TV & VIDEO - June 11, 1987

Denver station KCNC-TV is dropping the “Donahue” show after 12 years because of what station officials say is its preoccupation with unconventional sex, the Denver Post reported Wednesday. A spokesman for the station said officials tired of complaints about shows dealing with such topics as anal intercourse, bestiality, bisexuality, homosexuality, transvestism and pedophilia. The cancellation, effective in September, makes KCNC-TV the first station among 200 “Donahue” outlets to drop the program because of content; Chicago’s WBBM-TV, Donahue’s home station before he moved to New York 18 months ago, will discontinue the show in the fall because of poor ratings. “Donahue” will be aired in Denver, however, on rival station KMGH. Donahue was said to be on vacation and was not reached for comment.