Show Jones’ ‘Paul Robeson’ video is now available By ANDY WICKSTROM Krught Riddef Newspapers An evening of remarkable theater was recorded in 1974 when James Earl Jones performing on a stage that was bare except for a few chairs n and a piano accompanist appeared in a show on the life of Paul Robeson That performance is now available for the home video audience in “Paul Robeson” (Today Home Entertainment 118 minutes $7995) Robeson forever associated with his stage and screen role in “Show Boat” singing the powerful lament “Old Man River” died in 1976 His outspoken views on human rights at home and abroad made him a lightning rod for political controversy especially during the Red Scare of the early 1950s when he was accused of and saw his passport invalidated 1958 that the US Supreme wasn’t until (it Court restored it) Among Robeson’s supposed offenses in that volatile time was his pronouncement that he found more racial harmony in the Soviet Union than in his native country But Robeson's talent for provoking outrage was matched by his theatrical gifts His stirring voice made him an international concert star and his Broadway run as Othello in 1943 and 1944 remains the longest Shakespearean engagement in the US theater Unfortunately for today’s audiences Robeson made only a handful of films and his sparse visual legacy makes this monologue all the more valuable Jones fills the role admirably Although he is not in Robeson’s class as a singer one-ma- (the production entails just a few scraps of songs) he commands the spotlight with the authority one imagines Robeson must have possessed CBS lineup listed Eight new prime-tim-e By GEORGE MAKSIAN New York Daily News d CBS which will introduce eight new prime-tim- e shows next season — more new entries than either ABC or NBC — Thursday announced its fall lineup of miniseries and features draOne project is a ma focusing on the late flamboyant entertainer Liberace CBS isn't alone in this one ABC also has in the works a show about the performer who died Feb 4 1987 at the age of 67 of an d disease ABC’s Third-ranke- madc-for-T- The script by Phillip Hayes Dean is in the form of a message Robeson sends on the occasion of a tribute in his honor at Carnegie Hall It begins as an explanation of why he cannot bring himself to attend the celebration then moves into a recapitulation of his life: scholar and football hero at Rutgers University law school at Columbia his frustration with the practice of law then his appearances in Harlem community theater where he was discovered by Eugene O’Neill The rambling memoir is sometimes humorous sometimes horrifying and often inspiring Jones the small live audience practically at his feet carries it off with masterful skill under the direction of Lloyd Richards (The two teamed g up again for the Pulitzer “Fences” on Broadway last year) Prize-winnin- Robeson was a man of conscience but he was not a saint and the script contains a scene played against his wife in which he defiantly and explicitly rejects that image Likewise Jones allows his performance to edge past indignation into bombastic pride hinting at a demeanor that must have galled Robeson’s foes Two hours is a long time to watch a single performer yet this is such a splendid match of actor and subject that you won’t end up watch- ing the clock shows on tap two-ho- V ur cial consultant No casting for either the CBS or ABC drama has been announced Among the miniseries CBS will unfurl next season are: “Charlie Brown and Snoopy’s History of America” (seven segments) focusing on the members of the Peanuts gang as they trace the highlights and turning points of American history half-ho-ur ever-popul- ar had no other details to release about its special at this time CBS’ Liberace drama will be produced by Linda Yellen of “Playing for Time” fame She also produced “Second Serve” “Deadly Decision” (four d drama starhours) a Julie Christie and Victor ring Banerjee about an Australian mother’s battle to save her son from a mandatory Malaysian death sentence when he and a friend are caught smuggling drugs “International Affairs” (four hours) starring Richard Crenna and Cliff Gorman protranssexual Dr Renee Richards as portrayed by Vanessa Redgrave CBS said it has signed Seymour Heller Liberace’s personal manager for 40 years as a spe “Jack the Ripper” (four hours) starring Michael Caine Armand Assante and Jane Seymour in the story of the hunt for the brutal killer of five London prostitutes in 1888 AIDS-relate- project is being produced by Dick Clark Productions ABC about the life of tennis fact-base- portrait studio Nielsen says nearly nobody is tubeless Chicago Tribune There was a time not long ago when there were more peo- ple who had homes than had television sets Now the ratio is reversed The ranks of the homeless are growing but almost nobody is tubeless The AC Nielsen Co which keeps track of such things in addition to its job of prorating network prime-tim- e gramming is out with a report saying 886 million American households — that’s 98 percent of the nation — now have at least one television set and 60 percent of those have two or more Color sets dominate at 96 percent Other statistics from Nielsen’s research facilities: Situation comedies attract the audience fealargest prime-tim- e ture films and general drama placed second and third More than half of all American households now have VCRs and 67 percent of all the programs they tape come from affiliates of the three commercial networks Men and women age 55 or over dominate the prime-tim- e audience and 76 percent of viewers are adults high-profi- le 21 -- piece portrait package $1932 Per Month Fully Installed No down payment 96 months terms Total of APR Cash payments $185472 1777 $92900 THROUGH SATURDAY ONtYl GOOD THROUGH JUNE CULBR00K RENTAL You service: unlimited soft water $625 Per Month AUTOMATIC RENTAL We own: self servicing 1 395Pr Month 80 Lb Bags WATER SOFTENER SALT Save with quantity AS LOW AS $0 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