DATE: Monday, September 15, 1997            TAG: 9709150225

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: Larry Bonko 

                                            LENGTH:   42 lines

TONIGHT'S TV PREMIERE

"George and Leo"

Network, time: CBS, 9:30 p.m. Mondays.

Cast: Bob Newhart, Judd Hirsch, Jason Bateman, Bess Meyer and Darryl Theirse.

Concept: It's an odd couple/grumpy old men comedy with a wimpish book store owner on Martha's Vineyard (Newhart as George) forced to cope with loud, obnoxious Las Vegas bag man-hustler-deadbeat (Hirsch as Leo) because Leo's daughter is marrying George's son.

Mini-review: The two old pros, Newhart and Hirsch, don't click here because Hirsch's Leo is so overbearing. When they trade verbal shots, Leo gets the best of George. He even makes fun of Newhart's stammering, a device on which the comic has built a long TV career. Easy, Judd. We love Bob. This sitcom may have worked in the 1970s but not in the we-want-edgy-comedy 1990s. ** (out of a possible five). "Michael Hayes"

Network, time: CBS, 9 p.m. Tuesdays. Sneak preview tonight at 10.

Cast: David Caruso, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Mary B. Ward, Jimmy Galeota.

Concept: Caruso, in his return to primetime after leaving ``NYPD Blue,'' plays an ex-cop turned crusading federal prosecutor who heads the public corruption unit in New York City. It's a cop show and a lawyer show all in one.

Mini-review: Caruso is thinner and paler than when we was busting the perps as Detective John Kelly on ``NYPD Blue,'' but his TV presence is as strong as ever. Nobody peels off wise-guy dialogue (``There is no deal. You will do time.'') better than Caruso. The problem with this drama is twofold: The plot lines are cluttered and hard to follow - most certainly in the pilot - and Caruso's character gets all soft and smarmy when dealing with the family of his ex-con brother. Lose that sub-plot, CBS. ** 1/2 ILLUSTRATION: Photo

CBS

Bob Newhart, left, and Judd Hirsch star in ``George & Leo.''

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