Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / March 2, 1989, edition 1 / Page 16
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DTHOmnibusThursday, March 2, 19899 Edited for Television " ' " " Tour of Duty' not an average TV war show By WirSTQ?J LLOYD Staff Writer in the third week of looking at worthwhiSe shows at the bottom of the ratings, like "Moonlighting" and "Almost Crown," I now turn to "Tour of Duty" (CBS). I only hope that it doesn't suffer the same fate as the other two shows. "Almost Crown" has been gone from the schedule for two weeks and "Moonlighting" is in the shop until April. "Tour of Duty," a war drama, premiered in 1987, in the death slot opposite Bill Cosby. While there, it didnt do as badly as "Our World" or "A Rne Romance " which is currently running there. It fared well enough, and because of a fairly strong demographic base the male viewer it was allowed to return. So advertisers had a place to sell beer, motor oil and insurance. But it didnt return until midseason when it replaced Mary Tyler Moore and Dick van Dyke's lackluster new efforts. During the first of the season "Tour of Duty" got some much-needed R & R, and came back irt better shape (now on Tuesdays at 8 pm) The first season followed the success of "Platoon" and had the same basic premise: following a bunch of grunts through the hell of Vietnam (shooting is done on location in Hawaii). We were intro duced to college boy Lieutenant Goldman (Stephen Caffrey). He was fresh off the plane trying to use textbook tactics in an unconven tional war. Luckily for Goldman, there was Sgt. Anderson (Terence Knox), who in the early episodes was said to be from Chapel Hill, but that may have been changed after the show's retooling in its second season. Zeke Anderson is the seasoned combat veteran who had just re-upped for his third tour of duty. Early tension between the sergeant and the lieutenant has given way to the friendship and admiration each has for the other. As Goldman matured, so too did Anderson in being able to recog nize the lieutenant as his superior. The first year saw the hardened and often callous Anderson trying to instill fear and courage in his new, hand-picked platoon. How ever, he has evolved - he can still be a killing machine when he needs to be, but he hasnt lost his sense of humor. He oftne takes things in stnde but he can also under stand how psychiatrist Dr. Sey mour (Betsy Brantley) feels after her first kill. Anderson, as well as the lieu tenant, is unhappy with the way the war is being fought. One recent episode dealt with the problem of crossing the border into Cambodia. The privates could not understand why they couldnt fight them there if the enemy was in Cambodia The. lieutenant often has tQ inediate between combat and' the politics of fighting from Washington. Producer Zev Braun sympathizes with the soldiers and often seems to make the political statement that we should have been fully committed to the war. The second season finally got out of the jungle and into Saigon or a stable camp. The hard-to-digest "Platoon" borrowings have been mitigated by bits of "MASH" and "China Beach" that have entered the new and improved "Tour of Duty." Its a good thing the producers realized that an unlimited number of things can happen to you in combat but there are only so many interesting stories or ways to develop a character. Anderson's desire to stay in the army is tempered by his new wariness of the system. "Congratulations," he tells Dr. Seymour. "You just discov ered how to deal with the Army. Yell at them." No longer is every episode a continual struggle of life vs. death or good vs. evil. The storyline follows the main members of the platoon wherever they may be. Some may be in a helicopter trying to get a story for reporter Alex Devlin Kim Delaney); others may be drag racing jeeps at the camp or ferrying gray market medical supplies. Sometimes the war seems to serve as merely a back drop for the romance of Goldman and Devlin, or a card game for Pvt. Taylor (Miguel A. Nunez Jr.). But you can bet that the war will intrude and Devlin will be lost in an unsafe refugee camp or Taylor will end up gambling with the Viet Cong. The character study sometimes becomes too intense, too drawn out or too cliched when the show must rely on acting. It has a good base but these are no Shake spearean actors. Delaney and Brantley are often too rigid in their characterizations of the only recurring women on