TV & VIDEO - Feb. 5, 1996

O.J. Ad Flap: The producer of O.J. Simpson’s mail-order video, which details Simpson’s alibis and feelings about the murders of his ex-wife and her friend, has been complaining about the difficulty he’s encountered trying to buy advertising time for it. But three of the seven major local commercial TV stations--KCBS-TV Channel 2, KTLA-TV Channel 5 and KABC-TV Channel 7--say they have not even been approached by producer Tony Hoffman about purchasing advertising time. And executives at KTTV-TV Channel 11 and KCAL-TV Channel 9 said they were only contacted on Friday about purchasing air time. Neither station has decided yet whether to accept the ads. Spokespersons for KNBC-TV Channel 4 and KCOP-TV Channel 13 were not available for comment. Hoffman told a reporter last week, “This is America and in America a person should have the right to buy TV time.”

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Rio Video a Go: Grousing from politicians won’t stop Michael Jackson from shooting his next video in Rio de Janeiro’s most notorious slums. Jackson spokesman Lee Solters has confirmed that production of “They Don’t Care About Us” will go on despite official complaints that the video will tarnish the city’s image. The singer is scheduled to arrive in Rio on Tuesday. Scenes for the video will be shot in Santa Marta, a hillside slum controlled by drug dealers. Spike Lee, who will direct the video, sought to diminish authorities’ fears: “We’re not going to travel for 12 hours to Rio to show poverty when we could show the ghettos of New York,” Lee said in an interview with Rio’s daily O Globo.

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Golden Mikes: KNBC-TV Channel 4 was honored for having the best one-hour newscast in Los Angeles at the annual Golden Mike awards hosted by the Radio & Television News Assn. of Southern California on Saturday in Beverly Hills. KCAL-TV Channel 9 won Golden Mikes for best TV news broadcast between midnight and 4 p.m. and best half-hour newscast between 4 p.m. and midnight. KNX-AM (1070) won for best radio newscast.

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The Stand-Up Vote: Fans can determine who gets the stand-up comic audience honors at the 10th American Comedy Awards on Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium. An hour of clips featuring the nominees will air on cable’s Comedy Central tonight at 5 p.m, Tuesday at 9 p.m. and Wednesday at 10 a.m. The female stand-up comics nominated are Kathy Buckley, Diane Ford, Judy Gold, Wendy Liebman and Kathleen Madigan; the male nominees are Anthony Clark, Will Durst, Adam Ferrara, Dom Irrera and Brian Regan. The public can call (900) 370-0100 to vote for best female stand-up comic and (900) 370-0200 for best male comic. Each call costs 50 cents; proceeds go to Comic Relief. The awards show will be taped to air March 6 on ABC.

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Newt Meets Murphy: House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) has dealt with many a TV journalist, but now he goes up against Murphy Brown. Gingrich will play himself on CBS’ “Murphy Brown” in a scene in which he confronts Murphy backstage after she mocks him at a Washington roast. Gingrich is scheduled to tape his part Tuesday during a Los Angeles visit for Ronald Reagan’s 85th birthday party. An airdate has not been announced.