TV & VIDEO - Aug. 16, 1988

For the second time in a week, violence broke out Sunday on the set of “The Morton Downey Jr. Show”--and this time, Downey himself was in the fray. Downey had two liberal Connecticut newspaper editors, Paul Bass and James Motavelli, on the show, and now Downey claims Bass chipped his front tooth with a punch. Bass denies hitting Downey, saying he only pushed the host’s cigarette away when he stuck it near his face. “You don’t like cigarettes?” Downey said, brandishing the cigarette. “Kiss my butt!” Downey then ordered the men off the stage and then everyone started grappling. Bass’s sister Sharon came out of the audience and slapped Downey, who promptly slapped her back. Bass plans to file assault charges against Downey and Downey says he plans to do the same against Bass. Another fight broke out last week during a taping of the show with New York activists, the Rev. Al Sharpton and Roy Innis.