Edward Asner and Gary Cole portray father-and-son...

Edward Asner and Gary Cole portray father-and-son physicians who have chemical dependency problems in “Following the Footsteps,” a TV movie for CBS. Also starring are Barbara Barrie and Kate McNeil as the men’s respective wives.

Another CBS movie dealing with drinking problems is “Adult Children of Alcoholics,” with Andy Griffith in the lead role of a man whose alcoholism hurts his career and his loved ones. The movie also stars Season Hubley and Joyce Van Patten.

“Miami Vice” notes: Singer Phil Collins, whose song “In the Air Tonight” was used in the “Miami Vice” pilot last season, will act in a forthcoming episode of the NBC cop show. . . . Appearing in another installment will be convicted Watergate conspirator G. Gordon Liddy, playing a cocaine smuggler.

Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles hosts Thursday’s edition of “An American Portrait” on CBS to pay tribute to John Dillon, founder and director of the Chrysalis Center in Los Angeles, which gives food and clothing to the poor. The one-minute spot, part of CBS’ series of salutes to admirable United States citizens, will air at 8:58 p.m. on Channels 2 and 8.

The 10th annual “Circus of the Stars” is scheduled Dec. 8 on CBS and will feature Bea Arthur, Merv Griffin and Dick Clark as the ringmasters. Other celebrities on hand will include Burt Lancaster, Phyllis Diller, Lana Turner, Pernell Roberts, Perry King, Nell Carter and Ricky Schroder. . . . That same night, CBS plans to broadcast “All-Star Party for ‘Dutch’ Reagan,” a fund-raising gala for Variety Clubs International honoring President Reagan.

Katharine Hepburn is making another movie for TV. It’s called “Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry,” about a late-blooming romance between her character and one played by Harold Gould. Also featured in the production for CBS are Denholm Elliott, Bibi Besch, John Pleshette and David Ogden Stiers.