THE SCREEN : `LEAVING L.A.' THE HARD WAY; `GUN' ON TARGET.Byline: Keith Marder on TV ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. rolls out a couple of original dramas tonight as the new shows just keep on coming. First it's ``Leaving L.A.,'' a quirky look at the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Coroner's office, followed by ``Gun,'' a show starring a pistol. LEAVING L.A. 9 p.m. Saturdays (KABC KABC Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children , Channel 7) Premieres: 9 tonight Starring: Chris Meloni (Reed Simms), Melina Kanakaredes Melina Eleni Kanakaredes (born April 23, 1967) is a Daytime Emmy-nominated American actress. Kanakaredes is known for her starring role as Dr. Sydney Hansen on the television show Providence. She currently stars in the CBS show as Det. (Libby Gallante), Lorraine Toussaint Lorraine Toussaint (born April 4, 1960 in Trinidad, West Indies) is a television actress best known for playing assistant medical examiner Elaine Duchamps on the television drama Crossing Jordan. (Dr. Claudia Chan), Hilary Swank (Tiffany Roebuck), Billie Worley (Manny Manny may refer to: In nobility:
Network pitch: Suicides, murders and other unexplained deaths can be mysterious ways to ``leave Los Angeles,'' but the dedicated investigators of the Los Angeles County Coroner's office are there to uncover the truth. Translation: People who make their money by working with dead people are often weird. Alternate titles: ``The Dead Zone,'' ``ER: A Day Too Late.'' Pros: Great if you like gallows humor gallows humor, n a dark or morbid sense of humor unique to people who deal with suffering and tragedy—for example, patients who are terminally ill joking about their illness or death as a means of coping with the illness. . ... Cool aerial views of L.A. . ... Definitely different. ... Can be quirky in that ``St. Elsewhere''/``Northern Exposure'' kind of way. Cons: Big cast full of weird characters that is hard to follow. .... You see lots of dead folks. ... Death is considered funny. ... Rough language. Sound bite: Reed: ``The dead have a lot to say. They just have their own language: Stiffbonics.'' Prognosis: Death is a tough sell. Grade: C GUN 10 p.m. Saturdays (KABC, Channel 7) Premieres: 10 tonight Starring: A gun. Network pitch: Award-winning producers Robert Altman (``The Player'') and Jim Sadwith (``Sinatra'') present the gripping, hourlong prime-time series that follows the life of a .45-caliber, semi-automatic, pearl-handled handgun as it moves from one unpredictable situation to another each week. Translation: A show with a straight-shooting star won't renegotiate if the ratings get good, as they should, or if there is a big syndication deal. The cast and story will change each week a la ``The Twilight Zone'' and ``Alfred Hitchcock Presents.'' Alternate title: ``Pearl (Handle).'' Pros: Interesting premise. ... Fun to see who will show up each week (Daniel Stern stars in the opener) and other episodes will star Rosanna Arquette, Daryl Hannah, Peter Horton, Randy Quaid, Jennifer Tilly and Sean Young. When it takes off, others should follow. ... First episode is a great spoof on Hollywood. ... A great vehicle for great storytelling. ... Has the advantage of Altman producing and directing. Cons: A gun is the star. ... Could be erratic. Sound bite: Harvey Hochfelder: ``This is exactly why I'm leaving this town (L.A.), the crime and the stupidity.'' Prognosis: This is an excellent show. Let's hope it can attract an audience on Saturdays. Grade: A CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Ron Rifkin, left, Chris Meloni, Hilary Swank, Cress Williams, Melina Kanakaredes and Lorraine Toussaint star in ``Leaving L.A.'' |
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