‘DYNASTY’ SHOWS KNOCKOUT POWER

ABC’s “Dynasty” apparently has knocked off a couple of challengers on Wednesday nights.

Although neither network has posted a cancellation notice, workers at the production offices for NBC’s “Hell Town” and CBS’ “George Burns’ Comedy Week” reported that they’ve been told by the networks that no more episodes will be ordered.

“Hell Town,” a drama that stars Robert Blake as a priest, got off to a good start this season but has been fading in recent weeks against “Dynasty,” the highest-rated series on TV last season. The first-year NBC series currently ranks 42nd among the 71 series that have aired on the three networks this season.

The George Burns show, one of four anthology series to premiere this season, has fared even worse than “Hell Town,” ranking 59th in the season-to-date averages. CBS already has announced that another of its weak Wednesday shows, “Stir Crazy,” will be replaced Dec. 11 by two comedies, “Mary” and “Foley Square.”

Replacements for “Hell Town” and “George Burns’ Comedy Week” have not been announced and probably won’t debut until January.

MORE CHANGES: A new version of “Love American Style,” the popular comedy series that ran on ABC from 1969 to 1973, is coming to TV--but for daytime, not prime time, where the earlier show was seen.

“New Love American Style” will replace “All-Star Blitz” in ABC’s weekday schedule beginning Dec. 23, the network said. Each half-hour episode will contain two stories.

“This is the most ambitious project ever presented on daytime--original romantic comedy on a day-to-day basis,” declared Jacqueline Smith, vice president of daytime programs for ABC.

Among the performers who will be seen in early episodes are Morgan Brittany, David Doyle, Charlene Tilton, Jared Martin, Donna Pescow and Willie Aames.

The networks traditionally have had success in daytime only by programming game shows and soap operas. But Smith said she thought “New Love American Style” would be compatible with viewer tastes because ABC will be offering “love stories with happy endings in the morning and continuing love stories in the afternoon.”