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Show mmsm t &zM By TAYLOR MICHAELS TVDala Q: Why has the great show been repeating old The episodes lately? Surely they must realize they run the risk of viewers turning to other programs. Malcolm W. Kroeber SrM Meriden, Conn. A: Very few viewers realize that a full season order for a show is only about two dozen episodes (in the its traditioncase of The ally been 25). The networks obviously want to be sure they can run shows fresh episodes of like this during the monthlong sweeps periods (November, February and May) when ratings are used to set advertising rates for sponsors. Subtract those dozen or so sweeps episodes, and they have only about another dozen episodes left to fill out the year. The rest of the time, the show they either must or air a repeat Due to its devout repeat pulls viewership, an as high a rating (or higher) as any- - - high-profi- pre-em- MARCH 9 -- 16, 1996 co-,st- ar - Standard-Examin- er ,a aaS crifca&Azfaa thing else they could put in there, especially since many latecomers are catching up via repeats. It may get worse: David Duchovny reportedly wants to do three fewer episodes next season to allow him to consider other offers. Currently, he and Gillian Anderson are so wrung out by their demanding work schedule they cant do anything else. Q: If Elizabeth Montgomery of Bewitched played both Samantha and her cousin Serena, why do the credits say Serena was played by Pandora Spocks? Samantha M., New Haven, Conn. A: Total TV lists the name as Pandora Sparks (although I think youre right), but either name was the show's mischievous spin on a very old tradition in the theater. When a theater audience was supposed to be unaware the same actor was playing two roles in a play, the second role often was listed in the program as played by George Spelvin. In a related vein, when a director has his name taken off a film in a dispute, the credits usually will say the film was directed by Alan Smithee. Q: Please help me remember the name of a police series starring Dennis Farina. It started out in Chicago, but later moved to Las Vegas, and was set in the 1960s Boose, Wakeman, Ohio. A: Farina starred with Anthony .Denison in Crime Story, which aired on NBC from Sept. 18, 1986, to May 10,1988. Q: Im a big fan of Alan Autry, but I have seen different answers to this question: Is he related to Gene Autry? P.S., Tallahassee, - Fla. A: A publicist for the Grace Under Fire says the two men are distant cousins. Send questions of general interest to TV Pipeline, Features Dept., TVData, North way Plaza, Queens-burN. Y. 12804, or to tvpipelinetvdata.com. Only questions selected for this column will be answered. co-st- ar y, 31 |