PREVIEW ’91 : What the Makers and Shakers Are Watching

Watching TV doesn’t always mean mindless flipping channels. For most of us there are times when television is a treat. Something to look forward to.

That goes for those who work in the business, too. As television is about to begin anew, TV Times asked some men and women who make their living off the small screen to tell us what they love to watch. We also wondered what new series they were looking forward to. Here’s what they told writers Susan King and Lauren Lipton.

‘Northern Exposure’ (is my favorite). I appreciate the quality of the writing on that show--it’s smart and innovative. The characters are well established and very real, and there’s a great chemistry among the ensemble of actors. I like the fact that ‘Northern Exposure’ manages to be quirky in an upbeat and oddly believable way.

I am looking forward to ‘Sibs’ on ABC because it’s always interesting to watch anything that James Brooks does.

Gary David Goldberg

Emmy-winning creator of “Family Ties” and the new CBS series “Brooklyn Bridge”

I like to watch news, which delivers on the promise of the global village. But I particularly like the form-transcending moment of pure sport--like baseball.

I am looking forward to seeing what they do with this new series called ‘Brooklyn Bridge’ because the first film I ever made was the history of the bridge. I sometimes feel that I own it, though probably I just bought it.

Ken Burns

producer and director of PBS’ “The Civil War”

My favorite show is ’60 Minutes.’ I liked it from the very beginning.

I am looking forward to ‘Pros & Cons,’ but I haven’t seen it yet.

James Earl Jones

Tony-winning star of ABC’s new series “Pros & Cons”

‘Cops’ and ‘America’s Most Wanted’ are my favorite shows because I might see one of my family members on the shows.

Paul Rodriguez

comic and star of Univision’s “El Show de Paul Rodriguez”

‘Anything But Love’ (is my favorite) because I am a self-centered, narcissistic actor with a great heart.

I am eagerly keeping an eye out for documentaries on angina because 999 out of 1,000 of my relatives have it.

Richard Lewis

comic and star of ABC’s “Anything But Love”

I am not sure what my favorite show is. I like ‘Doogie Howser, M.D.’ because they talk about family issues and treat them sensitively.

Fred Rogers

host of PBS’ “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood”

I don’t think there is a favorite show. I just put it on Arts & Entertainment and the Discovery Channel and also ‘Monday Night Football.’

James Garner

Emmy-winning actor and star of NBC’s new series “Man of the People”

I have many favorite series. Right now I’m very much a fan of ‘L.A. Law,’ discovering it five years after everyone else. I also think ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ is well done. My husband (Harry Thomason) and I love all the David L. Wolper World War II documentaries that still run on A&E.;

My current favorite new show is ‘Sisters.’ I think all the actresses are terrific.

Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

creator and executive producer of CBS’ “Designing Women” and “Evening Shade”

My favorite TV show is ‘Namaste America.’ It’s on Channel 18, KSCI, from 11 a.m.-noon on Saturday. It is mainly entertainment news from India and the first half-hour is filled with clips from Indian film musicals and it makes MTV look like VH-1. The film clips are just great.

I also like watching ‘Cops’ because I can’t believe that all of those people they arrest sign release forms allowing themselves to be seen on TV. And ‘The Ron Reagan Show’ is a cut above most talk shows.

I am looking forward to seeing ‘Roc’ (on Fox) because I saw the pilot and thought it was very funny. I’m looking forward to the ‘Ren & Stimpy Show’ on Nickelodeon because I can’t figure out what those characters are. But then again, people have a hard time figuring out my characters.

Matt Groening

creator of Fox’s “The Simpsons”

I spend a lot time with the Discovery Channel--’Beyond 2000,’ ‘Invention’ and ‘Wings’--plus PBS--’Smithsonian World,’ ‘Nova’ and ‘Frontline.’

I don’t get a chance in this business to stay current as much as I want to, so when I sit down at the end of the day, it’s to catch up on information I haven’t had a chance to read about. I also watch ‘Murphy Brown’--I like to see it in the context of commercials.

Joel Shukovsky

Emmy-winning executive producer of CBS’ “Murphy Brown.”

When our TV is on--which isn’t that often--we’re either watching CNN or the Discovery Channel.

There are two shows on network TV we (English and husband Joel Shukovsky) try to watch: One is ‘Northern Exposure’--we love the characters, we love its eccentricity. We also watch ‘Seinfeld.’ Other than ‘Murphy Brown’ it’s probably the best writing on television.

I’m not even aware of what’s coming on this fall at all--I’m so busy making our show.

