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Show Stye T. V. Guide Friday evening look at "Sirotas Court A January 28, 1977 The word unique has been used so often to describe televisision series that it has lost much of its meaning. But there was one series which truly deserved this adjective Room 222. So unusual was this property that reviewers were never quite certain how to label it. Was it a situation comedy? If so, it was the only one which had no canned" laughter. Yet it must have been a situation comedy because there was such an abundance of laughter laughter coming mainly from the high school students in the school where the series was set. This laughter supplied the laugh track" which other situation comedies were forced to manufacture, either with a machine or with a studio audience. This happy situation brought to "Room 222 an air of believability provided by no other comedy series. And the star of the show, Michael Constantine, had been chosen to fit this unusual TV environment. Constantine is no comic. He played his role of school principal as straight as an arrow, yet the laughter was there, drawn from the kind of e situations with which we are all familiar. Now Constantine is starring in a new situation comedy, Sirotas Court," and this time the school principal has become a juage. Sounds like perfect casting, doesn't it? But does this new program offer Room 222's" realistic environment an environment which was so perfectly suited for Constantine's talents? Lets take a look at Sirotas Court (Wednesday nights on NBC) in 3D (Difference, Depth and Durability). 1. Difference: Judge Matthew Sirota has been demoted. views have earned him the His liberal, and resulted in his being wrath of the powers-that-b- e relegated to night court duty, the purgatory of judgedom. Sirota, refusing to be dragged down, tries instead to lift the -- flapott (flironick 1977 Page 7 January 20, 2. Depth: The problem here is the same as it is with The only more so. The supporting Tony Randall Show, characters, with the possible exception of Fred Willard as Bud Nugent, fall into one of two categories: Unfunny or unbelievable. This man is no comic. He is simply a fine actor who, when placed in realistic situations which are humorous, adds a great deal to the stories just as he did on Room 222. But those responsible for the production of Sirota's Court are not satisfied with the humorous realities of big city night court. They insist on exaggerating what is already exaggerated, and then adding insult to injury by placing lokes in the very noncomic mouth of Michael Constantine. Baretta on ABC and movies on 3. Durability: Opposite CBS, there ought to be a place for comedy. But this show is not it. Unlike Constantine's first series, "Room 222, where students supplied the laughter, this one could not be produced without a laugh track. Sirota's Court" is not funny enough to make the people in the courtroom laugh. r true-to-lif- Right Role "I wanted a series Id be comfortable doing none of that good guys stuff. So when the producers asked me to do told them wanted something that would Baretta, fit me. Im comfortable on the streets, as a sort of JACK KLUGMAN: social worker with a badge." I'd been offered private eyes and all the sitcoms in the world. But said no thanks. The shows had no gimmick. I'd almost given up hope for this season. Then came 'Quincy.' It has the greatest gimmick in the world. Quincy can nail the medical profession when he's being a cop, and he can nail the police department when hes a doctor." ROBERT BLAKE: guy-ba- d . level of night court by doling out to petty thieves, pimps and muggers the same brand of compassion and wisdom he had learned to deliver in higher courtrooms. 6:00 0 INFINITY FACTORY FUDGE 0 HOT OTHER SID OF THE Morning 11:30 6:00 0PECKER WOODY MUPPET SHOW LAWRENCE WELK MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW Sue Ann Nivens sud- COIN WOOD- GD TOM & JERRY 0 0 REBOP GRAPE SYLVESTER that of a sulking sad, star when 'The Happy Homemaker Show" is axed. Willeys Amoco AND TWEETY 6:30 PINK CD PANTHER to 10 PM JABBERJAW Now Official CLUE CLUB 7:00 T DYNOMUTTSHOW BUGS BUNNY ROAD RUNNER HOUR (S Filter 6:00 d) SPEED BUGGY TARZAN: LORD THE JUNGLE VILLA ALEGRE V Afternoon W THE ON LAND" '68 Jackie Cooper, Johq, Forsythe. Twermervtfyyte bring freedom back to America after it is taken over by a totalitarian government. SCIENCE FICTION THEATER U.S. FARM REPORT CARRASCOLENDAS 12:30 GARNER TED ARMSTRONG VICTORY GARDEN 1:00 YOUNG AMERICANS 1:30 0 2,9bc PROFESSIONAL 8:30 BOWLERS TOUR MONSTER SQUAD KROFFTS SUPER- I 375-671- BASKETBALL CBS NEIGHBORHOOD 3:00 & ABCS WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS Events to be announced