‘Dateline’: Will It Crash and Burn?

TV or not TV . . .

FALLOUT: Will “Dateline NBC” survive its rigged truck-crash story?

It’s a matter that accompanies the larger issues in the investigation of the fake report.

But the findings of the investigation clearly could be a determining factor in the future of the one-hour series.

It’s a case where ratings may not be the only, usually deciding point. If public reaction indicates that the show’s credibility is gone, that might sink it.

And it’s something that is surely haunting NBC. For “Dateline NBC” has been the network’s first prime-time weekly news series in years to show growing popularity after a number of other failed attempts.

These days, third-ranked NBC is desperate for shows that consistently draw viewers.

While CBS has had “60 Minutes” for a quarter-century and ABC is thriving with “20/20,” NBC has been out of the running in this arena.

And, during its recent six-year reign as the No. 1 network, NBC seemingly gave short shrift to news series that might dilute its ratings lead.

The NBC investigation will be the most closely watched in television since CBS’ 1980s in-house probe that found that the network had violated its news practices in a documentary that was critical of former Vietnam commanding Gen. William C. Westmoreland.

PUFF: CBS’ “Evening Shade” is bowing to viewer complaints about Burt Reynolds smoking a cigar on the show, in which he plays a high school football coach. Says the network:

“The issue of Wood Newton’s (Reynolds) smoking a cigar has come up and been discussed, and the cigar smoking will be eliminated in future episodes, although the character may still hold an unlighted cigar. Please note, however, that some episodes had already been filmed and that those will go on the air.”

Says Reynolds: “No one smokes at my house or in my cars--that’s my policy. But having grown up in the South and having spent a lot of time around athletes and coaches, the cigar seemed to be a natural prop. However, in view of the fact that I’m supposed to be setting an example, the complaints are duly noted, and we’ll be getting rid of the cigar smoking.”

SURVIVOR: “Designing Women” has been through the mill since its 1986 debut: near-cancellation; a dispute over Delta Burke, who left; not much recognition at the Emmy Awards. Even CBS didn’t seem to give the series much respect until it was paired with “Murphy Brown” to build the network’s potent Monday night lineup.

This season, “Designing Women” was moved to Fridays, and in December comedian-director David Steinberg was named executive producer to breathe new life into the series.

“The writing is my major contribution,” he says. Praising the cast, he says: “I write them all Jewish and they come out Southern. A remarkable cast. I write everyone Jewish.”

Steinberg’s redesigning of “Designing Women” will take place over eight episodes, the second of which airs Friday.

“This company is as good as ‘Cheers,’ ” he says. “The philosophy is to go back to the original feeling of the show and remind people how good everybody is.”

It’s not the same old gang, of course. Besides Burke, Jean Smart is also gone. Carrying on are Dixie Carter, Annie Potts, Judith Ivey, Jan Hooks, Meshach Taylor and Alice Ghostley.

“We’re hearing that ‘Designing Women’ is funny again,” Steinberg says. And now he’d like to make that acceptance speech he wasn’t able to give last year to the Directors Guild as a nominee: “All I wanted out of this town was the love and respect of the people I hate.”

WHEELING AND DEALING: Diane English, creator of “Murphy Brown” and “Love & War,” has another sitcom in the works for CBS this fall. She says it’s about bicycle messengers in New York.

“They tend to be out of high school,” so the show’s central characters will be between 17 and 21 years old, plus one adult, she says. “It will feature music. There’s a bit of an MTV look to it. It’s very colorful. The more packages the messengers deliver, the more they make.”

English isn’t writing the pilot, but it’s one of her company’s series commitments to CBS.

HITCHING POST: Well, yes, says “Hearts Afire” creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, some sponsors pulled out of the new series because of the sexy scenes between stars John Ritter and Markie Post. And some viewers also complained, if our mail was any indication.

But all of that premarital passion will now be between husband and wife when Post and Ritter get married in a special one-hour episode Monday.

Bloodworth-Thomason acknowledges the sponsor defection, but an aide says she intended to have the couple marry this season anyway.

“I actually welcomed the criticism,” Bloodworth-Thomason says, “because I wanted to do a sexy half-hour show.” And the romance, she adds, concerned “the warmest part of the courtship. I just think that sitcoms are pretty sexless.”

The show’s regular slot is 8:30 p.m., and Bloodworth-Thomason adds: “We’re not on in the right time period. We’re on at 7:30 in the Midwest. The truth is, it’s not just the sexuality. I think it’s too sophisticated a show to be on in that time period.”

BULLETIN BOARD: TBS reruns “Lonesome Dove” March 8-11, at 5:05 p.m.

PAYOFF: CBS, in dire straits 18 months ago, showed the results of its ratings comeback in its latest profit statement: Parent company CBS Inc. earned $81 million in 1992.

TOO LATE, TOO LATE: David Letterman had this idea: Mike Ditka as attorney general.

BEING THERE: “Let’s hear it for ‘Ave Maria’!”--Ed Sullivan on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Say good night, Gracie . . .