Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 3, 1994 TAG: 9404020010
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By ED BARK DALLAS MORNING NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
No, you're never gonna guess who it is. Not in a thousand years or 1,038 People covers.
People No. 7 pictures the late actor Lorne Greene with two acupuncture needles in his head and a third one being inserted. And no, it wasn't that year's worst seller. People No. 3, with a Dracula-like J. Paul Getty on the cover, achieved that dubious distinction. No. 1 on the '74 charts: "The Johnny Carsons," aka Johnny and third wife Joanna. People lured readers with this companion blurb: "A very private couple's quiet life at home."
All of this useless but essential information is within the just-issued "20 Years of People Covers," the steal of the century at $4.95. It shows that People was a bit slow to warm to the idea of TV people being potent enough to kick-start newsstand sales. Of 1974's 44 covers - People was born March 4 with Mia Farrow up front - only six were TV-powered. And in one of those issues, Carol Burnett had to share the cover with a nuzzling Rock Hudson, who wore a loud checked sports coat.
People gradually warmed to TV cover subjects, especially during the dominant years of "Dallas" and "Charlie's Angels." Various Ewings were on People covers more than any other TV characters. And "Angel" Farrah Fawcett, who spent only one year on the series, has been the magazine's most covered TV star.
People's first "Dallas" cover, dated Dec. 17, 1979, highlighted "Those `Dallas' women: the torrid trio in TV's talked-about hit." Victoria Principal, Linda Gray and Charlene Tilton held sway, while Larry Hagman tipped his hat in a smaller inset photo.
Hagman got his first solo cover - "Dallas' Dastardly Larry Hagman" - on April 14 of the following year. He was back exactly three months later, this time grinning from a wheelchair. "Who Shot J.R.?" People asked. "
1980 was a banner year for TV and People. More than one-third of that year's covers - 18 - had small-screen personalities out front. The March 3 issue was a double-shot. Lindsay Wagner commanded the most attention in a slinky dress. Broadly smiling in the upper right hand corner was Dan Rather. People wondered, "Is sex replacing trust at CBS?"
The reference was to Rather's emergence as the man most likely to replace Walter Cronkite as anchor of the "CBS Evening News." Fourteen years later, People could picture Connie Chung and ask the same question.
Chung's first cover appearance came on Aug. 20, 1990. "I Want A Child," it said in big, bold blue letters.
On Nov. 30, 1987, People says, it was only kidding with its "Sexiest Man Alive" cover photo of Jay Leno. "He paid us to say that," the magazine elaborated. "But he just might be the funniest."
Jay hasn't had a cover to himself since, but surprisingly, neither has David Letterman. A miniature Dave can be seen waving, however, on last year's "25 Most Intriguing People of the Year" issue. He's in the company of Jerry Seinfeld, Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts, Lyle Lovett, Lady Diana and Bill and Hillary.
The then Roseanne Barr achieved a rare double in 1989, appearing on back-to-back People covers. "Exclusive! Roseanne's Own Story" the magazine trumpeted on Oct. 2. And on Oct. 9, "My Insane Year."
Roseanne was back on People's cover in October 1991. "I Am An Incest Survivor," she proclaimed as part of her "brave confession."
One more time? Afraid so, on March 29 of last year with husband Tom Arnold. "The Terrible Two," People called them. But of course.
Getting a People cover doesn't always seem worth it. The accompanying blurbs can be enough to make any celeb rue the day. Try these on:
Oct. 7, 1985 - "`Miami Vice's' Don Johnson: What you don't know about NBC's prettiest peacock."
April 22, 1985 - "`Space's' James Garner: The Last Real Man."
Sept. 26, 1977 - "Charlie's Rookie Angel: Cheryl Ladd gets Farrah's job and `butterflies as big as elephants."'
July 14, 1986 - "Late Night Television's Smarty Pants: David Letterman."
March 8, 1982 - "Tom Selleck: `Magnum P.I.'s' sexy star has a TV hit and a seaside villa in Oahu, but his love life? It's got no Hawaiian punch."
April 25, 1977 - "The Flying Nun grows up: Sally Field makes a movie with The Fonz & has a fling with Burt."
And last but certainly least, Burt himself, pictured with Loni Anderson on the June 7, 1982 People.
"Burt Loves Loni," it said. "With the WKRP star at his side, Reynolds exults, `This is the best time of my life."'
That was then, this is the Sept. 13, 1993 People cover: "Loni vs. Burt: Inside Hollywood's Nastiest Divorce."
How long do you think it'll be before Burt "exults" again? People will keep you posted.
by CNB