ABC's 'Legend of Custer' Ambushes Special Season

Hi-ho-oh! So you thought it was going to get better, eh?]

By BERT J. REESING ROBERT HOOKS is an ac-Reiner developed in the "Van TV-Radio Editor complished actor you may re-Dyke" show, Bill Persky and Imeniber from Otto Premin-Sam Denoff, who now produce ger's film, "Hurry Sundown," Marlo Thomas' "That Girl" in which he played a Negro are the pros who produce and If you like beautiful western farmer. Frank Converse, who created "Good Morning, scenery, OK. If you simply starred in the short-lived World." love roan horses, it's fine with Coronet Blue" plays detecme. Flags? Who can say any-tive Johnny Corso in the new

thing derogative about national or regimental banners?

Possibly your ears are stili stunned by the sound of horses' hooves, doublebarreled shotguns, Indians, whoops and the BERT J. REESING U.S. Cavalry commander's screaming commands if you watched that milling about last night called (and he must be twisting in his uniform)

İseries.

The hand of top producer David Susskind could be felt in the theme of the open| ing stanza as it dealt with a police-community relations matter, a touchy one at that, the existence of a ring blackmailing homosexuals. It seems that the New York background will give us more exposure to the seamy controversial sides of life, with some sort of message involved in each chapter.

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Executive producer Reiner, who will direct some of the episodes, works with a fine cast in Ronnie Schell ("Gomer Pyle"), Billy De Wolfe, who can walk across a stage and be funny, Joby Baker, Julie Parrish and blonde Goldie Hawn. However, they seem to be patterned after the "Van Dyke" cast. But there the comparison ends.

The opening show was quite pedestrian and the laugh track didn't force many guffaws from this corner. CoThe first episode unfolded medienne Goldie Hawn was a

"The Legend of Custer." around a respected Chicago bright spot in the proceedings This controversial series businessman who had comand it was good to see Marty which premiered last night at mitted suicide rather than be Ingels, of the old "Dickens7:30 on Channel 5 (ABC) was exposed as a homosexual. The Fenster" series in a good roufought all the way before it investigation brought another tine as one of the guest stars. saw the light of the cathode victim of the blackmailing tube. ring into the picture.

THIS COMEDY has all the

FIRST, it was objected to The use of Negro actor ingredients in stars and plotby today's 600,000 American Hooks to convince the homo-ting it needs to move, but the Indians (they sued, too) who sexual that "admitting one is writing should be strength-

are understandably sensitive about how their kin are represented in both movies and on the TV tube.

Then it became an issue with Civil War scholars tol whom Custer was far short of being a hero.

different from others is the easier route," was highly dramatic. "Does that mean my troubles will be over?" the victim asked. "No one's troubles are never over," Hooks, who plays detective Jeff Ward, cautioned him.

The "Shakedown" chapter Last night he proved it. An actor, Wayne Maunder, who was further enhanced by mardid a fine job with the sleazy velous photography, and the material at hand, is an al-rapport which surely will demost unknown whose only velop between these top stars previous appearance was in a should keep this series on minor guest role in last year's many viewers' "must" lists. "Monroes" series. CARL REINER, who has He did the best he could. had more luscious plums in SO DID Joe Milner (Slim the television show pie than Pickens), who played a drink-Little Jack Horner ever ate in ing scout who must have a corner, has seen his triedfound the script equal to his and-true format of situation non d'etage. comedy used to get his new Indicative of the week's "Good Morning World" off the script was this line by Maun-ground. The new comedy halfder, who, as Custer, said to hour on Channel 5 premiered one of the vague females in Tuesday evening at 9:30. But the episode: "Without the it was obvious at the start that sound of the guns, I'm lost, although the stars are strong Do you understand that?" enough in their roles to say No, I don't. "Good Morning," the script But if you enjoy seeing was too weak to answer. scores of panting cavalrymen Reiner, who created, proand half-a-hundred horses duced, directed and acted jostling around in a screen in his old "Dick Van Dyke full of dust-be my guest. Show," saw that method of WATCH MY dust as I depresenting life's little probsert Custer to the tune of an lems a fine outlet for comIrish jig on a squeaky haredy. He also watched "Van Dyke" run for years and win scads of deserved Emmy awards.

monica.

And why didn't all those crazy Indians show up to end the whole thing right in the beginning?

The new American Broadcasting Co. series, "N.Y.P.D.' not only brings to the home screens the authentic, stark, yet colorful backgrounds of New York, but also fond memories of other Gotham series which originated there. One was "Naked City," the other Burt Reynolds' starring vehicle, "Hawk.'

"N.Y.P.D.," which premiered on Channel 5 Tuesday evening at 9:30, seems to have the stuff to become a hit ac-. tion series if the leads are a criterion.

Starring as the chief of New York detectives is Jack Warden, who played a somewhat frivolous Army major in "The Wackiest Ship in the Army.

The same young writers

ened to include more than the weak gags presented Tuesday.