Diane English

Emmy-winning executive producer of CBS’ “Murphy Brown”

Besides my show, which, of course, is my favorite, I love ‘Northern Exposure.’

I am looking forward to ‘Princesses’ (on CBS). It’s going to be great.

Joan Rivers

comedian and Emmy-winning star of “The Joan Rivers Show”

I am not a great television watcher. I will watch occasional specials on PBS, like when they had ‘Jewel in the Crown’ on you couldn’t move me (from the television). I also like the ‘Nova’ series. I guess I like ’60 Minutes.’ There is no show on network TV I watch, except my own, mostly because I am either busy writing and reading or taking care of a 3-year-old.

You know what I do watch? ‘Style with Elsa Klensch’ on Saturday morning on CNN. It is all on fashion and it is a half-hour of clothes. It is fun.

Any new shows I am looking forward to? Mine!

Susan Harris

Emmy-winning creator of “Soap,” “The Golden Girls” and “Empty Nest” and creator of two new series, ABC’s “Good & Evil” and NBC’s “Nurses”

News (is my favorite). Any and every news show, especially the MTV news with Kurt Loder. I’m looking forward to ‘Charlie Hoover,’ the new Sam Kinison show (due on Fox mid-season).

Pauly Shore

star of MTV’s “Totally Pauly”

(My favorites): ‘Dinosaurs,’ Jim Henson’s version of ‘The Flintstones.’ ‘Northern Exposure,’ hysterically funny, about a doctor caught between a glacier and a hard place. ‘Beverly Hills, 90210,’ a true-to-life show dealing with real issues for teens. I don’t know of any returning shows, but ‘Homefront’ might be interesting.

Fred Savage

star of ABC’s “The Wonder Years”

The shows that I usually watch are ‘L.A. Law’--the stories always surprise me; it’s very unpredictable--’20/20,’ ‘60 Minutes’ and sports.

I watch a lot of TV movies and miniseries. Some of them are quite good and cover subjects that don’t get covered in theatrical films. They’re a good way to present social problems.

The show I’m looking forward to this year is ‘Pros & Cons’ because I think Richard Crenna and James Earl Jones are going to make an exciting twosome. When I watch TV, I don’t watch it with a producer’s eye. I take off that hat and just groove along with it.

David Wolper

Oscar- and Emmy-winning producer extraordinaire; executive producer of Fox’s “The Best of the Worst”

After seeing a 10-minute clip, I’m looking forward to the new NBC series called ‘I’ll Fly Away,’ which stars Sam Waterston and Regina Taylor. It appears to be a warm, affecting treatment of the civil rights era of the 1950s.

Robert Guillaume

Emmy-winning star of NBC’s new series “Pacific Station”

For me, nothing compares to ‘Quantum Leap.’ The concept is an actor’s dream--a different, interesting role every week. Scott Bakula has the versatility for it; I really admire his work.

Neil Patrick Harris

star of ABC’s “Doogie Howser, M.D.”

The show I enjoy watching and am also looking forward to the second season of is ‘Real Life With Jane Pauley.’ I am also looking to Gary David Goldberg’s (‘Brooklyn Bridge’) on CBS, and the Sam Waterston show (‘I’ll Fly Away’) on NBC.

Steve Friedman

executive producer of “NBC Nightly News” and executive in charge of “Real Life With Jane Pauley”

‘Murphy Brown’ (is my favorite). Sometimes I find that life imitates art, and it’s nice to be able to laugh at the news business every now and then. Also ’48 Hours’--I used to work for the show. I still enjoy it and like to follow it.

Faith Daniels

news anchor of NBC’s “Today” and “A Closer Look”

I watch ‘Northern Exposure,’ ‘L.A. Law,’ ‘Cheers’ and all sporting events. I watch anything Steven Bochco does because he and I are friends.

I’m looking forward to Jim Burrows’ new show ‘Flesh and Blood,’ Gary David Goldberg’s ‘Brooklyn Bridge’ and Redd Foxx’s new show (“Royal Family”)--because the word is out that it is very funny.

Maury Povich

executive producer/host of the syndicated “The Maury Povich Show”

Because I’m usually on the air during prime time, I don’t get much of a chance to watch entertainment fare. I do watch a lot of sports and news, however, so much so that you might call me a ‘junkie.’

I’m looking forward to watching the new show ‘Brooklyn Bridge.’ I went to the same high school as Gary Goldberg and I also grew up in Brooklyn.

Larry King

host of CNN’s “Larry King Live”

A spokeswoman for Dan Rather said the “CBS Evening News” and “48 Hours” anchor watches news, is a regular viewer of “Murphy Brown,’ “Designing Women’ and “every sporting event.”