Maybe This Time. (Sal. (16), 8:30-9p.m., ABC). Taped in Burbank by Michael
Jacobs. Prods, in association with Touchstone. Television. Executive producers ...
Maybe This Time (Sal. (16), 8:30-9p.m., ABC) Taped in Burbank by Michael Jacobs Prods, in association with Touchstone Television. Executive producers, Bob Young, Michael Jacobs; creatorswriters, Jacobs, Young, Susan Estelle Jansen; producers, Mitchell Bank, David Trainer; supervising producer, Jansen; director, Trainer; camera, Donald Morgan; editor, Marco Zappia; production designer, John C. Mula; sound, Barry Stephens; music, Ray Colcord. Cast: Marie Osmond, Betty White, Ashley Johnson, Shiloh Strong, Craig Ferguson, Sam McMurray, Ashley Gardner, Catherine Lloyd Burns, Tony Carlin, Challen Cates, Stacy Cortez, Ric Stoneback, Nicole Sullivan.
t's risky to underestimate the Abby and romantic libertine. With all due respect to White, combined draw of Marie Osmond and Betty White, but especially for her work on "The their new sitcom is a big maybe, Mary Tyler Moore Show," someeven for the crucial female de- thing's amiss if she's relied upon to mographic. The debut — long give a 1995 sitcom an edge. Too on life lessons and short on much is pinned on her character, humor — is really kind of a which needs to be more clearly downer. . defined. Recently divorced Julia (OsOsmond flashes her pearlies mond) doesn't want to risk a new often enough. Her wholesome relationship, choosing instead to image belongs in the new Disneyfocus on her business — an up- ABC family, yet it may be too nice scale coffee bar — and her wise- even for the 8:30 slot (following cracking 11-year-old daughter, "The Jeff Foxworthy Show''). Gracie (Ashley Johnson). Her The kid has some of the funniest mother, Shirley (White), has lines, but that's not saying much. other ideas, and sets her up with The three creators, Michael Jacobs, the guy next door. Bob Young and Susan Estelle JansSeries is certain to focus on dat- en, are responsible for the pondering misadventures of Osmond's ous script and sum up the show in character, the blossoming of Gracie one line: "Give life a chance or and the exploits of Shirley, who's you'll never fall in love again." been married five times and is a Rounding out the cast are Logan combination matchmaker, Dear (Craig Ferguson), the randy Scottish cook who's constantly quoting his gran in Aberdeen, and the cafe's S E P T E M B E R 13, 1995 delivery boy (Shiloh Strong). David Trainer's direction is adequate. Message seems to be that a woman isn't complete without a man. Turns out, "Maybe This Time" needs a substantial male character to create some tension, comedic and otherwise. ABC will air the pilot Sept. 16 in its regular slot, as well as a preview of the night before. Shiloh Strong's character does not appear after the pilot, and Amy Hill is a new regular. -^Tohn P. McCarthy
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WEDNESDAY,
ABC's "Maybe This Time" is a multigenerational sitcom featuring Ashley Johnson, left, Betty White and Marie Osmond.
