TV & VIDEO - Aug. 31, 1989

Israel television bowed to public demand Wednesday and decided to bring back “Dynasty,” the popular U.S. evening soap opera of lust and luxury starring John Forsythe, Linda Evans and Joan Collins, just 10 days after it was canceled. Newspapers said the series helped Israelis forget about their everyday problems, including inflation and the 20-month Palestinian uprising. Hadashot, a popular tabloid, ran a headline across the top of its front page proclaiming: “Dynasty Returning.” The Israel Broadcasting Authority had received about 1,500 letters from viewers demanding that the program remain on the air beyond the 147 episodes already broadcast. “We respond to popular demand,” a spokeswoman said, adding the series would return in November after being subtitled in Hebrew and Arabic. Newspapers had criticized the Broadcasting Authority for thinking viewers were losing interest.