View source for New shows bolster PBS TV season

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| publication = Central Michigan Life
| file = 1983-09-26 Central Michigan Life.jpg
| px = 750
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| date = 1983-09-26
| author = H.V. Wood 
| pages = 5
| language = English 
| type = 
| description = 
| categories = PBS
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| text = 
Public Television will devote the week of Oct. 2 to showcase its most appealing shows of the 1983-84 season.

Although the new season officially starts Oct. 9. Public TV is hosting the "pre-premiere" week to draw viewers to its programing fair, said Rick Schudiske, program manager for Public TV.

On Oct. 2, "Masterpiece Theater" begins its new season with "Pictures." On Oct. 4 and 5 the first two episodes of "Vietnam: A Television History" will be shown.

"Vietnam" has news footage culled from ARC News' archives, and the commercial network will promote the fourth episode with a special "Nightline," Schudiske said.

On Oct. 6 through 8, PBS' first mini-series, "The Immigrants", will unfold, featuring Liv Ullmann and Max von Sydow, he said.

The premiere week will receive heavy advertising in TV Guide and newspaper ads to make viewers more aware of PBS. PBS waited until October for the premiere to avoid conflict with the new seasons on the commercial networks in late September, Schudiske said.

"PBS is hoping and what we're hoping is Public Broadracting will attract a big following," he said.

Heavy promotion of PBS offerings will be the key to acquaint people with its shows, he said.

"We could have the best programing in the world, and no one would know about them without promotion. It's not going to do us or them any good," Schudiske said.

Public TV's variety is part of the promotion, he said.

"We hope we have something for everyone. Our ads have that tag —'Something for everyone."' Schudiske said. "We hope when people look for the TV listings they'll find there is us. We hope they realize there's more than ABC, NBC and CBS."

Central's Public TV has the potential to reach one million viewers through over the air broadcasting and cable TV. and has a daily average of 400,000 viewers, Schudiske said.

Most of the local programing will not begin until Public TV moves into the new Broomfield Road structure next month. Two programs will be produced and "CMU Football Review" is already on the air, he said.

"Capital Report" will be an interview show hosted by Don Howe and will feature state legislators. The "Ask The..." series will be a live phone in show where viewers can ask various professionals questions, Schudiske said.

Public TV receives its programing from two sources. Satellite feeds from New York. Washington. D.C. and Boston supply a "base schedule" of PBS' best known shows like "Masterpiece Theater" and "Nova". The second source is live feeds like "Late Night American" every weeknight from Detroit, he said.

Great Britain is a source of some of PBS' programs. "Masterpiece Theater" features many British productions, as are some episodes of "Nova." Central's Public TV has picked up the comedy "Bless Me, Father" for the new season.

The British programs do have their following, Schudiske said.

"We saw a seemingly large following with the British comedies and we've done very well in the ratings with those types of comedies," he said.

"Dr. Who" is the British show that generates the most response from viewers, Schudiske said.

"There is no program that gets more praise and criticism than this one." he said. "We'll get 50 letters saying. 'This is terrible.' They actually hate it. they hate the series. Then we'll get 50 more letters saying. 'This is the greatest thing you've run. please keep it up.' You either like Dr. Who' or you don't like 'Dr. Who' —there's not much middle ground."

This season the sci fi series will feature the fifth Dr. Who —five different actors have portrayed the character. This time around, the doctor will be played by Peter Davison of the "All Creatures Great and Small" series, Schudiske said.

The prime time schedule will start on Sundays with "Nature" at 8 p.m. and "Masterpiece Theater" at 9 p.m. Mondays are documentary night, and a three part series about the Middle Eastern oil kingdoms begins Oct. 10.

Tuesday nights will lead off with "Nova" at 8 p.m. and the "Vietnam" series at 9 p.m. Wednesdays will showcase specials and Thursdays will be devoted to [[broadwcast:WCMU|CMU Public TV]]'s own shows, Schudiske said.

Fridays will feature the public affairs shows "Wall Street Week" and "Washington Week in Review," and the culinary arts with "Dinner at Julia's," a new Julia Child series.

Saturdays are a mixed bay with "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau" at 8 p m.. "Austin City Limits" at 9 p.m., the old network war series "Combat" at 10 p.m. and the 60s British intrigue series "The Avengers" at 11 p.m., Schudiske said.

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