Strange Bedfellows

Call it television’s big tent.

Pat Robertson’s recent takeover of MTM Entertainment in Studio City puts the conservative televangelist into a business relationship with First Friends Harry Thomason and Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, the television executives behind the CBS sitcom “Evening Shade.”

Robertson’s International Family Entertainment is now mopping up the final stage of its acquisition of MTM, which is an “Evening Shade” producer.

Needless to say, it’s an unusual alliance. The Thomasons are best of friends with the First Family, serving as key election advisers. President Clinton is a big fan of “Evening Shade,” and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton even named the program.

Republican Robertson is no fan of Clinton’s. Robertson once said Clinton’s campaign slogan “new covenant” was almost blasphemous, and accused the Clintons of being out to “destroy the traditional family.”

The Thomasons were unavailable for comment. But Tim Robertson, who runs IFE for his father, says the political differences won’t get in the way of doing business. He said he considers Bloodworth-Thomason “one of the greats in the business.” And he admits that back in 1976 he was even an active Jimmy Carter supporter.

. . .And He’s a Celtics Fan

Texas Gov. Ann Richards may not have been born with a silver foot in her mouth, let alone a silver spoon. But the advance people for another governor are making it sound as if she has had it easy when dealing with Hollywood.

Massachusetts Gov. William F. Weld is in town this week to court studio executives to persuade them to increase film and television work in the Bay State.

A letter that went out announcing his arrival compares his visit to one by Richards in 1991, noting that Weld lacks “her near-celebrity persona.” The letter also says Richards had an advantage because of her “Hollywood-friendly politics (Democratic),” which implies Weld will have a tough time making inroads in Hollywood because he’s a Republican.

Maybe Pat Robertson can give him some tips.

Vacancy + Slow Economy = Problem

Caltech, home to some of the world’s best scientific problem solvers, is having to tackle Southern California’s high commercial real estate vacancy rate.

Last week, Caltech the landlord received bad news when R.H. Macy said it will close the I. Magnin department store on Wilshire Boulevard, housed in an Art Deco building owned by the Pasadena university.

Turns out Caltech has also owned since 1965 what used to be the main downtown Los Angeles store for Robinson’s. It closed in January.

Briefly . . .

One celebrity caricature decorating the walls of West Hollywood’s The Palm restaurant is of financier Charles W. Knapp, indicted last week for alleged fraud. . . . A San Diego company sells an inflatable back seat divider that can keep quarreling siblings separated. . . . Time to punt? San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana registered 40,000 shares of Franklin Resources stock for possible sale.