THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 13, 1996 TAG: 9607110054
SECTION: TELEVISION WEEK PAGE: 01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY BONKO, TELEVISION COLUMNIST
LENGTH: 81 lines
WILL WE EVER TIRE of hearing about ``the trial of the century'' that acquitted O.J. Simpson of double homicide?
Not anytime soon, according to author-commentator Dominick Dunne who on Sunday at 9 p.m. appears on The Learning Channel to share his insights and impressions of the trial after spending months in the courtroom.
``The Trial of O.J. Simpson: An Insider's View with Dominick Dunne'' will be followed at 10 by a special that portrays the proceedings in Judge Lance Ito's courtroom through the eyes of African-Americans. Viewed together, both TLC specials deliver insights, analysis and opinions that tie up the Simpson saga in one neat package.
Let's say you were stranded on a desert isle for the past two years. Or are among the space invaders in ``Independence Day.'' How best to get caught up on O.J.?
Watch these TLC specials.
``If I had suggested to my editor a plot for a novel that encompasses the elements of the Simpson case, it would have rejected as too improbable. It's been so bizarre, surreal,'' said Dunne in a telephone interview. He is completing a work of fiction that has as its background story the Simpson trial.
As for any lessening interest in the Simpson case, don't look for that to happen, said Dunne. ``The story has not gone away. Not at all. People are still waiting for its conclusion. And I think there is more drama to come. I have a feeling that something huge will erupt from this thing.''
What will the viewer learn from TLC's ``The O.J. Simpson Trial: Beyond Black and White,'' in which a cross-section of blacks speak out on everything from the Bronco chase to Simpson's lawyers? That race is still a divisive issue in this country, say the producers.
Like documentaries? Then this is your week. They are most welcome in the season of the network reruns.
PBS affiliate WHRO on Sunday at 8 p.m. airs a locally produced special about the watermen of Guinea Neck, a Chesapeake Bay fishing community, where families have been doing the same kind of work for 70 years. Producer Sharon Zuber did ``They Live in Guinea'' as a tribute to the people of the community of churches, schools and old-fashioned general stores where she lives.
Zuber tells her story through the eyes of Buck Rowe, who runs a general store. An easy-to-take Virginia history lesson, it repeats on Thursday night at 11:30.
Less easy to take is the ``P.O.V.'' special on WHRO Tuesday night at 10. ``The Women Outside'' tells a story the Pentagon prefers be left untold: how establishing U.S. bases in Korea cranked up the Korean sex industry.
With the camp towns came the brothels financed with money from the pay of U.S. troops.
Also from PBS and WHRO in the week to come: ``Heart of Africa,'' a three-hour TV safari to the soul of the Dark Continent. It starts Monday at 8 p.m. See volcanoes! See a relative of the giraffe named the okapi! See mountain gorillas!
Elsewhere in Tube Town in the week to come, NBC alerts us to the fact that the 1996 Olympics are just about here. Bob Costas on Wednesday at 9 p.m. hosts ``The Sports Illustrated Olympic Special: A Prelude to the Games.'' Just 48 hours after that, the games Begin.
Anne Bancroft is quite marvelous in ``Homecoming,'' which premieres on the USA network Wednesday night at 8. She's the curmudgeonly grandmother of four abandoned kids. Watch this one with your family. . . . You're no kid if you remember when Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield were battling for the title of sexiest blonde in Hollywood. The Discovey Channel on Sunday at 10 p.m. brings back the era of heaving bosoms with ``Rivals! Mansfield and Monroe'' . days of summer is a long miniseries every week. First up on Sunday at 7 p.m. is ``North and South'' to be followed by ``Rich Man, Poor Man'' on July 21 and ``Jesus of Nazareth'' on July 28.
Is this the year Helen Hunt wins the Emmy for her work on ``Mad About You``? Let's see if she gets nominated first. E! Entertainment Television on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. has ``Live Primetime Emmy Awards Nominations'' from Hollywood . . . What's new about time travel on TV? Nothing much except that on the Sci-Fi Channel, a 12-year-old boy gets to do it in ``Timemaster.'' The flick, set in the apocalyptic 21st century, premieres Saturday night at 8. . . in hurricane alley. ``Wonders of Weather: Hurricane'' wll be seen Monday night at 8. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS
O.J. Simpson by CNB