Time For Envelope, Please

Mon., March 25, 1996

John Martin New York Times Syndicate

Academy Awards night has become something of a television ritual. Movie fans have settled into the comfortable habit of feasting on the awards ceremonies with a side order of Barbara Walters.

The 68th Academy Awards airs at 6 on ABC.

The show is hosted this year by Whoopi Goldberg. After last year’s David Letterman debacle, she doesn’t have a tough act to follow.

Among the stars who will be honored with tributes this year are Kirk Douglas, animator Chuck Jones and director John Lasseter (“Toy Story”). There will be salutes to the late Gene Kelly and George Burns.

Take Six and the dance troupe Stomp will perform. Vanessa Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, Gloria Estefan, Lyle Lovett and Randy Newman will perform Oscar-nominated songs.

The evening’s viewing includes “The Barbara Walters Special” on ABC at 9. This year’s Oscar-night interviewees are Annette Bening, Richard Dreyfuss and Demi Moore.

ABC has an interesting way of characterizing the three stars, referring to Bening as one of Hollywood’s “most sought after leading ladies” and Moore as one of today’s “highest-paid” stars. Bening should accept the compliment.

Dreyfus, of course, is on the show thanks to his Oscar-nominated role in “Mr. Holland’s Opus.”

Also tonight: TNT previews the nominees in a repeat of “Inside the Academy Awards” at 5.

Highlights

“College Basketball’s Road to Glory,” CBS at 8: A panel of sportswriters and broadcasters pick the best NCAA games since 1982. The hour also includes a viewer poll of the most memorable contest.

“Cops,” FOX at 8: Here’s a counterprogramming move aimed at viewers who would rather see creeps being busted than watch stars being toasted. A two-hour-long “Cops” marathon was taped in New Orleans (the evening’s only original episode, shot during Mardi Gras); Tampa, Fla.; Dallas; and Buffalo, N.Y.

The Buffalo cops apprehend an escaped boa constrictor.

“Special Report: Journey to Mars,” CBS at 9: Keith Carradine, Alfre Woodard, Judge Reinhold and Phillip Casnoff star in the science-fiction thriller presented as “live” TV coverage of a Mars mission plagued by problems suggesting sabotage.

“Out for Justice,” NBC at 9: There are no Oscars here. But if you’re in the mood for an action-thriller, Steven Seagal has all the moves as a Brooklyn police officer who returns to his old neighborhood to take on a ruthless cocaine kingpin.

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