The brouhaha over the ABC sitcom "Baby Talk" isn't just kid stuff anymore.
While it was originally reported that star Connie Sellecca departed from the show (based on the movie "Look Who's Talking") because of the all-encompassing "creative differences" we so often hear about, Sellecca is now telling a different tale.The former star of "Hotel" and "The Greatest American Hero" says she was more or less thrown off the show after the producer reneged on contractual promises and verbally abused her. She's suing Columbia Pictures and executive producer Ed. Weinberger for $1.5 million.
Sellecca alleges in her suit that Weinberger exercised a contract option compelling the producers to pay her $45,000 per episode for at least seven episodes plus a share of the profits. In addition, she would receive an office and a secretary.
She further alleges that Weinberger later backed out of his promise and verbally attacked her in "a fit of rage." Neither Columbia nor Weinberger had any comment on the lawsuit.
Of course, maybe the fact that Sellecca was dreadful in the pilot for the show - and that she'd been making demands for more creative control - had something to do with all this.
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GO TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS: When Sellecca suddenly departed "Baby Talk" just weeks before its scheduled premiere, it was somewhat surprising that ABC insisted the show would go on as scheduled.
It was less surprising when the network reversed itself and pulled the program from the lineup.
"The recasting process on `Baby Talk' is not complete," said ABC Entertainment President Robert A. Iger, "and that delay means that the series will not be available for our September schedule as planned. We'll announce plans for `Baby Talk' in the near future."
But what's bad news for "Baby Talk" is good news for "Head of the Class." That 4-year-old ABC sitcom did not make the fall schedule, but was in the loop as a midseason replacement. Now, suddenly, it's a replacement before the season even begins.
Fortunately for ABC, "Class" is already in production and is all ready to drop into the Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. slot vacated by "Baby."
There have been some changes in the show, however. Howard Hesseman, who played teacher Charlie Moore, has left the show. He's been replaced by Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, who'll play a new teacher of those super-smart IHP students.
And isn't it funny the way things have workd out for "Class?" Sort of tossed aside after four years on the network, it comes back sandwiched between highly rated "Who's the Boss?" and last year's No. 1 show, "Roseanne." It's ratings are sure to improve over last year, when it was on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. - a much weaker night and time for ABC.
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CASTING CORNER: The current Hot Rumor is that Columbia is pursuing Julia Duffy ("Newhart") to replace Sellecca on "Baby Talk."
There's one big problem, however. Duffy is under contract to CBS to do a new sitcom. She'll co-star with her "Newhart" husband, Peter Scolari, but they won't be playing Stephanie and Michael.
CBS, quite naturally, is reluctant to release the very-talented Duffy to compete against them.
So Hot Rumor No. 2 has Allison LaPlaca as Columbia's next choice. LaPlaca is best known for her very funny portrayal of Linda on Fox's "Duet" and "Open House."
And either Duffy or LaPlaca would be a big improvement over Sellecca. They have the ability to do comedy.
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MYSTICALLY SPEAKING: KSL decided to take a rather different - and bizarre - slant on Saddam Hussein last week during its evening newscasts.
Ch. 5's Shelley Osterloh did a piece with a psychic, asking the woman her opinions on the Iraqi dictator and his future.
What's even stranger than the fact that KSL did this story at all is how they did it. Osterloh played it straight, treating the psychic as if she were just another of the Middle East experts we're seeing so much of these days.
And Ch. 5 used radio and TV spots to promote about the psychic to promote the newscasts. (What does that say about KSL's respect for our intelligence?)
What's next? Tarot card readings? Or tea leaves?