Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 24, 1990 TAG: 9005230289
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PHIL ROSENTHAL LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
"ALF" was one of the series that didn't survive the cut as ratings leader NBC hastily unveiled its fall prime-time schedule two days earlier than planned in an effort to thwart news leaks.
Among the other series not included in the fall schedule were "Shannon's Deal," "227," "Mancuso FBI," "Hardball," "Nasty Boys," "FM" and "Down Home." NBC's Sunday night Disney anthology series has been axed, but the network announced "The Disney Comedy Adventure Hour" is in development as a midseason replacement.
NBC also said the sitcom "Amen," not a part of the fall schedule, has been given a full order for a fifth season and has been promised the first available time slot.
"Law and Order," a cops-and-lawyers drama starring Michael Moriarty that will follow criminal cases through the legal system, is perhaps the most promising of NBC's new shows. It will follow "Matlock" and "In the Heat of the Night" at 10 p.m. on Tuesdays.
CBS already announced it is taking NBC's "The Hogan Family," which became available when NBC declined to make an early commitment to the series. Because of that and the cancellation of "ALF," room has opened early Monday for the sitcoms "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Ferris Bueller."
"Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" at 8 p.m. will feature the Grammy Award-winning rap star as a kid from tough West Philadelphia sent to live with well-to-do relatives. It will be followed at 8:30 p.m. by "Ferris Bueller," which will star Charlie Schlatter in the role Matthew Broderick made famous in John Hughes' film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
Early Sunday also is getting completely reworked. Seven years after canceling "Fame," NBC is going with another musical show set in a high school, "Hull Street High," at 7 p.m. Sunday.
It will be followed at 8 p.m. by "Signs of Life," a medical show from "Hill Street Blues" writer Jeffrey Lewis and former sports producer Don Ohlmeyer.
NBC plans to leave its powerhouse Thursday night lineup intact, with the comedy "Grand" winning the 9:30 p.m. time slot after "Cheers."
"Wings" and "Dear John," which also found some success during trial runs in that Thursday slot, also survived the cut and are on the fall schedule. "Wings" joins a completely overhauled Friday night lineup, featuring many returning shows in new slots. "Quantum Leap" starts things at 8 p.m., followed by "Night Court," "Wings" and "Midnight Caller."
"Night Court's" old 9 p.m. Wednesday slot will be taken over by "The Fanelli Boys," a comedy that will star Ann Guilbert (Millie on the old "Dick Van Dyke Show") as an Italian matriarch whose four adult sons move in with her. Movie character actors Joe Pantoliano and Richard Libertini also star.
There had been speculation NBC might present "Parenthood," an adaptation of the film that will star Ed Begley Jr., William Windom and Sheila MacRae (Alice on "The Honeymooners"), twice a week. Instead, the comedy will kick off a revamped Saturday lineup, followed by "Working It Out," a new sitcom starring Jane Curtin.
"American Dreamer," a comedy about a Midwestern newspaper columnist from the people behind "Family Ties," will take over the 10:30 p.m. Saturday slot after "The Golden Girls," "Empty Nest" and Carol Burnett's spring success, "Carol & Company." Robert Urich and Carol Kane will star.
by CNB