DEAD ‘CENTER’

After reading Patrick Goldstein’s favorable review (“ ‘Alive’ and Well on PBS,” July 13), I was curious enough to tune into “Alive From Off Center,” despite my aversion to host Laurie Anderson’s gimmicky pretentiousness.

After 15 minutes of this “video art,” I switched the channel to SCTV, where the video medium was used 100 times more innovatively, perceptively and amusingly. And they didn’t have to try nearly so hard to be clever.

JERRY KAZDOY

Studio City