Smile! You’ll Love ‘Candid Camera’

Thu., Aug. 29, 1996

John Martin New York Times Syndicate

It would be hard to find an adult anywhere in America who can honestly deny ever having laughed at a gag pulled on “Candid Camera.”

And so I defy you to keep a straight face through “Candid Camera’s 50th Anniversary” (CBS at 8), an hour of vintage pranks hosted by Peter Funt and Leeza Gibbons.

The series, created by Peter’s father Allen (who was not well enough to take part in the broadcast), dates to a series of “Candid Microphone” stunts broadcast on Armed Forces Radio in 1946.

“No one, not even Allen, thought it would last over five decades,” Gibbons tells viewers.

Peter Funt reminds us that there have been over 700 episodes, several feature films and “more than a million people caught in the act of being themselves.” (We’re not sure about Peter’s math. That’s a lot of surprised people per episode.)

The hour is packed with classic “Candid” moments, so many, unfortunately, that overkill starts to set in.

Highlights

“Living Single,” FOX at 8: So much is going on as the series’ fourth season begins, FOX is running back-to-back half-hours. Overton (John Henton) finally proposes to Synclaire (Kim Coles). Max (Erika Alexander) finds the going muddy in the race for alderman. And Khadijah (Queen Latifah) defends Flavor against a libel suit that could destroy its future.

“Friends,” NBC at 9: Writers attempt a little French farce, complete with slamming doors as Rachel’s (Jennifer Aniston) separated parents (Marlo Thomas, Ron Leibman) both show up at her surprise birthday party.

Chandler and Joey (Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc) stage an across-the-hall beer blast for dad’s benefit. His party is a hoot. Mom’s is a bore.

“High Incident,” ABC at 8: If you’ve spent time in California, you know this scenario is frighteningly common. Thick fog causes a multicar freeway smashup. The cops have their hands full in this tense first-run outing.

“Seinfeld,” NBC at 10: Debra Messing (“Ned & Stacey”) and Cary Elwes (“Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” 1993) guest-star.

“New York Undercover,” FOX at 9: A two-part season premiere comes right from the headlines: A rash of church fires stokes racial tension in New York City.

“Democratic National Convention,” ABC and CBS at 6, NBC at 6:30: As Bill Clinton and Al Gore address the delegates, one question is whether they’ll beat Dole-Kemp in the ratings or hit a new low of audience indifference.

C-SPAN has podium coverage at 4; KSPS and CNN join in at 5.

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