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Show Comedy ——$—$———— Continued from Page 1 episodic drama, a genrethat re- You'd even have to exercise plenishes itself from season to season. Stories, style and pro- caution watching C-SPAN (after all, they ran a speech by Don Imus a couple of weeks ago). How do you knowif you need a TV Comedy Turnoff Week? One waytotell is if the very mention of female ly parts or the use of the descriptive term “sucks” or any insult that begins “she's so ugly . .”’ just breaks you up. If so, you're watching far too manysitcoms. Another sign you need a breather: You find a sitcom’s laugh track useful as a cue for where your own laughs should g0. Hurry! Turn to a drama beforeit’s too late! (As a helpful transition device, try “Melrose Place,” “Baywatch” or “Hawaii Five-O” reruns, any of which are funnier than almost any comedy.) But seriously, the special problem with TV comedyis this: It’s a creatively bankrupi form whose current brilliant successes — showslike “Seinfeld" and “Roseanne” and “The Simpsons” — are such inspired and luckyaccidents as to Ali (Mohsen Kalifi) with his: sister Razieh (Alda Mohammadkhani) in a scene from Slee Panahi’s “The White Balloon.” ‘White Balloon’is a kids aamadefor adults By Rene Rodriguez Knight-Ridder Newspapers “The White Balloon,” a little girl convinces her mother to en- trust her with a large banknote to buy a goldfish — then loses the money on the way to the store The girl's efforts to find the lost bill constitute the plot. but if you think that's not enoughto sustain a full-length film, you're in for a surprise. Like “Where Is My Friend’s Home?,” one ofthe three films by Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami that played last year’s Miami Film Festival, “The White Balloon” (which Kiarostami wrote) turns a slight premise into a resonant, richly engrossing work that squeezes great pleasureout of the simplest of scenes. It reflects everyday life back at you, and the purity of that reflection is startling A major setpiece here consists of the girl, 7-year-old Razieh (Aida Mohammadkhani),trying to convince her motherthatthe fish in the pet shop are better than the ones she has at home. The backand-forth between mother and child isn’t clever or precocious: It's simple and true, with an un- possibly expressive faces that adorned earthiness. The movie unfoldsin real time, beginning 90 minutes before the arrival of the surprises with its range. New Year, at which point all the adults, how they often mustbe ex- town’s stores will close for the holiday. The ticking clock adds suspense, and although somecui- tural details will fly over Western audiences’ heads(fish, for example, are a part of the traditional Iranian New Year celebration), Razieh’s universal dilemmastill dy are the most obvious, repeatable ideas from yesterday's most obvious, copyable shows. This is in marked contrast to build on the breakthroughs of those that went before. (There could have been no “Murder One” without “L.A. Law,” “Owen Marshall,” fenders” or “Perry Sitcoms, instead “The De- Mason.") of building on, rip off. Meanwhile, sketch oa hasn't made a seismic since “Saturday Night tne" premiered two decades ago. And with stand-up on TV,Letterman and Leno and guys you never heard of are all desperately trying to find funny new things to say about the govern- ment, sex, taxi drivers and airline food. Bottom line? Everybody watches TV news, sports, drama andtalk. Butit's great comedy — including “I Loveorfe Tyler Moore,” the Family,” “M-A- orH,” “Cheers,” and moments from Johnny Carson's ‘‘Tonight Show” and the early “Saturday Night Live’ — that viewers cherish as TV's real blessing. Conversely, it’s the hundreds of bad sitcoms, past and present, that account for why TV gets so little respect — even from those of you who binge on those bad sitcoms, night after night. The essence of Kiarostami’s script is the way children relate to tra resourceful. “The White Balloon” would make a terrific children’s film, butit takes grown-up sensibilities to fully savor its pleasures. Sim- ple on the surface yet imbued enfolds you. It helps that Moham- with a gentle wisdom, it makes your regular movie seem far too complicated —- and far too hol- ger than 7, has one of those im- low. madkhani, who looks even youn- be aberrations. What fuels mostseries come- duction values steadily evolve as the best dramas this year Stallone hoping to return backto his acting roots By Henry Sheehan Orange County Register Just months after signing 2 three-picture deal for $60 million with Universal, Sylvester Stallone is trying to postpone that payday, as well as another one-picture $20 million payout from Warner Bros. Apparently tired of the box-office shellackings that have come to accompanythe by-now routine critical disdain for his films, Stallone wants to appear in a modestly budgeted, ensemble-cast film for Miramax. Called “Copland,” Stalione's new venture is the project of writ- er-director James Mangold and takes place in a New Jersey suburb that's home to many New York City police