FRANKENSTEIN SESAME STREET JOHN, SUPER FRIENDS 4:00 KINGDOM 0 WILD DOLLY (TD 4:30 Valentine's 0 Second Chance." Ken Berry stars in the title 0 0C.P.O. & 0 A OF WASHOE CARRASCOLENDAS 0 5:30 0 0 TWOS COMPANY FILM CHILDRENS FESTIVAL MCLEAN STEVENSON BARNEY MILLER QS ZOOM 11:00 ruler in YOGA AND YOU Evening 2. Wide receiver 4. Ba, ba black sheep Bernadette 8. Richard Crenna, 5. for one Robert Ryans monogram 6. Costa del 8 Kahn r,. of Night 25. The 30. producer 10. Monogram for Tom Jones 35. Greek letter 11. Caveman Alley 12. Batters statistic 19. Opposite of SW ANSWER Well-know- n was too naive "f or maybe to timid to join the dramatic arts class, and as fascinated by acting as was then, my parents saw me doing something in a much more conventional profession. . . . JOHN WAYNE: "I think, to tell you the truth, that was a little embarrassed about being an actor back then. I didnt think it was work. During my freshman and sophomore years at USC, figured to be a lawyer." SIROTAS COURT MOVIE "NINOTCHKA 39 Greta Garbo, Melvyn brave captures a wild stallion, loses it to another brave of senior rank and then with the reunited at the Little Bighorn. 0 -- NOW , Choose the system thats right for you and your budget. There 12:30 MOD SQUAD powerful Pittsburgh banking Mellons. He is best places and has dated, since his divorce from Catherine Mellon, such other famous ladies as Barbara Howarand Barbara Walters. in all the BRIDE AND GROOM Q: John Travolta (Vinnie on Welcome Back, Kotter) is heavenly. Does he want to get married? S.T. Charlotte, N.C. STAR TREKKING Q: My kids are talking again about a "Star Trek" movie. Is this a real possibility? C.C., Rochester, N.Y. A: Yes. In tact, the project is finally picking up momentum. And not just for the movie or maybe two but for a new TV series as well. First of ail, the important salary demands have been ironed out Leonard Nimoy was a special problem here and an unpolished script Is in hand. Paramount promises that if the movie clicks, it will pour all the profit back into a TV series. And ABC is ready and willing to buy. in is nothing this world that means so much yet costs so little as a fine D587W Features Allegro Series I Amplifier with 2.5 watts min. RMS per channel from 100 Hz to 10 kHz into 8 ohms at no more than 1 total harmonic distortion. AMFMStereo FM Tuner. Stereo Precision Record Changer. Shown with Zenith Allegro 1000 speaker Simulated wood cabinet; grained systems. Walnut finish. valentine portrait from- - GEANS $199 PHOTO SHOP LIZS JOHN insists Zenith Allegro tuned-por- t speakers with Brilliance Control! Enjoy the famous deep, rich Allegro sound, or choose a more brilliant sound with exceptionally crisp clear The Brilliance highs and Control lets you choose' one-wom- Doesnt Liz Taylor's newest husband, John Warner, feel terribly uncomfortable with Lizs wealthy and influential friends? N.R., Presque Isle, Me. A: No. John Warner, son of a Washington doctor, is no newcomer to the society of the rich and powerful. His first wife was Catherine Mellon, of the fantastically wealthy, Q: UNHAPPY HARPER Q: Is Valerie Harper upset G596W- - The Wedge Features Allegro with 12 watts min. RMS per to 18 kHz into 8 ohms with total harmonic distortion! Tuner. Stereo Precision Tape Player. Shown with Zenith Allegro 3000 speakers with Brilliance Control. Simulated wood cabinet, grained Walnut finish. 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Having to juggle a lot of girls does just the opposite. As for types, Travolta insists personality is much more important than how beautiful the girl is. over the fall in her Rhoda" ratings? R.S., Houston, Tex. A: Yes. It is more than the ratings that have Valerie unhappy, however. During the first year of her series, she was flattering in her comments to David Groh her TV husband, telling him how great he was and what a tremendous asset to the series. But then, prior to the start of this season, Valerie went on record as being in agreement with the deicision to get rid of Groh. This makes Valerie seem a bit to say the least. And David Groh isnt letting this unnoticed. pass G587W Features Allegro Series II Amplifier with 6 watts min. RMS per channel from 80 Hz to 12 kHz into 8 ohms at no more than 1 total, harmonic distortion. AMFM Stereo FM tuner. Stereo Precision Record Changer. Tape Player. Shown with Zenith Allegro 2000 speakers with Brilliance Control. Simulated wood cabinet, grained Walnut finish. QUALITY one-to-on- 'V Jj 0NIGHT A d. Waltons") want his wife, business like most of the other wives eventually do? G.H.H., Chicago, III. A: No. On the contrary, Richard is very'much against it. I find Alma a very rational counterpart to my professional life, says Richard. Im very glad she has