Generation gap.

I just finished reading your exceedingly telling piece about Home and Garden Television. As a producer of several series for HGTV, I appreciated your wit and insights. However, I must pick a bone with you. I am executive producer of "Flea Market Finds with the Kovels," which you have redubbed "Shopping for Junk with Old People." First of all, the show is about finds, and while there are $1.00 and $5.00 items, we also uncovered a trade sign selling for $24,000, American Indian rugs selling for $50,000, and other real treasures. Ralph and Terry don't go to flea markets to buy sunglasses, T-shirts, and jeans and other people's crap; they go to them to find the collectible treasures that enable us to appreciate our history and traditions.

But it is to the "Old People" that I object. This is an outrageous example of young whippersnapper ageism. The Kovels warrant a great deal of respect in the antiques and collectible field. For 50 years (meaning, yes they are old, but they are also experienced) they have written more than 70 books on the subject of antiques and collectibles; they publish a monthly newsletter with a paid circulation of 200,000 (and just how many copies of The Washington Monthly are sold?).

In point of fact, had you a fraction of the success in writing and publishing that the Kovels have had, you could buy any house you wanted in the overpriced Washington, D.C., area, pay cash for it, and not blink an eye.

George Merlis

Fisher/Merlis Television Production and Consulting

Los Angeles, Calif.