TV & VIDEO - Jan. 23, 1989

Both CBS and ABC reportedly want Angela Lansbury, but she won’t discuss any negotiations. The “Murder, She Wrote” star has said she only would do the show through this, its fifth, season. But CBS is actively courting her to continue. Enter now ABC, which also has had “some discussions” with Lansbury about making her character part of the new “ABC Mystery Theater” series. Under that arrangement, she would have to turn out an episode every month or so, instead of every week. But ABC Entertainment President Brandon Stoddard joked that ratings-troubled CBS would be unlikely to let the star of one of its few hit shows go, preferring to keep her on the air in any way, shape or form--”including slides.”