It's kind of weird - certainly the casting is offbeat - but TNT's "The Wizard of Oz in Concert" (6 p.m. and 8 p.m.) is something fans of the 1939 movie and most kids will enjoy.
Drawn directly from the movie, which was based on the book by L. Frank Baum, "Concert" is a retelling of the Oz tale populated by both unknowns and big stars in unusual roles.It's not a full stage production - it's reading and singing in front of a theater audience.
There's 20-year-old Jewel Kilcher - the unknown - playing Dorothy and doing a fine job with the vocals.
Would you believe Jackson Browne as the Scarecrow, Roger Daltry as the Tinman and Nathan Lane as the Cowardly Lion? Not to mention Joel Grey as the wizard, Debra Winger as the Wicked Witch of the West and Natalie Cole as Glinda the Good Witch.
Then there's the Harlem Boys Choir as the Munchkins.
It's all a good deal of fun, and it's for a good cause - the Children's Defense Fund. Set that VCR!
HOUSE HUNTING: KSTU-Ch. 13 is looking for a new home.
The station has been housed in quarters at the International Center by the airport since 1978 - back when it was an independent UHF station operating as Ch. 20.
Back then, KSTU had about 30 employees, no news operation and lots of space. Today, the station has about 90 employees and no room to expand.
Station management is currently scouting around West Valley for either an existing building or a building site.
Stay tuned . . .
GEE, WHAT A SURPRISE: NBC has announced that it had entered into agreements with Bright/
Kauff-man/Crane and John Wells to buy future series from the producers.
Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane are the executive producers of the megahit "Friends." John Wells is the executive producer of the even bigger megahit "ER."
'Nuff said.
ANOTHER REUNION: A couple of weeks ago, Nancy McKeon was reunited with her former "Facts of Life" co-star Charlotte Rae in an episode of McKeon's new sitcom "Can't Hurry Love."
On Monday, it's another reunion of sorts. Alex Rocco, who had a recurring role as McKeon's father in "Facts," shows up on "Love" as - you guessed it! - McKeon's father.
Can Mindy Cohn be far behind?