Almost 25, ‘Hee Haw’ Gets Last Laugh

TV or not TV. . . .

HEARTLAND: It can’t be true, but it is. “Hee Haw” will mark a quarter-century on the air next season.

Hosted by Roy Clark, the country-style version of “Laugh-In” is right up there in longevity with such hits as “60 Minutes” and “Gunsmoke.”

Local television stations obviously don’t think it’s a Los Angeles type of show--KCAL Channel 9 runs it at 1:30 a.m. on Friday nights.

But while Hollywood types generally fail at connecting with audiences, “Hee Haw” has survived through the era of “MASH” and “All in the Family” and the years of “Cheers,” “L.A. Law” and “Twin Peaks.”

We suspect that, over the years, more sophisticates than would like to admit it secretly sneaked a look at “Hee Haw” while claiming to watch PBS.

At any rate, “Hee Haw,” which has showcased such singers as Garth Brooks, Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash, is carried on more than 175 stations covering 95% of the nation.

It first aired as a 1968 summer show on CBS, then joined the network’s regular lineup from 1969-1971, placing in the Top 20 both seasons.

When CBS suddenly dumped its rural shows, including “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Green Acres,” in 1971, “Hee Haw” went into syndication, where it’s been thriving ever since.

There is still gold in them thar hills.

NIGHT AND DAY: Jay Leno’s attempt to maintain “The Tonight Show’s” dominance against challengers Arsenio Hall and Ted Koppel isn’t the only example of a major TV winning streak that is on the line.

Would you believe that CBS, led by the soaper “The Young and the Restless” and the game show “The Price Is Right,” has won the daytime network ratings for 173 consecutive weeks?

On the news side, ABC’s “World News Tonight” with Peter Jennings has been virtually unbeatable for more than two years, and remains so.

But in the wake-up show competition, it looks as if the winning streak of ABC’s “Good Morning America”--also more than two years--is in real jeopardy as NBC’s “Today” series is making a genuine run at the top.

Under its new, twentysomething executive producer, Jeff Zucker, and with the increasingly popular anchor team of Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric, “Today” now has beaten “Good Morning America” in the ratings five of the last nine weeks.

“Today” is back.

CONVENTION FOOTNOTES: CBS will broadcast baseball’s All-Star Game next Tuesday instead of the second night of the Democratic National Convention, interrupting only for occasional political updates. . . .

Cable’s Nostalgia channel, which is aimed at viewers 45 and older, will report from both the Democratic gathering next week and the Republican convention in August on issues “facing adult Americans . . . health care, Social Security, mandatory retirement, finance and the economy.”

Doing the Nostalgia channel reports will be journalist Jim Hartz and Dr. Ruth Westheimer.

BIG MAC: Win or lose, tantrums or whatever, John McEnroe is still the most exciting tennis player I’ve ever seen on TV. And I’d like to have him on my side in an alley fight.

COMING ATTRACTIONS: Bill Cosby’s new, nationally syndicated version of the old Groucho Marx game show, “You Bet Your Life,” will air on KCBS Channel 2 come fall.

KCBS will also broadcast “The Best of the Ed Sullivan Show” against NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”

THINKING ALOUD: Michael J. Fox, who hosted that TNT special about James Cagney, just might be right to play the actor in a film biography. Cagney, by the way, always considered himself a dancer above all and reportedly once was interested in having Mikhail Baryshnikov portray him.

SOPHIE’S CHOICE: Surely Marion Ross ought to be among those named in the July 16 Emmy nominations for her portrayal as the matriarch Sophie Berger in CBS’ “Brooklyn Bridge.”

DRAWING BOARD: Cable’s Black Entertainment Television network (BET) says it has scheduled controversial rapper Ice-T to talk about his song “Cop Killer” and other subjects on the channel’s “Live From L.A.” series Thursday at 8 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.

MODERN TIMES: Wally George called to tell us that his “Hot Seat” series on KDOC Channel 56 marks its 10th anniversary Saturday and that the show now is sent by satellite to 160 cities. The airwaves--TV and radio--now are filled with talk-shouters. “Ten years ago, there was nothing controversial on TV,” says George. “I was like a time-bomb. Morton Downey Jr. absolutely tried to copy my format.”

JUDGMENT: We didn’t see KNBC Channel 4’s 11 p.m. newscast in which it played the Supreme Court’s abortion ruling near the end of the program, but several angry viewers did and phoned us. Nancy Valenta, KNBC news director, confirms the story placement but says there was an early “tease” for the report--and adds that the news had been covered in preceding broadcasts. Maybe so, but it was still major at 11 p.m., and our callers were right.

DILEMMA: You could understand why Rob Morrow wanted a higher salary for “Northern Exposure”--stars of other series earn more. But the cold fact, to some viewers who called us, is that his character has become one of the most disposable in the show if you really had to pick and choose.

BOYS’ NIGHT OUT: Larry King interviews Kirk Douglas, Jack Lemmon and Anthony Quinn in an hour TNT special July 22.

SMART: Very clever idea to name Dick Van Dyke chairman of the Nick at Nite network, even if it’s mainly for advertising and promotional purposes. His image is a perfect representation of the appealing channel, which uses a great deal of ingenuity in marketing and presenting old TV series, including his own.

BEING THERE: “Don’t say but when you’re fighting for your life.”--Simon Templar (Roger Moore) in “The Saint.”

Say good night, Gracie. . . .