American Playhouse Television Program

The question from Ward Chamberlin, chairman of "American Playhouse" and a longtime stalwart in public television, came almost plaintively: "Do you get any hints from Jennifer about what PBS plans for American drama?" In the arena of public TV, that question has now taken center stage. The answer, it turns out, is quite hazy.

The question from Ward Chamberlin, chairman of "American Playhouse" and a longtime stalwart in public television, came almost plaintively: "Do you get any hints from Jennifer about what PBS plans for American drama?" In the arena of public TV, that question has now taken center stage. The answer, it turns out, is quite hazy.

The Times provided a very wonderful service to the public under the banner of "Our Community Rebuilds" (May 14). I commend The Times and the agencies mentioned. However, I would be remiss if I did not tell you I reviewed the list with great disappointment. Since 1976 I have had the pleasure of serving on the advisory board of the Salvation Army for Metropolitan Los Angeles and am well aware of what the Salvation Army did during the stressful period from May 1-8.

The Times provided a very wonderful service to the public under the banner of "Our Community Rebuilds" (May 14). I commend The Times and the agencies mentioned. However, I would be remiss if I did not tell you I reviewed the list with great disappointment. Since 1976 I have had the pleasure of serving on the advisory board of the Salvation Army for Metropolitan Los Angeles and am well aware of what the Salvation Army did during the stressful period from May 1-8.

"Embrace failure." Two words, big idea. It has been rolling around inside the head of playwright--and now director--Jon Robin Baitz for some time now. He got the advice from playwright John Steppling, whose Padua Hills Playwrights' Festival workshop Baitz attended 10 years ago, when he was a precocious 19-year-old with ambitions as a writer. While directing his play "Three Hotels" for PBS' "American Playhouse" (at 9 tonight on Channel 15, at 9:30 p.m.

When you walk into the offices of "American Playhouse"--the PBS anthology series that begins its 10th season Wednesday--the first thing you see is a poster extolling the program's versatility: "No Two Are Alike!" Therein lies both the legitimate boast, and perhaps the bane, of a series that has managed to stay true to its original goal of encompassing drama, theater and literature in an attempt to reflect things American.

"Embrace failure." Two words, big idea. It has been rolling around inside the head of playwright--and now director--Jon Robin Baitz for some time now. He got the advice from playwright John Steppling, whose Padua Hills Playwrights' Festival workshop Baitz attended 10 years ago, when he was a precocious 19-year-old with ambitions as a writer. While directing his play "Three Hotels" for PBS' "American Playhouse" (at 9 tonight on Channel 15, at 9:30 p.m.

When you walk into the offices of "American Playhouse"--the PBS anthology series that begins its 10th season Wednesday--the first thing you see is a poster extolling the program's versatility: "No Two Are Alike!" Therein lies both the legitimate boast, and perhaps the bane, of a series that has managed to stay true to its original goal of encompassing drama, theater and literature in an attempt to reflect things American.