the show. They seem uncomfortable in showing more than one side even when the producers seem to be writing for just that. When Dr. Seymour is trying to come to grips with shooting one of the enemy, her outflow of emotions just doesnt seem to work, even as Sgt. Anderson attempts to pull them out of her. Likewise, Delaney is very good when she is a serious reporter, but seems to carry that over too much in the love scenes with Lt. Goldman, while Caffrey is able to exhibit both sides of his character. "Tour of Duty" is an interesting view of a war that few of us know anything about, jt's a story of people coping with an extraordi nary situation with ordinary feel ings. From the sniper who turns on his own people to the tough soldier who is frightened and opens his M-16 up on a rat, "Tour of Duty" involves the audience in a war but also in the people who reluctantly fight it & y , made barbecue, chicken, seafood and 60 brands of domestic and imported beers and 25 wines. Hams 310 W. Franklin 933-3767. Famous for our home-made chips and fries, deli style subs and sandwiches, burgers and homemade soups. Wide selection of imported beers along with yard and half yards of beer. Ten foot wide TV screen. Open 11 A.M.-1 A.M. Monday through Saturday, 11 A.M.-midnight Sunday. ABC permits. Mastercharge, Visa and American Express! mm Columbia Street Bakery and Coffeehouse 107 N. Columbia St (next to Copytron) 967-9150. Homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, spinach turnovers, and more. ("Best chili in town'-Anon.) Plus fresh muffins, pastries, brownies, cookies, breads. Beautiful birthday cakes. With fresh-roasted coffee, capputino, teas, juices.... Informal atmosphere, reasonable prices. Open all day through late evening, everyday. Marco Polo International Restaurant. Chefs from Italy and China prepare fabulous dishes from the finest provinni veal, stuffed clams, to szechuan shrimp. Thailand chicken and spicy Indian curried dishes pleasing the most critical palate. Come for a casual lunch or delightful dinner. The average price of our 100-item dinner menu is about $8.00. Cisco, Charlie and Chang As the name suggests, our menu offers a delectable variety of international cui sines. Mexican, Oriental and CajuriAmeri can specials make your dining experience unforgettable. Popular entrees include a mesquite chicken sandwich, New Orleans Cajun seafood gumbo and orange beef. All ABC permits including domestic ancj imported beers. Deck or inside dining. Brass Rail Come enjoy "Magic at Your Table" on Friday sand Saturdays at The Brass Rail, 1301 E. Franklin St. 933-1323. Steaks, grilled seafood and chicken dishes served in an , elegant atmosphere provide for a special, evening that won't kill your budget. Sal's Pizza Wide variety of Italian specialties featuring succulent daily specials served with salad for just $3.15. All day specials include Monday spaghetti and eggplant, Tuesday lasagna and cheese ravioli and Wednesday manicotti. Thursday nighfs pizza buffet is just $4.15. Sal's has all ABC permits and offers a variety of wines and beers. University Pizza Original Hand Made Pizza (thinner crust) and Pan Pizza (thicker crust) are both available for delivery. A 33 minute delivery guarantee makes UP the best delivery deal in town. Nightly from 10P.M. until 2A.M. there are late night specials on both 12" and 16" pizzas. Call for more details. 968-9999. i (wmrsQiJ Mariakakis Restaurant andBakery Famous in Chapel Hill since 1963, offers a variety of famous Greek pastries and breads made fresh daily in its on premises bakery. Pizza is the restaurant's . trademark but many authentic Greek dishes, r ., are offered along with sandwicheshome l. ' Colonel Chutney's Your kind of place. Serving fresh seafood, prime rib, grilled steaks and chicken, gourmet burgers, super salads, soups, homemade desserts and lots of fun. The best late nite menu available 7 nights a week until one am at reasonable prices. , Relax with usfjust a block from campus300, ; ,W.KosemaryS 942-75751:". .. "7, " , II Palio Ristorante There is no spectacle in all of Europe like The Palio in Siena, Italy. In Chapel Hill there is no finer dining than that at The Siena Hotel. II Palio serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its highly trained chefs prepare
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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March 2, 1989, edition 1
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