TV REVIEW : PAYING TRIBUTE TO BEST OF MEDIUM

To those who persist in propagating the notion that television is nothing more than an idiot box: Your attention is called to “The Television Academy Hall of Fame,” to be broadcast on NBC at 9 tonight (Channels 4, 36 and 39).

Here, in the careers of the seven inductees, is irrefutable evidence that the medium is capable of producing genuinely funny, moving, uplifting, informative, entertaining, enlightening programs.

It doesn’t do so as often as it should--certainly not as often as we’d like--but then, how often do talents like these come along? Joining the 14 performers, creators, newsmen and broadcast executives previously installed in the Hall of Fame of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences are Jackie Gleason, Mary Tyler Moore, Walt Disney, Steve Allen, former CBS President Frank Stanton, producer Fred Coe and puppeteer Burr Tillstrom.

Ironically, the TV ceremony conceived to highlight their achievements commits one of the sins for which the medium is most often, and most justifiably, criticized: concern for “entertainment values”--pacing, jokes, production numbers--overshadows substance. The program barely begins to do justice to its honorees.

What makes it worthwhile nonetheless are the film clips (which remind us of some of the fine moments these people brought us) and the comments of some of the award presenters, who acknowledge the inspiration they derived from the Hall of Famers.

David Letterman pays tribute to Steve Allen, and it’s easy to see in the clips how Letterman’s late-night show has been influenced by Allen. John Candy tells of being inspired by Jackie Gleason; Patty Duke talks about working for Fred Coe in two productions of “The Miracle Worker.” Most touching of all, Jim Henson pays homage to Burr Tillstrom, the man who gave us “Kukla, Fran and Ollie” and helped motivate Henson to create the Muppets.

At the end of the program, NBC Chairman Grant Tinker observes of the seven inductees: “Their careers are eloquent testimonies to the quality of work that is possible in this medium. May it continue to be an inspiration to us all.”

Hear, hear.