THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 30, 1995 TAG: 9503300048
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines
THIS IS A MEMO from your humble columnist to Ted Harbert, president of ABC Entertainment, 77 W. 66th St., New York, N.Y. 10023.
I am writing on behalf of 16-year-old Angela Lipps of Edenton, N.C.; 12-year old Rita Utz of Chesapeake; 44-year-old Kathy Davis of Virginia Beach; and others in Hampton Roads who are crazy about the drama ``My So-Called Life.''
They all know it's facing cancellation.
Dear Ted:
Angela, Rita and Kathy were among the capacity crowd of 247 people who gathered recently in the auditorium at the Virginia Beach Central Library to see what I call the lost episodes of ``My So-Called Life.'' Your affiliate in Hampton Roads (WVEC) never ran the next- to-the-last episode and aired the season finale at 1:51 a.m.
When I heard about that, I asked your network for tapes of episodes No. 18 and No. 19 and then arranged a screening - free of charge, of course - at the library with the help of librarian Carolyn L. Barkley and her gracious staff.
I'm sorry to say that we had to turn away some folks, because the library is strict about enforcing the city's fire codes. No standees. Nobody sitting in the aisles. People came from eight cities to see the episodes played out on the auditorium's large screen.
Their ages ranged from 10 to 64. Most signed a petition urging you to include ``My So-Called Life'' on the ABC schedule next fall.
``Put it back on the air. Please,'' wrote 34-year-old Janet Brinkley of Virginia Beach next to her signature.
I have enclosed the petition.
It was a goose-pimply experience to be there in the library's deliciously cozy theater watching the young people in the red seats lose themselves in the experiences of Angela and her friends on ``My So-Called Life.''
Charlie Hackney, 17, and her friend Lissa Bradley, 16, also of Virginia Beach, say they are so moved by the series that they often cry when they watch.
Do you know what other teenagers in Hampton Roads do when the show is on?
Tracey Mahaffey, 14, and Rebecca Nelson, 14, talk to each other on the phone for the entire hour that ``My So-Called Life'' is airing. They feel they have to share their feelings about what is happening RIGHT NOW!
Linda Eadie, an English teacher in Virginia Beach who also attended the screenings, told me that the faculty at her school (Bayside High) as well as her students bring up the show all the time.
``My So-Called Life'' creates a buzz in Virginia Beach.
``It's the only show on television I can relate to,'' said Rebecca Nelson.
Aimee Meara, 13, of Virginia Beach said the same thing in different words: ``We don't care what goes on in Beverly Hills, but we do care what goes on in Angela's high school.''
The young women here really, really care about what goes on with Jared Leto, who plays Jordan, Angela's dumb and dumber boyfriend. When his handsome mug first appeared on the big screen in the library's auditorium, the girls let out a great big sigh.
And a scream or two.
They've fallen for Jordan, and they relate to Angela, as portrayed by Claire Danes. After the screening, I don't know how many 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds came up to me to say, ``She is us and we are her.''
How in the world could a network even think of canceling a show that moves young people - people of all ages - in such a warm and wonderful way? Does ABC need another sitcom block so badly that it would cancel a show that brought out more than 247 people to a library's auditorium in a show of support on a school night?
``I relate to this show and the people on it. I do exactly,'' said Cathy Moody, 14, of Virginia Beach. She urged me to use my influence with you to keep the show on.
I should be so lucky to have influence over a network boss. The best I can do is what I have done - arrange a screening of the lost episodes of ``My So-Called Life'' for those who so desperately wanted to see it, and to write this memo to you, Ted.
Here in the 40th largest TV market, we've done our best to convince you that ``My So-Called Life'' is worth saving. People here say they want another screening of the lost episodes. That's support, Ted.
Your humble servant.
Larry Bonko. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
ABC
From left, Bess Armstrong, Lisa Aihoit, Tom Irwin and Claire Danes
of "My So-Called Life."
by CNB