TV & VIDEO - Sept. 29, 1987

The current glut of public-service announcements following TV shows and TV movies dealing with social issues killed plans on CBS’ “Kate & Allie” to help the New York-based Coalition for the Homeless on its Oct. 19 episode. New York magazine reports that CBS’ program practices unit pulled the plug after the show’s producers had finished the episode and added special music. George Dessart, CBS vice president of program practices, explained: “We don’t want our audience to perceive our programming as a succession of billboards.” In the program, Allie loses her wallet and spends a day on the streets with homeless people. The canceled pitch--giving viewers the coalition’s phone number--was to have come during the last minute of the show from Susan Saint James and Jane Curtin.