Today’s News, Tomorrow’s Television : Jason Robards Will Be Disney’s Mark Twain; ‘Dynasty’s Adam moves to NBC’s ‘Santa Barbara’

MOVIES

Award-winning actor Jason Robards, who was the voice of Ulysses S. Grant in “TheCivil War,” is playing another legendary American, author Mark Twain, in theDisney Channel movie, “Mark Twain and Me,” currently in production in Toronto.The drama, which will premiere sometime in 1991, tells the story of a friendshipthat developed between Twain and an 11-year-old admirer named Dorothy Quick.”Mark Twain and Me” is based on Quick’s autobiography.

Kelly McGillis and Ellen Burstyn are on location in Louisiana filming TNT’s “TheAwakening,” a drama about one woman’s discovery of love during aturn-of-the-century summer on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast. McGillis is co-producingthe movie, which is set to air next year.

In conjunction with its “L.A. Lost and Found” programming this month, KCET isairing several classic films set in the City of Angels. Included in the festivalare “Murder My Sweet,” starring Dick Powell (Nov. 17 at 9 p.m.); the mystery”D.O.A.” (Nov. 17 at 10:35 p.m.); Evelyn Waugh’s satire on the funeral business,”The Loved One” (Nov. 24 at 9 p.m.), and Mickey Spillane’s “Kiss Me Deadly”(Nov. 24 at 11 p.m.).

For those viewers who don’t care for black-and-white movies, the world “colorconverted” premiere of the Greta Garbo classic “Camille” is Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. onTNT. Purists can watch “Camille” in all of its black-and-white glory at 9:30p.m. SOAPS

Butch Hartman has joined the cast of NBC’s “Generations” in the role of SeanMasters, the brother of police Lt. Kyle Masters (Robert Torti). Before”Generations,” Hartman had appeared on NBC’s “Days of Our Lives” and CBS’ “TheYoung and the Restless.”

Gordon Thomson, who played Adam Carrington on “Dynasty,” has joined the cast ofNBC’s Emmy Award-winning “Santa Barbara,” as the devious and manipulative MasonCapwell, heir to the Capwell fortune. The Canadian actor takes over for TerryLester, who elected to leave the show. SPECIALS

Christopher Plummer is set to narrate five “Madeline” animated specials based onLudwig Bemelmans’ children’s book of the same name. The first, “Madeline’sChristmas,” airs Nov. 22 on the Family Channel.

Weatherman Willard Scott of the “Today” show is the host of NBC’sstart-to-finish coverage of the 64th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade onNov. 22. Deborah Norville, co-anchor of “Today,” will be Scott’s co-host for thesecond year in a row. Parade highlights will include the return of the Kermitthe Frog helium balloon as part of a tribute to his creator, the late JimHenson. And don’t have a cow, man, Bart Simpson will float into New York’sHerald Square on a skateboard.

Wild and wacky Nick at Nite will present its first original sitcom “The EarlyDays” on Dec. 5 at 9 p.m.

The pilot-special hopes to capture the style of early 1950s TV and deals withthe chaotic debut of the mythical variety show “The Sam Arnold Show,” as well asthe backstage lives of Sam, his ex-wife and the cast and crew.

“The Early Days” was created by Will McRobb and Joe Stillman, with Bob Carrolland Madelyn Davis (writers and creators of “I Love Lucy”) serving as creativeconsultants.

Casey Kasem will host of “Nick at Nite’s Top Rerun Countdown,” airing on NewYear’s Eve from 7 p.m. to midnight. Kasem will count down the most memorableepisodes on such classics as “The Patty Duke Show,” “Bewitched,” “Mr. Ed.”