Support for ‘Bridge’ Spans Country

TV or not TV . . .

MAIL CALL: A campaign by viewers to revive the CBS series “Brooklyn Bridge” is picking up steam. At least, that’s what letters we have received recently indicate.

With creator Gary David Goldberg pronouncing the show effectively canceled and CBS saying it all depends on support for seven episodes early next year, viewers are weighing in to influence the network.

The letters are being sent to CBS Entertainment President Jeff Sagansky, sponsors of the series and TV columnists, who also are forwarded the missives to the network. Viewers for Quality Television, a grass-roots organization, is encouraging the write-in campaign.

Although the gentle comedy, which stars Marion Ross, deals with a Jewish family in Brooklyn in the late 1950s, the ethnic flavor seems to have touched a wider public chord with the program’s emphasis on a close-knit, loving family.

In the last week alone, our mail brought a batch of supporting letters from such places as Colorado, Montana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, upper New York state--and, oh yes, Brooklyn.

Will it all matter? “Brooklyn Bridge” has already been yanked, but CBS claims that the fat lady hasn’t really sung yet. So we’ll see--but don’t bet the farm on salvation.

Meantime, here are some viewer voices:

Robert J. Riordan of Wauwatosa, Wis., writes to Sagansky that the series has “a lot of appeal out here where Nielsen never seems to nibble. Get real! Give it a stable time slot where people can find it, and run with it.”

Mr. and Mrs. J. Allen Oliver of Silver Spring, Md., say the show “is everything good that television should stand for: excellent writing, superb acting, meaningful stories, heartwarming messages.”

“Outrageous,” writes Beth Katz of Brooklyn about the program’s disappearance. “It’s a shame when you lose a show that is wholesome and dares to show positive family values.”

Another Brooklyn viewer, Robert J. Hanz, wrote: “I, as a clear-headed, average tube-watching working-class father of two--who likes his fair share of car crashes, lawyers, sex and police shows--am writing to say that ‘Brooklyn Bridge’ was not given a fair chance to survive.”

From Trout Creek, Mont., A.D. Harlan sends support for the show and tweaks CBS: “We seldom watch TV anymore.” Edward Shafton of Omaha, Neb., calls on CBS to “exhume” the series . . . DO IT!” Barbara Keenan of Fort Morgan, Colo., writes:

“I have taught honors history and English for many years and am a reader, walker, traveler, talker--not much of a TV watcher, but I tape ‘Brooklyn Bridge’ and have used parts of it in class as an example of splendid writing and mood-catching.”

From Colorado Springs, Colo., Glenrose W. Addy wrote such sponsors as General Motors, Nissan and Nestle’s: “It is a family program that you should be proud of presenting.” From Lily S. Sitzer of Schenectady, N.Y.: “Beautiful show.” R.J. Schultz of Cincinnati told CBS: “With all the garbage that is on the tube, please save ‘Brooklyn Bridge.’ ”

“Perhaps one reason that your ratings are somewhat low,” Kathy Roti of Oviedo, Fla., wrote to the network, “is that so many have simply given up on television altogether.”

Viewers for Quality Television, which is also conducting a campaign supporting another notable but ratings-endangered series, NBC’s “I’ll Fly Away,” attracts top TV executives and stars at its annual convention here. Its address is P.O. Box 195, Fairfax Station, Va. 22039.

In a letter to NBC Entertainment President Warren Littlefield on behalf of “I’ll Fly Away,” VQT President Dorothy Swanson wrote: “Viewers abandon network television because of its mediocrity, not because it isn’t sexy enough or exciting enough. My mail supports that fact.”

“I’ll Fly Away” stars Sam Waterston as a Southern lawyer and Regina Taylor as his housekeeper in a drama set during the emergence of the civil rights movement in the 1950s. On Friday, NBC ordered three more episodes of the series, which, after holiday pre-emptions, would carry it through January.

UNEASY LIES THE CROWN: Fergie chats it up on “PrimeTime Live” Thursday.

INVESTMENT: “Dateline NBC” may or may not fly, but the smart bet for the network is to stick with Jane Pauley in prime time because she’ll pay off eventually.

GUNSEL: When Elisha Cook Jr. pops up on the screen, I stay put, so naturally I watched “The Maltese Falcon” and “The Big Sleep” again on TV. Love the description of him in David Quinlan’s encyclopedia of character actors: “Cook played losers: short, shifty, nervous guys living on life’s edge.”

AT A GLANCE: On TV anyway, Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin could pass for cousins. Well, distant cousins.

RIGHT TRACK: Last week’s “Love & War” was really in sync with its episode about an obnoxious, money-crazy acquaintance of stars Susan Dey and Jay Thomas.

ALL IN THE FAMILY: About-to-be First Family, that is. Hillary Clinton’s pop appears as himself Monday in “Hearts Afire,” which, as you know, is produced by the Clintons’ buddies, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and Harry Thomason. Harry directs the episode.

IMAGE: What’s the most unforgettable TV footage of 1992? For many, it’s the Rodney G. King verdict or the riots. Tough to beat. But for me, it will always be that poor 15-year-old boy swept away down the Los Angeles River during the February flooding.

BIG BART: Remember how “The Cosby Show” used to own 8 p.m. Thursdays? Well, last week, Fox’s “The Simpsons,” in the same slot, slaughtered NBC, ABC and CBS with at least double the ratings of each network. The episode that did it featured baby Maggie’s first word, “Daddy,” spoken by Elizabeth Taylor.

PLAY BALL: That nifty series, “Baseball’s Greatest Games,” is getting a weekly, year-round spot on the Prime Ticket network. There’ll be daylong marathons of the games on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

BEING THERE: “You imbecile! You bloated idiot!”--Joel Cairo (Peter Lorre) to Kasper Gutman (Sydney Greenstreet) in “The Maltese Falcon.”

Say good night, Gracie . . .