no show business career of her own. Actually, marriage between two actors seldom works because there is inevitably some competition between them. Thank goodness Alma is happy being a housewife and mother. IN NBCS SATURDAY A: Yes. Despite the growing playboy image, Travolta ARTS FOR ALMA Q: Does Richard Thomas Alma, to get in to show : SVs 12:00 ALICE CLASSIC UPDATE 0F'NONmNEXPEN stereo sound systems police officers, assigned to neutralize gang rivalry a barrio, in discover thatthe victors are a very tough bunch of girls. is accepted ( BYU BASKETBALL VS. NEW MEXICO 10:45 MARCH OF DIMES TELETHON CONTINUED 11:00 POLICE STORY "The Two Malflores." animal UPON J QT) CALLED ONCE I of Trio sent to Communists, Paris, fall in love with magic of capitalism's gaiety; Russian girl learns meaning of life and love from a Parisian. naturalist-photographer- Indian I Douglas. of marine COMANCHE" young I I THE OF Acfing guess MASH: MIKE FARRELL 10:30 SHARKEY WHATS HAPPENING HEEHAW NOVA FIRST SIGNS QT) MUGGSY BANDAMERICAN STAND WAY OUT GAMES ZOOM propagandist melodrama about a Mongol fur trapper whom foreign powers set up as a fantastically NEWS CBS NEWS 5:00 role. 1. "STORM OVER ASIA" edited V.l. Pudovkin's LILIAS, 1. Slapstick prop ACROSS NEWS 0SPBS MOVIE QT) NBC MOVIE SESAME STREET DOWN VICTORY AT SEA Mongolia. WONDER WOMAN ALL IN THE FAMILY REBOP RELIGION TODAY 0""HORSE 0 I 10:00 7:30 NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIAL This childrens series begins with an adaptation of an O. Henry FAT ALBERT COSBY KIDS ONCE UPON CLASSIC 10:30 by the Disney MISTEROGERS work for me. It "Marriage that to figure took me three marriages out ". ..GOLDIE HAWN: "My problems with Gus didn't sour me on marriage. firmly believe in it. My parents have been married for forty years. Both Bill and come from happy families, so were both the marrying kind.. ..ABE VIGODA: "The secret of a happy marriage is mystery. Keep mystery in your relationship, keep your imagination working: Dont let your partner see you in the nude. "...DR. JOYCE BROTHERS: The wife is usually more helpful in when one holding a marriage 'together. Fbf example, partner 'cheatsVlhe wife is mbre vYililhg to forgive than the husband." PETER SELLERS: REMEMBERS creatures are examined 3:30 LAND OF THE LOST ABC SHORT STORY classic, WONDERS WATERS The varieties A Marriage doesnt dramaby 6 0 QT) percon- 9:30 puppet -- I ALLS FAIR and playwriht William Trevor. LOWELL THOMAS QT) 7:00 0 this . I novelist 374-918- 4 ANDY WILLIAMS SAN DIEGO OPEN PGA golf tournament. LITTLE 10:00 0 SPORTS SPECTACULAR 9:00 BIG OF TEXAS AT UTAH MISTEROGERS 0 9:30 0JOHN U. in temporary SUR- Buffer type Hot or Cold extraction. Call for free Estimates. day night COLLEGE SHAZAM! ISIS HOUR GHOST formance I . Piotwordi Puxxie Day." The Alastair Sim gives anoutstanding cleaning! off with add. 10 2:00 SHOW CONSUMER CARPET 0SHADOW 465-312- 7 SPACE Late KCids We havent pushed our JOANNE WOODWARD: children either way. If they want to act, fine; if they dont thats fine too. certainly won't disown them if If CAROL BURNETT: they like show they do." business, certainly wouldn't be against it. And maybe they will. They have friends who are children Don Rickies of other people in show business-li- ke daughter and Helen Reddy's daughter." . . . REDD FOXX: "I tried to get my daughter interested in acting years ago, but she was more interested in boy friends told one guy he had to take with huge Afro hairdos. his hair off before he could come into my house. Fill out this puzzle and the letters in the circles will spell out the plotwords for this weeks episode of 0TheGenera.'s QT) 0 0 MARCH OF DIMES TELETHON PICCADILLY CIRCUS seeks VIVAL KIT MOVIE 95 S. Main 0 9:00 employment in a small rural college. 12:00 TW IT QT) desperately QT) Embellishing the judge's sense of dedication is a pompous Assistant D.A., an ultra liberal lady lawyer, a baliff buffoon, and a female court clerk who is in love with the judge. How different is "Sirotas Court from any other series? Very different if this were any other season. Never before, to our knowledge, has there been a situation-comed- y about a judge. Yet this season there have been two (can this be one starring Michael Constantine, the other coincidence?) Tony Randall. And the only real difference between them is the star. WAS WAY 0 THE WALL STREET WEEK NAMETHATTUNE NEWHART BOB SHOW Bob Hartley succumbs to the pressures of living in a big city and 950 WEEK 8:30 ZOOM Storage LARD WASHINGTON REVIEW QT) 0 OF Payson Cold Phone QT) STUDIO SEE BOOK BEAT AND 0 6:30 InspectionStation Oil, Lube & SCOOBY-DO- "W 0 Open 6 AM LAUGH STARSKY HUTCH SUPER BOWL LOWELL THOMAS REMEMBERS her denly changes sarcastic personality to APE E) 8:00 Spencers |