Radio stars, viewers hope campaign saves 'City of Angels'

With "City of Angels" on the critical list, will CBS upgrade its condition? The network announces its fall schedule Wednesday, but it's still not known if Steven Bochco's medical drama will be on that schedule. The show is popular among African-American viewers but has not been on the air for weeks. CBS has not commented except to say that "City of Angels" will return in late spring and that network executives "are still reviewing the status" of the show. Meanwhile, some prominent African-Americans in the media are campaigning to save the show. At the prompting of radio and TV commentator Tavis Smiley, thousands of viewers bombarded the office of CBS president Leslie Moonves demanding the show's return. Journalist Bev Smith, whose syndicated radio show is heard at 10 p.m. weekdays on KPRT-AM (1590), has been urging listeners to write the network showing their support. Members of the cast and crew from "City of Angels" have appeared on her show, including Bochco. As a result of the media blitz, CBS set up a separate hot line (212-975-5005) and directed callers to that number. The hot line gives a recorded message on the show's status and lets callers leave a short message with their comments. On Tom Joyner's morning radio show last week - heard locally on KNRX-FM (107.3) - Smiley derided the notion of giving black listeners a "special number" to call. But a CBS spokesman said Monday that "thousands and thousands" of people have called the hot line. Smiley, who was in Kansas City last weekend to address a gathering of alumni from historically black colleges and universities, said a report on support for "City of Angels" was being prepared for Moonves. Although it has not been a ratings hit - which Smiley attributes to its early-evening time slot - "City of Angels" is significant as the only network drama featuring a mostly African-American cast. The most-watched show among black viewers is a sitcom, UPN's "The Parkers." "The comedies are cool; I ain't mad at them," Smiley said Saturday. "But we've got to have some balance in the way we're portrayed on television." "City of Angels" stars Blair Underwood and Vivica A. Fox as dedicated professionals at a chronically underfunded hospital in urban Los Angeles. Fox will not return even if the show does; Smiley has been urging Bochco to cast an African-American as her replacement. That could be Alfre Woodard, who originally was offered the role. To reach Aaron Barnhart, phone (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com @ART CAPTION:Underwood and Fox of 'Angels' @ART:Photo (color) >>>