Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 13, 1994 TAG: 9408160020
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: S-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By LYNN ELBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
The producers of "SHE TV" want viewers to laugh at sketch comedy with a female viewpoint. They want them to laugh between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., the dead-serious zone of newsmagazines and dramas. They even want them to think about what's making them laugh.
And, get this, the Turners are doing this in the Tuesday slot when audiences expect to see the tough-guy crimebusters of "NYPD Blue."
"SHE TV," debuting Tuesday on ABC (WSET-Channel 13) for a six-week summer run, features just three men - Nick Bakay, Carl Banks and Elon Gold - among its eight regulars, turning the usual male-female ratio of such sketch shows as "Saturday Night Live" on its ear.
Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Kash, Simbi Khali, Becky Thyre and Linda Wallem are the other performers in the hour-long show, which promises sexy, topical humor with a "female voice."
The premiere episode will include spoofs of "NYPD Blue," "Beavis and Butt-head" (we meet moms Mrs. Beavis and Mrs. Butt-head) and daytime game shows in a sketch titled "What Do Women Want?"
We also hear Barbie boyfriend Ken whine about how tough it is being the only man in a doll's world.
Estelle Getty, Teri Garr, George Hamilton and political satirist Al Franken are the scheduled guests.
A future episode includes the rarity of male impersonation as the lovely Coolidge plays lovely romance icon Fabio.
But male-bashers need not apply to "SHE TV;" those expecting a feminist ode to female superiority also will be disappointed, say the creators. The plan is to try for a fresh approach to issues that affect both sexes.
"We're not excluding men from the fun," says Bonnie Turner.
"Strong enough for a man. Made for a women," deadpans Terry Turner.
The husband-and-wife comedy writing team, whose credits include "Saturday Night Live" and the movie "Wayne's World," took a tandem interview break from putting finishing touches on the first hour.
The Turners share executive producer credit with George Schlatter of "Laugh-In" fame; the show is from Carsey-Werner Co., which produces "Roseanne" and "Grace Under Fire."
All the players know that "SHE TV" must quickly find an audience if it wants to make a midseason comeback. But there is that odd, unhappy fact that comedy is uncommon in the last hour of prime-time television.
"Ten o'clock has turned into the fear hour," Bonnie Turner says. "It's like fear-based programming, all news and one-hour dramas."
Terry Turner adopts a somber, mock-anchorman voice: "These homes were built on a chemical dump and everyone died. Is this going to happen to you? Tune in. These people thought they were taking aspirin and they all died.
"Grim," he concludes.
"It would just be nice to laugh at 10 o'clock at night," Bonnie Turner continues. "At least viewers will have a better shot at not being completely depressed when they watch the local news."
There's also the task of selling satire to America. Will people be entertained by social and political commentary, no matter how well-coated in laughs?
"I think insight is a good time," responds Bonnie Turner. "I think if you watch something and you take something away with you, whether it made you feel good or you say `I never thought of that' ... that's entertainment."
Some of the show, she adds, is "just plain-out intellectual pie in the face."
The cast includes veterans of improvisational and skit comedy. Coolidge is a former Groundling, Kash was with Second City, Thyre worked with SCTV, Bakay was on "In Living Color." Some have worked comedy clubs, others are fresh out of school.
Women generally have been reluctant to go into what the Turners call "hard" comedy, comedy that's topical and provocative.
"It's a very tough life," Bonnie Turner says. She considers Roseanne - "she came along, talked about the truth and blew everybody away" - a groundbreaker.
Here's a comforting thought for groundbreaking "SHE TV's" chances for survival. Timing is key in comedy, and the Turners say the series' timing is good.
"There are a lot of high-profile women, Janet Reno, Hillary Clinton, two women on the Supreme Court," says Terry Turner. And now, "There's someone to make fun of them," says Bonnie Turner, finishing the thought.
That includes equal opportunity jabs at Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, Bonnie Turner insists: "We're not politically correct. Our first job is to be funny."
by CNB