officers. Stallone will playthe sheriff, a partly deaf laughingstock in awe of the New Yorkers who accidentally uncovers a conspiracy implicating some of them. At a news conference last week, Stallone said he took the roie to and add to his prestige, as well as his bank balaace. But Willis had always tried to mix up his roles. While Stallone refers to a variety of parts he piayed early in his career, his roies weren't really that varied. Early on, in movies like “Death Race 2000" and “The Lords of Flatbush,” he did play a reasonably mixed batch of characters. But after “Rocky,” even in movies such as “Paradise Alley” and “F.LS.T.,” he tended to satisfy himself with bellicose physical types whose cne trick was a supposedly unlikely sensitivity. Even when hetook false steps into comedy (“Oscar”), he carried along his stereotypical persona. In fact, it's hard to think of a major action star —- including Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger — who has pushed himself get buck to the type of part he less than Stallone has over his ca- played im his “Rocky” days. reer. Stallone certainly needs 2 change from the expensive rubpriced action thrillers like Tired of starring In blockbuster, a Sytvester Stallone will star in the modesily-budgeted “Cop- his appearance as the crooked boxer in “Pulp Fiction.” By taking his paymentoff the back end, Willis was able to play a part outside the range of his action heroes bish (“Judge Dredd,” “Assassins”) he's been in lately. The obvious model he’s following is Bruce Willis who, falling inte an action-film rut. broke it up with It's a good idea to try to break out of the self-limitations heset for himself in the 20 years since “Rocky.” But by his own count, he'll be 50 this summer. Late in the day for exercising muscles that have been dormant for decades. Former ‘Wonder’ boy turns nasty in upcoming TV movie By Ed Bark Dalas Morning News it's rush week at Stanford Uri- with classmate Siacy Collins (Can- dace Cameron of “Full House”) It's definitely a big departure ‘rich, spoiled, wild and confused teen’ in NBC's ‘‘Her Last Chance.” Kellie Martin, 2 sweetie from what most people think of mie as," Savage says. “I hope that comes off in a good way. Not that ty” series, was cast as a drug addict accused of kil I'm viewed, but Tm always anx thyea Bledsoe of “The Coxby Show” is knee-deep in dys- Wonder Years.’ I've gotten to do cheesy talk show. everything I wanted to Go.” Savage intends to majorin Eng- ious to add dimension. You never want to do too much of the same thing.” Television's child stars quickly learn whether America will ac- <iood for him. At age 19, he's mstriculsted imio reel life after five sexsons 28 cuddly Kevin Ar nold on “The W: Years.” A May 6 NBC movie, “No One Would Teli,” will be his first on fereen role since “Wonder Years” jeft ABC in 1993. He's pluying creepy high school wres- ting star Bobby Tennyson. whose possessive, abusive relationship 7 > school, some play readings and things. But nothing really big. There was no real agenda in my mind. A lot of people have asked ends in a grisly murder. What would Winnie Cooper say? I have any problem with the way “This is a very busy, hectic time for me,” Savage says pleasantly cently grew facial hair —~ or perhaps had it applied — to play a commodate their growing pains. The usual tack is to take 0 deep breath and turn your image inside out Ulira-wholesome Ricky Schroder of “Silver Spoons” became Rick when he tried to come of oge in several rebellious teen roles _ jell Patrick Harris went from Bowser” to an arsonist in a TVmovie. Teen mag cover boy Jonathan Brasdis of “scaQuest DSV" re- in the “Life Goes On” and “Chris- functionals as the host of her own Jerry Mathers weil, he’sstill The Beaver, and nothing's going to changethat. Savage made “No One Would me whyI would wantto take some time off from acting. But it was never even a decision. It was just a natural progression of things. It's been a great ride since ‘The lish because “! enjoy reading and writing so much.” He planned to graduate from Stanford before rejoining the “esterisinment Teii” during his midterm break. It wasn't part of any grand plan. It business” as an actor, a writer or just sort of caine along. “My senior year in high school was myfirst full year in school since second grade.” he says. satisfied an urge te “tackle some. “Ther: I got to come to college after that. I just had a great freshman year. There are so many things that are revealed to you wher you're @ freshman in col- lege “I did some acting up here in The early cast of “Saturday Night Live” better understood the concept of comedy. maybe a filmmaker. But 'No One Would Tell’ fit his schedule and thing different.” He hasn't seen the film yet, but his family has. “My sister hated my character aad my morwas scared of him. so I guess | did all right,” be says ‘Between the two of them and my father, that's the only audience I'm concerned about > “Seinfeld’s” Jerry Seixfeld and Michael Richards sti! seem ic have s grasp on humor, Unfortunately, they represent the last of a dying breed |