ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 3, 1996 TAG: 9608060028
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: S-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: PASADENA, CALIF.
SOURCE: ED BARK DALLAS MORNING NEWS
Alan Alda ``got past the chatting stage,'' Danny Glover got mentioned in the ``speculation stage'' and Anthony LaPaglia finally got the lead part on ``Murder One.''
Ironically, the intense young New York actor first attracted notice in Alda's feature film ``Betsy's Wedding.'' He'll play defense lawyer James Wyler when the acclaimed series returns to ABC in the fall with three cases instead of one. Television being what it is, LaPaglia is fated to compete for viewers with his brother, Jonathan LaPaglia, a new member of Fox's ``New York Undercover'' cast. Both shows are scheduled at 9 p.m.Thursdays.
``We don't have a sibling rivalry,'' Anthony said recently. ``I'm his older brother and I'll kick his butt if he doesn't behave himself. We have an understanding.''
The elder LaPaglia is replacing problematic Daniel Benzali, who played raspy, imposing law firm major-domo Teddy Hoffman throughout ``Murder One's'' kickoff season. Benzali reportedly poisoned his future with the show by repeatedly being ``difficult'' on the set.
``Murder One'' executive producer Steven Bochco bounced hot-tempered, would-be movie star David Caruso from ``NYPD Blue'' two seasons ago. He declined to say whether Benzali's behavior eventually became an issue. ABC chairman Ted Harbert was slightly more forthcoming.
``I support the decision,'' he said.
LaPaglia has made a limited two-and-a-half season commitment to ``Murder One,'' but said he is ``very open'' to someday extending the deal.
``It's becoming common for actors to go into a series, get a lot of `heat' attention and then move out into films,'' LaPaglia said. ``And it always creates a lot of animosity. I would rather be upfront and honest about the amount of time that I could commit to it.''
Bochco said he had almost written off ``Murder One'' when the ratings plunged. ``I would love to have that problem,'' he said of possibly having to find another lead actor several seasons from now. ``In the immortal words of Ted Kennedy, I'll drive off that bridge when I get to it.''
``Murder One's'' opening case will run eight weeks, with attorney Wyler defending a young woman accused of murdering the governor of California and his mistress. The middle case will be ``somewhat smaller,'' followed by a ``larger third story'' to wrap up the season, Bochco said.
ABC has ordered 18 episodes of the series, down from 22 last year. A majority of the first season's cast is returning, including Bochco's Emmy-nominated wife, Barbara Bosson, as prosecutor Miriam Grasso.
LaPaglia's character will be single and roll up his shirtsleeves, something the formal, seemingly tourniqueted Hoffman never attempted.
``He's a much less formal guy,'' Bochco said of Wyler. ``More of a kind of blue-collar sensibility. A little more spontaneous, a little more volatile. Every bit as smart, but less cautious.''
Harbert praised Bochco for ``not having to be told by the stupid network'' to change ``Murder One's'' lead actor and shorten its cases.
The quality of the closing episodes convinced him that ``there aren't a lot of shows on television that are this good,'' he added. ``So I said that some new ABC drama is going to have to be just outstanding to throw this thing off the air. And we had other good dramas, but this one's better. It deserved another chance.''
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Anthony LaPaglia will join the cast of ABC's ``Murderby CNBOne'' this fall. color.