Steven Bochco Lays Down the Law : WHO’S HE KIDDING?

“I f I Ran a Network . . . ,” last Sunday’s commentary by television producer Steven Bochco (“Hill Street Blues,” “L.A. Law”) has prompted a heavy response from readers. A sampling:

One of Bochco’s solutions to the dwindling reception of network programming is to do away with censors. How many really believe that the quality would go up?

Would we get more shows like “Masterpiece Theatre” or “Hill Street Blues”? No, we’d just get more profane language, more violence and more exploitative sex. And definitely more “politically correct” thinking from the industry’s rather liberal sect. Excuse me, but don’t we already have all that in our movie theaters? And look where that’s taking us.

The answer to improving the ratings--improve the material. “Cop Rock,” indeed!

PHIL BOATWRIGHT

Thousand Oaks