CAN A REALITY-BASED drama, without the action and the multi-character design of a show like ”Hill Street Blues” or the glitzy intrigue of
”Dynasty” survive on television? Steve Tisch is banking on it. The executive producer of ”Call to Glory,” the series about an Air Force family in the 1960s, is revamping the show in an attempt to boost the ratings and save it.
The drama has moved to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays on ABC-Ch. 7.
”I think you will sense a de-emphasis in the hardware aspect of the show,” says Tisch. ”The show will become more character oriented. It`s not just a show about testing planes,” he said referring to the role of the main character, Raynor Sarnac, a test pilot played by Craig T. Nelson.
The series premiered Aug. 13 after being heavily promoted during the Summer Olympics. That week it came in first place in the Nielsen ratings and was watched by an estimated 50 million people. Even praises from TV critics didn`t help the ratings. For the season-to-date rating ending Jan. 6, the series was 59th among 80 shows.
Tisch says Sarnac will continue to be the base commander at Edwards Air Force Base. In Tuesday`s episode, Sarnac`s wife, Vanessa (Cindy Pickett), learns she`s pregnant after she gets a job offer.
