, who plays Helen, the receptionist a bundle of dough doing some 100 commercials. ur PAGE 6 TV WEEK S.S., San Bernardino, Ca. (For an answer to your question about any TV program or actor, write to Mailbag, care of Publications, 2112 McKinney, Dallas, Texas, 75201 .) Tel-Ai- re |