Sneak Previews : How to see the fall shows this summer

By SUSAN KING

July 21, 1991 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Bored with watching endless reruns?

Take a vacation from summer television and be the first on your block to see the shows of the fall season.

Returning and new comedy series are beginning production at studios in and around Los Angeles, and they’re looking for audiences.

Be warned, though, tickets to a hit series are hardest to come by during the summer months. Once you do get tickets, arrive at tapings early: They give out more tickets than there are seats to ensure a full house.

There are two main sources for tickets:

* Audiences Unlimited: Call 818-506-0067 for general information and 818-506-0043 to request tickets. The age restriction for Audiences Unlimited series varies, but usually no one under 16 is allowed.

* The Paramount Visitors Center: Call 213-956-1777 for general information. Tickets must be picked up at the center at 860 N. Gower St. in Hollywood weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Paramount’s age restriction is 18.

“Cheers” is the toughest ticket in town, according to Bob Greg, manager of Paramount Promotional Services. Tickets are only available the day of taping, with a limit of two tickets per person. “The lines can be immense,” he said.

The networks used to recruit audiences for shows, Greg said. But Paramount decided it could do the job more efficiently. “We provide a service. It still isn’t easy, but it seems more refined.” Although demand outweighs supply for hit series, Greg said, producers often want a specific type of audience. “(Producers) used to just want to fill the audience. Now they are picky,” Greg said. “They want a certain age group, a certain interest group or social groups.”

Greg said it can be particularly difficult to recruit audiences for new, unknown series. It helps when the show has an identifiable star or producer, as in the case of CBS’ “The Royal Family,” which is produced by Eddie Murphy’s company and stars Redd Foxx of “Sanford and Son.” But usually, Greg said, “it takes a lot of work.”

Don’t worry about going to a new series and not being familiar with the premise. Most new programs first show the series’ pilot or the previous week’s episode before the taping in order to introduce audiences to the characters and plot points.

“It kind of brings them to a point in time,” Greg said.

HOT TIX: THE TALE OF THE TAPE

Following is a network-by-network rundown of how to get tickets for tapings. Contact Paramount for all shows taped at Paramount Studios. For all other series, go through Audiences Unlimited, unless otherwise indicated. All shows labeled TBA had no ticket plan at press time (the best bet on those series is to try Audiences Unlimited and Paramount).

ABC

“America’s Funniest Home Videos”--Starts taping in August, Sundays at ABC Center, 4151 Prospect, Hollywood. Tickets may be picked up at ABC Guest Services at ABC Center.

“America’s Funniest People”--Starts taping mid-August at ABC Center.

“Roseanne”--Starts taping mid-August on Fridays at CBS/MTM, 4024 Radford, Studio City.

“Step By Step” (new series starring Patrick Duffy and Suzanne Sommers)--In production Wednesdays at Columbia Pictures, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City.

“Who’s the Boss?”--Starts taping this month on Fridays at Sunset/Gower Studios, 1438 N. Gower, Hollywood.

“Coach”--Starts taping Aug. 16 on Fridays at Universal Studios, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City.

“Baby Talk”--Starts taping Aug. 9 on Fridays at Sunset/Gower Studios.

“Family Matters”--In production Thursdays at Columbia/Culver City.

“Full House”--In production Thursdays at Columbia/Culver City.

“Growing Pains”--Starts taping Aug. 8 on Thursdays at Warner Ranch, Hollywood Way and Oak, Burbank.

“Perfect Strangers”--In production Thursdays at Columbia/Culver City.

“Good and Evil” (new comedy starring Teri Garr)--In production Fridays at Ren-Mar, 846 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood.

“Anything But Love”--Starts taping on Fridays this week at 20th-Century Fox, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Century City. Tickets may be picked up at Paramount.

“Growns Ups” (new James Brooks’ comedy starring Marsha Mason)--In production Aug. 2 on Fridays at Columbia/Culver City. TBA.

“Home Improvement” (new comedy starring comic Tim Allen)--Starts taping on Fridays this week at Walt Disney Studios, 500 S. Buena Vista Blvd., Burbank.

CBS

“The Royal Family”--(new comedy starring Redd Foxx and Della Reese)--Starts taping Aug. 13 on Tuesdays at Paramount Studios, 5555 Melrose Ave., Hollywood.

“Designing Women”--In production Thursdays at Columbia Television (Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank). Tickets are available by calling two to three weeks in advance, 818-954-5553.

“Teech” (new comedy from creators of “Doctor, Doctor”)--Starts taping July 29 and thereafter will tape Tuesdays at Columbia in Burbank.

“Murphy Brown”--Starts taping Aug. 16 on Fridays at Warner Bros.

“Princesses” (new comedy starring Twiggy)--Starts taping Aug. 6 on Tuesdays at Universal Studios.

“The Carol Burnett Show’ (new one-hour comedy series)--Starts taping in November, location and tickets to be announced.

“Major Dad”--Starts taping on Fridays this week at Universal.

FOX

“Married...With Children”--Starts taping Aug. 9 on Fridays at Sunset/Gower.

“True Colors”--In production on Fridays at 20th-Century Fox. Tickets available through Paramount.

“Roc” (new comedy starring Charles S. Dutton)--Starts taping July 30 on Tuesdays at Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose, Hollywood. TBA.

“In Living Color”--Starts taping Aug. 28 on Wednesdays at KTTV, 5746 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Tickets available through Paramount.

“Shut Up, Kids” (new comedy starring Dabney Coleman)-- Starts taping Aug. 9 on Fridays at CBS/MTM. Ticket plan to be announced.

“Sunday Comics”--In production Tuesdays at the Palace Theater, 1725 N. Vine Street, Hollywood. Tickets available by calling 818-242-4722 or through Audiences Unlimited. Or write to Sunday Comics, 5746 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, 90028.

“Comic Strip Live”--In production Saturdays at Laff Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Tickets available night of the show at Laff Factory (for information call 213-656-1336).

“Totally Hidden Video”--In production Tuesdays at KTTV.

NBC

“Night Court”--Starts taping Aug. 9 on Fridays at Warner Bros.

“A Different World”--Starts taping Aug. 21 on Wednesdays at CBS/MTM. TBA.

“Blossom”--Starts taping Aug. 9 on Fridays at Sunset/Gower.

“Seinfeld”-- Starts taping Aug. 13 on Tuesdays at CBS/MTM. TBA.

“Dear John”--Starts taping on Tuesdays this week at Paramount.

“Cheers”--Starts taping Aug. 6 on Tuesdays at Paramount.

“Wings”--Starts taping Aug. 20 on Tuesdays at Paramount.

“Flesh and Blood” (new comedy from producers of “Cheers”)--Starts taping Aug. 9 on Fridays at Paramount.

“The Golden Girls”--Starts taping Aug. 9 on Fridays at Ren--Mar.

“Empty Nest”--Starts taping Aug. 13 on Tuesdays at Ren-Mar.