THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 3, 1997 TAG: 9702010101
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: 84 lines
YOU SAW Dick Clark backstage at the Golden Globes, interviewing the winners on NBC. Now see Clark on the Family Channel hosting a new game show.
FAM, the cable channel that calls Virginia Beach home, will also do business with first brother Roger Clinton. But it's all over between FAM and Chuck Woolery.
He's been replaced on the daily two-hour ``Home & Family'' by Michael Burger, the Mike of the late ``Mike & Maty.'' FAM won't say why Woolery left the show, co-hosted by Cristina Ferrare. Woolery walked shortly before ``Home & Family,'' a mix of talk, variety and household hints taped in Universal City, Calif., was renewed for a second season. The ratings say it's more popular with women 18 to 49 than it was eight months ago.
The FAM suits (chief executive officer Tony Thomopoulos and president of programming Gus Lucas) say the cable channel is on a roll. They are bringing aboard Clark, Clinton and Shirley Jones to sustain the momentum.
``The last six months were a period of high activity for us. In the next six months, the growth will continue,'' Thomopoulos told TV writers in Los Angeles earlier this month.
FAM's projects for the near future include:
``It Takes Two,'' a half-hour game and variety show hosted by Clark, who knows this genre. He's won two Emmys hosting ``The $25,000 Pyramid.'' Two contestants per team wrestle with such challenges as guessing the number of spots on a Dalmatian. It premieres March 10 at 4 p.m.
Speaking of canines, FAM on March 23 at 7 p.m. will break out ``Dog's Best Friend,'' a comedy in which Ed Asner, Jim Belushi, Meredith Baxter, Valerie Harper, Markie Post, John Ratzenberger and Roger Clinton give voice to animals who ``talk'' to a 12-year-old farm boy. Digital technology makes it happen. Richard Mulligan and Shirley Jones play the boy's grandparents.
To mark Black History Month, FAM on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. will show ``The Ditchdigger's Daughters,'' a film based on Yvonne Thornton's novel about six sisters in an African-American family whose father envisioned them as doctors and lawyers, not what he called the three M's - mammies, maids and mommies. Carl Lumbly stars.
Part 2 of FAM's ``The Beef'' series will roll out at 7 p.m. on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, hosted by Tim Conway. ``The Beef: Romantic Beefs'' takes up ugly bridesmaid dresses, foot odor, grocery lists and disputes about renting movies. A bit more uplifting is ``Miracles & Wonders,'' premiering Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. with Tracy Nelson introducing viewers to miraculous rescues, comebacks and cures.
FAM is conducting a national search for students and their parents to take part in a panel discussion (``Do You Know What Your Family Is Watching on TV Tonight?'') during a cable TV convention in New Orleans in March. Robert Urich will be the moderator. To enter the search, call (800) 692-6224.
Clark is pushing 70, but the world's oldest living teenager isn't looking for a rocking chair. When he's not playing executive in charge of game and awards shows at Dick Clark Productions, he's on camera for NBC (``All-New All-Star TV's Censored Tickle Me Bloopers'' will air Feb. 22).
``You never know what's going to come out from behind the door when we start doing `It Takes Two.' We'll teach you about all sorts of stuff in the guise of entertainment,'' said Clark when FAM introduced the show to TV writers recently.
He's a man in motion. ``I'm for hire to anybody who wants me,'' he said.
FAM wants him as Dick Clark, game show host. An easy gig, he said, explaining: ``I've been doing it for about a hundred years. I do what I do pretty well, and I never forget how to do it.''
Clinton has less going for him than Clark. So how could he say no when the producers of ``Dog's Best Friend'' asked him to do the pig's voice? ``I follow my heart,'' Clinton, a singer and songwriter, said when asked why he chose the FAM film. ``This little opportunity with the Family Channel falls right in with my greater scheme of incorporating family values when I entertain people.''
In fact, Clinton is the voice of three barnyard creatures in ``Dog's Best Friend.'' Brother Bubba in the White House must be proud. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
Shirley Jones will star in "Dog's Best Friend."
THE FAMILY CHANNEL
Michael Burger, below, is replacing Chuck Woolery as co-host - with
Cristina Ferrare - of the daily two-hour "Home & Family" show.
FILE PHOTO
Dick Clark will host the new game show ``It Takes Two.''
Roger Clinton's voice will be heard on ``Dog's Best Friend.''