Evening star., 1951-08-26

drawn. Any minute now NBC and
CHS will be slugging it out in
earnest in the fight for television
supremacy. Picking a winner in
advance will be left to the more
foolhardy soothsayers, while this
department contents itself with
the moderately safe prediction
that the competition will mean
the best season yet for the viewers.
There are plenty of signs that
NBC may be aiming at the 1872
season as the time to avenge
those CHS talent raids in radio
several years ago. The senior web
has a most imposing array Of
stars lined up.
NBC also is displaying a
healthy attitude in television pro-
gramming, following a course long
advocated by those who deplore
too much advertising agency con-
troll of program content. 1t has
been MICS policy to build the
show first and put it on the air
for the home viewers. As the num-
Der of these increases, sponsors
are sure to follow.
CHS has largely employed the
opposite method, preferring to
sign up the sponsor first, then
get the show. That this does not
always work out too well is dem
onstrated by the cases of Sam
Levenson, for whom no choice
time spot can be found, and ''The
Goldbergs," which was signed by
NBC when no time could be ar
ranged by CHS.
NBC-TV Hos the Bolt
For Week End Audience
AS things stand now, NBC is
prepared to get firm grip on the
weekend television audience once
the new season gets underway.
The Saturday night lineup will
include THE Goldbergs" at Z,
lone Mans Family" at 1880, ALL
Star Revue" at 8, your Show of
Shows" at 9 and Hit Parade"
at 10:30. Locally, WNBW will
have "Safeway Theater" instead
of "1it Parade" which doesn't
make the competition any less i'm
posing for Sammy Kaye, Ken
Murray, Faye Emerson's Wonder
full Town" and Songs for Sale"
on CHS.
NBC is lining up some big guns
for Sunday night television, too.
At z o'clock the net will have a
new comedy show on which Bob
Hope and Jerry Lester will alter
nate, along with some other top
comics. This will be followed by
the new Jackie Kelk program,
Young Mr.. Bobbin," at 1880;
Comedy Hour" eddie Cantor,
Martin and Lewis. etc. at 8,
"Television Playhouse" at and
Red Shelton at 10. The principal
opposition will be on CHS, in
Toast of the Town" at 8 and
"The Fred Waring Show" at 9.
frankie Is Not Expected
To Chase Milton Berle
Other expected battle areas, as
outlined in Variety, the show bust
ness weekly, are these:
Monday-The edge goes to CHS,
with "Video Theater," Arthur
Godfrey's Talent Scouts" the new
Lucille Ball-DeSi Arnaz show and
Studio One" Figures to pull
better than MICS Paul Winchell,
Lights Out" and the alternate
Robert Montgomery Presents"
and Somerset Vaughan
Theater."
Tuesday-It's Milton Berle and
NBC for another season, the ex-
pertS think. CHS is moving in
Frank Sinatra for competition,
but, the question is raised. if
Sinatra couldn't top Sid Caesar,
how is he going to top Berle?
Wednesday-NBC has the big
Kate Smith evening hour ready to
move into the 8-to-9 spot to give
Godfrey and friends some trouble.
And "Television Theater" at 8
o'clock on NBC is an established
favorite.
Thursday-A three-way split is
predicted here, with ABC-TV get
ting into the act with Treasury
Men in Action" and "Stop the
Music" CHS will have Burns and
Allen alternating with my
Friend Irma"). Amos n Andy and
Alan Young. with NBC trying toI
draw the customers with Groucho
Marx and Martin Kane" {