Episode Three
"A Rock and a Soft Place"
Originally Televised 2/7/1996

Credits:

Director: Howard Meltzer
Writer: Rupert Holmes
Guest Stars: Irene Worth as Mrs. Mellon
                      Barton Heyman as Mr. Acton

Synopsis:

    Two sponsors come to odds over what they believe WENN's programming should be like.  On one side is Mr. Acton, president of Acton Anthracite Coal and sponsor of "Rance Shiloh: US Marshall".  He wants to follow this show, a violent Western, with a gritty Private Eye show with at least five homocides per show.  This would, of course, bring lots of new advertising revenue to WENN.  Unfortunatly, the desired time slot is already occupied by "Pittsburgh Public Library Theatre", a low-rated literary adaptation show.  The sponsor, a certain Mrs. Florence Dunthorpe Mellon, is also very influential.  Victor's task is to keep Mr. Acton, who despises literary shows, from Mrs. Mellon, who abhors violent action shows, while pleasing them both with his programming.  The solution comes with the show "Sam Dane: Private Detective" (see description below).  Adding additional wackiness is the fact that Mrs. Mellon is Celia's mom...although Celia seems eager to keep out of sight.  Perhaps this is because she's not REALLY the Mellon daughter...she's really their maid.

Featured WENN Programmes:

"Sam Dane: Private Detective"

    This is the premiere appearance of what turns out to be a regular show.  It provides the solution to Victor's problem by creating a synthesis of an action show and a literary show.  The episode, entitled "Vengance is Mine", is a gangland retelling of Hamlet.  So, Mr. Acton gets his detective show and Victor gets to feed Mrs. Mellon a line about how the show is bringing classic literature to the masses.  The next episode is said to be entitled "Beth and Mac" and is described as "Murder...with a shot of Scotch".  What clever folk those radio people are.

"Rance Shiloh: US Marshall"

    Sponsored by Acton Anthracite Coal, this Western adventure features Jeff Singer as Rance Shiloh.

"Pittsburgh Public Library Theatre"

    The low-rated literature show is now presenting "The Canterbury Tales".


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