The expectation that precedes the appearance of a new show from Steven Bochco says as much about the talent of this writer/producer-as displayed in such landmark television series as ”Hill Street Blues” and ”L.A. Law”-as it does about the relatively few sluggers in TV`s lineup.
But when a Bochco show does not live up to expectations, and the new animated series ”Capitol Critters” surely does not, there is a tendency for TV executives and critics to react with an outrage usually reserved for adulterous mates. (Remember the vitriolic reaction that Bochco`s ”Cop Rock” received? You would have thought Bochco had cast Saddam Hussein in the lead.) That`s unfair. Bochco didn`t create this show. Nat Mauldin and Michael Wagner did. But his name`s on the credits, as executive consultant, and he`ll be the one to take the major critical heat.
The animated ”Capitol Critters” (premiering with programs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and 7:30 p.m. Friday, before moving to its regular 7 p.m. Saturday time period on ABC-Ch. 7) is a relatively pleasant show.
It focuses on the activities of an orphaned Midwestern mouse named Max who moves into the White House with some mice cousins, rats and roaches.
The principal problem is that by setting up in Washington, the show all but promises political satire. But through the four episodes I`ve seen, the show has less bite than a tired Johnny Carson monologue.
For instance, there are some scenes of congressmen-all humans are shown from the thigh down-doing crossword puzzles and reading girlie mags while a colleague makes a speech.
There`s also this ”joke,” about President Warren Harding: ”Boy, was he fat. When he sat around the White House, he sat around the White House.”
What`s missing is sting-and rim shots. But that may not be the show`s goal. It may be attempting something warm and likable rather than shooting for the wild and wicked wit that informs the glorious ”The Simpsons,” to which any new animated show must suffer by comparison.
Although most of the animal voices-from such people as Neil Patrick Harris, who is ”Doogie Howser, M.D.” and speaks for Max-are fine, I can`t bear the sounds of Bob ”Bobcat” Goldthwait, who speaks (screeches, is more like it) the role of Muggle, a brain-fried former lab rat.
Those of you expecting a groundbreaking show will be disappointed by
”Capitol Critters.” Those of you who do not hold Bochco in such high regard will probably find much to admire.
”CAPITOL CRITTERS”
A new animated series from Steven Bochco Productions in association with Hanna-Barbera Productions. Created by Nat Mauldin and Michael Wagner; Mauldin is executive producer/writer; David Kirschner is co-executive producer; Bochco is executive consultant. With the voices of Neil Patrick Harris, Charlie Adler, Bob ”Bobcat” Goldthwait, Dorian Harewood, Jennifer Darling, Patti Deutsch and Frank Welker. Two special premieres air at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and 7:30 p.m. Friday before moving to its regular 7 p.m. Saturday time on ABC-Ch. 7.
Channel hopping . . .
– Energetic in its aim to push the notions of conventional television,
”The `90s” begins its second PBS season at 10 p.m. Tuesday on WTTW-Ch. 11 with a program called ”Taking Chances.”
It`s surprisingly light fare given some of the series` previous, and future, subjects. But it is also compelling: a rapid-fire offering of the work of independent video-makers. Their pieces can last only seconds or take many minutes. And the way in which they are packaged is anything but haphazard.
There is a wonderful, wickedly fast pace to the program that begins with a bungee jumper and his hand-held camera and proceeds through pieces about bingo, lotteries, horse racing; a walk through Manhattan traffic with a blind woman; a kook who climbs through trees like a monkey only to fall and wind up in a hospital bed; ”the ultimate risk,” breathing in L.A.; and a trip 1,100 feet up in the air with window washers.
Future topics will include ”Guns and Violence,” shopping malls and rural America. In next week`s ”Getting Older,” you`ll visit a shabby adult day-care center and hear from ”Final Exit” author Derek Humphry.
This first installment should hook you for the season and for a very good reason: ”The `90s” is a feast not only for the eyes but for the mind.
– Remaking Alfred Hitchcock`s brilliant 1946 film ”Notorious,” built on one of Ben Hecht`s best scripts, is not a bad idea, and perhaps someday somebody will get it right. Anyone who wants to try should study the remake that appears at 8 p.m. Tuesday on Lifetime-they could discover the many ways it can go wrong.
In short, an American agent recruits a pretty party girl to woo a foreign agent and extract from him secrets that the U.S. can use.
In those roles, John Shea, Jenny Robertson and Jean-Pierre Cassel, respectively, act without conviction, let alone passion. The romance between the U.S. spies, rather than the espionage, takes unfortunate center stage and though director Colin Bucksey is able to muster an occasionally interesting set piece, this movie is a disaster.
