TELEVISIONMuppet Comeback: The Muppets will return in...

TELEVISION

Muppet Comeback: The Muppets will return in a new prime-time ABC series, entertainment chief Ted Harbert said Tuesday. The half-hour series, which will feature old and new characters as well as a weekly guest star, will begin production in the near future and premiere on a date to be determined during the upcoming season. “The decision to make the show was a direct response to the perennial and ever-growing popularity of the characters,” said Brian Henson, chief executive of Jim Henson Productions. The original, award-winning “Muppet Show,” created by the late Jim Henson, aired in syndication from 1976 to 1981 in more than 50 languages and 100 countries.

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NBC Projects: Kellie Martin (“Christy,” “Life Goes On”) has signed a long-term exclusive agreement with NBC to star in both series and TV movies developed for her. In addition, the network announced Mel Harris and Judge Reinhold will star in “Raising Caines,” a midseason comedy series. NBC also said it would co-develop a two-hour pilot titled “Lights Out” in conjunction with New World Television. The film, which will be directed by John McTiernan (“Die Hard”), concerns a contemporary American family that tells “haunting tales.”

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Jay Beats Dave: With a little help from Hugh Grant, NBC’s “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” earned its first weekly win over CBS’ “Late Show With David Letterman.” Leno’s show averaged a 5.5 rating last week compared to a 4.7 for Letterman, according to preliminary national Nielsen ratings. Grant, who on July 10 made his first TV appearance after his arrest on a lewd conduct charge, lifted “Tonight” to an 8.0 rating that night. The two shows split the rest of the week, averaging a 4.8 ratings tie. A single Nielsen point equals 954,000 TV homes.

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On the Move: The CBS cancellation of “Eye to Eye With Connie Chung” has resulted in reassignments for its correspondents. Washington-based Roberta Baskin and Phil Jones have joined “48 Hours,” as has Bill Lagattuta, who works in Los Angeles. Russ Mitchell moves to Washington as a bureau correspondent. Edie Magnus and Bernard Goldberg are expected to receive new posts soon.

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Gill Again: Just because he’s an old hand at hosting the Country Music Assn. awards show doesn’t mean Vince Gill can do it with a straight face. “I look out there, and I know every face,” the singer said. “My buddies are all out there doing awful things to try to get me to goof up.” The association has chosen its reigning entertainer of the year to emcee his fourth consecutive show, which was CBS’ top-rated entertainment special last season. “I am surprised that I still get to keep doing it,” said Gill, the CMA’s all-time leading award winner. The 29th annual show will be telecast Oct. 4 on CBS.

MOVIES

Taking Credit: The Writers Guild of America has sent out a manual outlining provisions for a proposed referendum altering screenwriting credits for film and television writers. The manual proposes changes in the current process governing credits on movies and long-form television (TV movies, miniseries) projects. The new guidelines are the product of five years’ work by a three-person credit review committee. Among the significant changes would be provisions to permit a fourth writing screen credit on a project (the current limit is three writers). It also would guarantee an original screenplay writer at least a story credit on the final film, a protection writers do not currently have. Another change would be in the minimum the original writer must contribute to be considered for credit (25%, down from 33%) as well as a second writer (40%, down from 50%). The rules governing multiple writers on a project would be similarly modified. If the guild’s membership approves these changes on Nov. 1, the guild must then negotiate the terms with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers before they can take effect.

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Outfest a Success: Outfest ‘95, the annual Los Angeles gay and lesbian film festival, closed Sunday after a highly successful 10-day series in which 20,000 attended, with 44 outof 66 screenings sold out, a record for the 13-year-old festival. A grand jury award was given to “Parallel Sons” for outstanding feature.

MUSIC

The Rap on Bankruptcy: TLC, the female rap trio whose latest song hit the top spot on the U.S. charts, has filed for bankruptcy protection, the group’s attorney said Monday. The singers, best known for such hits as “Baby Baby Baby” and “Creep,” have liabilities in the millions of dollars, David Bisbee said. Their individual filings were made July 3 in Atlanta’s U.S. Bankruptcy Court where they and their LaFace record company are based. Bisbee declined to say why the trio filed for bankruptcy or to specify the extent of the debts.

QUICK TAKES

Michael Chiklis will return as the Commish in three two-hour ABC TV movies this season. And as expected, Peter Falk will be back as Columbo. . . . Marcy Walker, who plays Tangie Hill on the CBS daytime drama “Guiding Light,” will leave the show in September to pursue other acting opportunities. There is no word on whether the role will be recast. . . . Kim Fields of “Living Single” married sports marketing executive Johnathon Franklin Freeman Sunday in Los Angeles. It was the first marriage for both.