Abc Still Struggling Over Monday Nights

ABC has had a miserable time trying to program the Monday 8:30 p.m. slot this year.

Two series, two cancellations, and the season’s not over yet.

Monday the network pulled the plug on “A Whole New Ballgame,” a series distinguished only by the fact that it represented Corbin Bersen’s return to series TV. Monday night’s episode was the last, although ABC still has two in the can.

A victim of the ratings game, the show, which replaced “Blue Skies,” mustered no better than an average 7.9 rating and 12 share (6.3 rating on Feb. 20 and 6.6 on Feb. 27).

ABC will air “specials,” or what have you, over the next few weeks. May sweeps plans are still being formed.

And in case you’re wondering, the once bulletproof “Coach” (Mondays at 8) has had its own troubles this season, although ratings have drifted upward recently.

‘Lost in Space’ on video

Danger, danger!

Fans of the classic series “Lost in Space” are in for a real treat. The Columbia House Video Library is releasing “Lost in Space: The Collector’s Edition,” a series of video cassettes of the show.

The first volume, available only through Columbia House (1-800-638-2922), includes the rarely seen pilot episode.

“Lost in Space” debuted on CBS in 1965 and went off the air in 1968. It starred June Lockhart (formerly the mom in “Lassie”), Billy Mumy, Jonathan Harris, Guy Williams (formerly TV’s Zorro), Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen and Angela Cartwright as the Robinson family. Bob May also starred as a robot.

Each installment in the video

cassette series will include two episodes. The first purchase will cost $4.95. Subsequent buys are $19.95 apiece.

Even more O.J. videos

In case you missed Detective Mark Fuhrman’s testimony Monday or spent sleepless nights wondering what Rosa Lopez said, Court TV and Warnervision Entertainment are repackaging endless hours of testimony for the home video market. The four-volume set hits the stores March 28 at $12.95 a volume.