THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508130131
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LARRY BONKO
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
DEBBIE SHELTON, Norfolk's queen of the silver screen who has appeared in dark and depressing films lately, lightens up finally when she plays opposite Adam West in ``The Clinic'' on Comedy Central.
That's Adam ``Batman'' West.
The sitcom, spoofing ``ER,'' ``Chicago Hope,'' ``General Hospital'' and just about any other TV doctor show you can think of, premieres tonight with back-to-back episodes beginning at 11:30 p.m.
In the first show, Shelton makes a slam-bang entrance that actresses die for. She's cast as a city commissioner hellbent on closing a clinic run by West's character.
Shelton said she was delighted that the former writers for David Letterman (Matt Wickline and Sandy Frank, who are producing ``The Clinic'') gave her a role that carries through five episodes - delighted that they believe she can trade one-liners with West.
How many laughs were there for Shelton when she played J.R. Ewing's mistress on ``Dallas''?
Lately in Hollywood, Shelton has been making films she describes as erotic thrillers. Debbie in lingerie. Debbie as the victim. No laughs there.
``I love doing comedy, and this was fun, she said. ``The hard part was following the producers' instructions to play it straight and let the comedy take care of itself.
``They told me, `Don't play it for laughs. Don't play it for laughs.' ''
West in ``The Clinic'' is doing what he did in the 1960s in the Batman role on ABC. No matter how silly or outrageous the line of dialogue may be, he plays it straight.
Brandon Tartikoff, who once ran NBC, and now heads up the company (New World Entertainment) that produced this sitcom in Los Angeles, said Shelton the comedian ``did just fine.''
``The Clinic,'' is a cute concept - making fun of the dialogue in the straight medical shows - but the laughs don't come often enough.
``He drinks to bury an awful secret,'' West said of his character. Any actor who worked on this mess is entitled to a stiff drink.
Comedy Central has announced that on Aug. 26 at 11:30 p.m. it will revive ``The Ben Stiller Show,'' which aired for a season on Fox.
``The Ben Stiller Show'' wasn't always great TV, but it had its bright moments, which is more than you can say for ``The Clinic.'' Sorry, Debbie. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Shelton
by CNB