SHOWTIME ORDERS ‘CHASE’ EPISODES

Showtime cable has ordered six new hours of “The Paper Chase,” segments that will begin airing next spring and lead up to a special two-hour graduation episode. When the series began on CBS in 1979, it told the story of first-year law students, now heading toward graduation. The show was given new life by Showtime after being dropped by CBS.

After the new hours have been seen, Showtime will then air all 58 existing episodes of the program of a weekly basis. This will mark the first weekly showing of “The Paper Chase” on Showtime and will guarantee that the series will continue as part of Showtime’s schedule into 1987.

John Houseman will continue to star as Professor Kingsfield, with James Stephens as Hart, a law student. Others in the cast include Tom Fitzsimmons, James Keane, Andra Millian, Michael Tucci, Diana Douglas, Claire Kirkconnell, Peter Nelson and Lainie Kazan.