TV & VIDEO - May 1, 1989

Real life and drama will merge again this week when 29 homeless people take on screen extra roles on Thursday’s episode of “L.A. Law.” One of the themes of the episode centers on the problems of the homeless in Los Angeles. Arrangements to use actual homeless people on the show were made with the Sunlight Mission of Santa Monica and with Hope Is Helping agency, a Beverly Hills-based organization that shelters, feeds and rehabilitates the homeless. “L.A. Law” producer Scott Goldstein said the casting provided a way to “help some people very quickly and with some dignity.”