SHOWS FOR YOUNGSTERS AND THEIR PARENTS TOO : KCAL’s ‘Boogie’s Diner’ is the new hangout for hanging-out crowd

Brandon, Brenda, Kelly and Dylan may have piled into the Peach Pit, but there’s a new hangout in teen town: Boogie’s Diner.

A kind of “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Saved by the Bell” hybrid with some “Facts of Life” thrown in, the syndicated series centers on a diner/store and the seven teens who work there.

The cast includes Jason (Jimmy Marsden), “resident hunk” with a Boy Scout’s code of honor; Cynthia (Robin Stapler), a perky waitress; Cheryl-Ann (Joy Tanner), who’s described as having unlimited credit but a limited personality; Zoya (Monika Schnarre), who’s 6-foot-1 and beautiful; Tymp, the store’s deejay and mix master; Kirby (Zack Ward), the strange chef; and Gerald (Jim J. Bullock), the hysterical store manager.

“It’s not offensive in any way,” says producer Tim Williams from the show’s set in Toronto. “Parents aren’t going to be horrified their kids are watching this stuff. It’s morally refreshing.”

Richard Chevolleau, who plays the cool, witty and ultra-hip Tymp, says: “Kids can relate to the characters. There’s a broad spectrum of characters for different tastes. It’s also very funny.”

Williams adds: “It’s nothing too heavy and in no way does it ever carry a bad message. It’s a sitcom for teens and kids.”

Chevolleau agrees that the show avoids the negative: “There’s always some positive message to each show.”

“Boogie’s Diner” airs Sundays , beginning Sept. 25 , at noon on KCAL. A preview of the show aired Saturday. For ages 5 and up.

More Family Shows

“Fantasy Island” showed some adults what it would be like to fulfill dreams of a different life. Many kids, on the other hand, prefer a great sports fantasy. Enter GUTS, now in its third season.

“Kids get to live out their greatest sports fantasies,” explains Albie Hecht, executive producer of “GUTS” and Nick’s vice president of production and development, from his New York office. “They get to jump higher than Michael Jordan or out-hurdle a horse or set a world record. It’s an Olympic-style competition. It’s really about kids and their personal best.”

Kids ages 10 to 14 compete in obstacle-style courses to climb through the Agro-Crag, “a living, breathing volcanic mountain.” The new season offers the Mega-Crag and 38 new shows.

Also new this season is what Hecht calls “International GUTS,” featuring six kids flown in from Great Britain by Nickelodeon U.K.

“GUTS”, he adds, “is a real gender-buster. The boys and girls compete on equal footing.”

The sports-oriented obstacle-course show offers a trophy as its main prize--not money or goods. “We also give medals, gold, silver and bronze,” he says. “Just like the Olympics.”

“Nickelodeon GUTS” airs Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on Nickelodeon. For ages 5 and up.

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Last week, KTLA began a new fall season for syndicated rebroadcasts. Channel 5’s “Way Cool Weekdays” lineup now includes Doogie Howser, M.D. (5 p.m.) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (7 p.m.). “Doogie” offers a comic look at a brilliant 16-year-old doctor, and Will Smith takes his easygoing rapper persona to Bel-Air in “Fresh Prince,” which still airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on NBC. Also featured are Family Matters (5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) and Full House (6 p.m.). For ages 7 and up.

Also added to the fall programming are repeats of Beverly Hills, 90210, (4 p.m.) with its focus on a group of teens who live and love in that swanky town. For ages 13 and up.