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President Reagan will be honored by Variety...

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President Reagan will be honored by Variety Clubs International at a black-tie entertainment gala that will air on CBS. Proceeds from the annual event go toward building new facilities at children’s hospitals. Both the President and the First Lady will attend the December taping of “All Star Party for ‘Dutch’ Reagan,” a reference to his nickname when he worked in Hollywood.

Phil Donahue, who has written a book called “The Human Animal,” will host a five-part TV series for NBC with the same title. Set to air later this season, the program will explore a variety of questions pertaining to human behavior, including love, parenting, violence and work. It is being produced by Jack Willis.

ABC News is planning another of its three-hour documentaries for December, this one to deal with “Growing Old in America.” Hugh Downs of “20/20” will host, with Marshall Frady as the correspondent. The program will look at how Social Security, Medicare, pension plans and other programs for the elderly will cope with the increasing population of people over the age of 65, at how the lengthening life span is affecting retirement plans and at how well the health care needs of the elderly are being met.

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Castings: Polly Bergen will appear in an upcoming installment of CBS’ “Murder, She Wrote” as an English professor who dislikes her daughter because she writes trashy novels. . . . June Allyson and Ray Walston will be guest stars on an episode of NBC’s “Misfits of Science”. . . . Richard Mulligan will play Art Carney’s role as a department store Santa Claus in a remake of the 1960 “Twilight Zone” story called “Night of the Meek.” It is being directed for CBS by Martha Coolidge, whose film credits include “Real Genius” and “Valley Girl.”

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