THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 16, 1996 TAG: 9605150045
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Larry Bonko
TYPE: Column
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
NBC EXPECTS the world to stop Sunday night at 8 while everyone watches ``Mad About You'' to see if the four-year marriage of Paul and Jamie Buchman has crashed and burned.
Both engaged in serious flirting lately. Jamie kissed a guy who's not her husband. When Paul heard, he walked out, forgetting that he was tempted to do some extracurricular kissing, too.
Now this - Sunday night's one-hour special in which we see the Buchman marriage crumble before our eyes. Maybe.
In a conference-call the other day, ``Mad About You'' co-star and newly crowned queen of the silver screen Helen Hunt said the cast and crew taped several versions of what NBC is calling ``the unforgettable one-hour season finale.''
And what version will air? What becomes of Paul and Jamie's relationship in the season finale of a terribly overrated series that is moving to Tuesday night at 8 in September?
``Forget it,'' said Hunt. ``I'm not telling.''
Other news from NBC about the new season: The network has picked up ``The Jeff Foxworthy Show'' from ABC and will air it Monday night at 8.
Sunday's breaking-up-is-hard-to-do ``Mad About You'' is a May sweeps' ratings stunt, as was Superman leaving Lois behind when he dashed off to the new Krypton on the last ``Lois & Clark.'' As is Dan Conner's heart attack on ``Rose-anne,'' as is Dr. Mike's childbirth deep in the woods on ``Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.''
On ``Mad About You,'' the producers risk alienating the audience by messing with the Buchmans' marriage, and Hunt is aware of that. The viewers have invested time and emotion in that union.
``We'e taken a risk here,'' she said. ``If we've done this episode badly, then we'll loose the caring and sympathy of the audience that we've built up over four years. If we've done it right, the audience will relate to us as normal, flawed people. We never intended to cheat the audience or disappoint people in any way.''
E! Entertainment Television's cameras were on the scene for the final taping. On E!, I heard the studio audience gasp when the Buchmans' marriage hit the rocks.
The audience sounded plenty disappointed and cheated to me.
Prediction: The Buchmans will kiss and make up, and ``Mad About You'' will continue for two more years on NBC and then earn millions in syndication. In the meantime, the producers including Reiser have jerked us around just to bag big ratings.
I feel so used.
Lucy and Desi never did this to us.
If you hate what's happened to ``Mad About You,'' and intend to write to Hunt about it, save your stamp.
``I've never read a single fan letter since I've been on the show,'' she said.
Hunt said she has enough going on in her head without picking up the vibes of strangers. She doesn't read fan mail and she doesn't talk about her love life, deflecting questions about her boyfriend, actor Hank Azaria. ``I prefer not to discuss my personal and private life.''
However, Hunt bubbles over when you bring up her career, which is on a rocket ride with a Top 20 TV show and a hot new flick, ``Twister.''
Could the strain in the Buchman marriage on ``Mad About You'' be a prelude to Hunt's leaving the sitcom?
``I'm not leaving now or in the next two years. `Mad About You' is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to writing. In contrast, good movie scripts are next to impossible to find.''
There is also less wear and tear on a sitcom. Filming ``Twister'' left Hunt bruised and beat up. If the critics thrash Hunt for exploiting her character on ``Mad About You'' to get ratings, the black and blue marks won't show. by CNB