Linda Yellen

It should come as no surprise that Aaron Spelling Productions is making its first foray into daytime soap opera, with a proposed serial for ABC called "The Women's Group." The company's prime-time soap "Dynasty," after all, was the top-rated series of the 1984-85 season, and Spelling himself co-produced the recently released Paramount film "Soapdish," a sendup of the soaps.

It should come as no surprise that Aaron Spelling Productions is making its first foray into daytime soap opera, with a proposed serial for ABC called "The Women's Group." The company's prime-time soap "Dynasty," after all, was the top-rated series of the 1984-85 season, and Spelling himself co-produced the recently released Paramount film "Soapdish," a sendup of the soaps.

The producer of the forthcoming CBS television film "Second Serve," starring Vanessa Redgrave, is Linda Yellen. The name was given incorrectly in last Saturday's Calendar.

We get letters. . . . This batch responds to two columns. One of them was critical of an NBC News interview with Palestine Liberation Front leader Abul Abbas, who threatened the United States with terrorism. Abbas agreed to the interview on the condition that NBC not reveal his whereabouts. The other column lauded the CBS drama "Second Serve," starring Vanessa Redgrave as Renee Richards. That column also quoted executive producer Linda Yellen criticizing Redgrave for petitioning British actors to blacklist Israel.

Fortunately, Linda Yellen had no voice in the days of Hitler or we would have heard her yelling, "But he's such a great orator!" JoANN HELLER Santa Monica

As an American, I appreciate Linda Yellen's emphatic proclamation to never again work with Vanessa Redgrave (Film Clips, "Redgrave's Boycott Bites Back," by Jack Mathews, April 18). But Yellen must have been living in never-never land too long. She cast Redgrave in "Playing for Time" to, God help us, play a Jewess!!! Yellen cast Redgrave as Renee Richards in "Second Serve." Yellen is apparently very hard to convince. Or perhaps, too long on the wrong side. While Redgrave calling for a boycott of Israel, dancing with the PLO, rifle overhead, burning the American flag and suing the Boston Symphony (with, sorrowfully, help from American Actors Equity)

We get letters. . . . This batch responds to two columns. One of them was critical of an NBC News interview with Palestine Liberation Front leader Abul Abbas, who threatened the United States with terrorism. Abbas agreed to the interview on the condition that NBC not reveal his whereabouts. The other column lauded the CBS drama "Second Serve," starring Vanessa Redgrave as Renee Richards. That column also quoted executive producer Linda Yellen criticizing Redgrave for petitioning British actors to blacklist Israel.

In the period piece "End of Summer," Jacqueline Bisset is radiant as a rich, aristocratic turn-of-the-century spinster who unexpectedly has a second chance at love. The hourglass silhouette, the long skirts, the leg o' mutton sleeves of the gowns of the era are highly becoming on Bisset in this 1995 Showtime production now receiving theatrical release.

"Only the pink ticket can get you in. You have burgundy? Go that way." So said the not-to-be-bargained-with guys protecting Barbra Streisand at Sunday's post-premiere party for "The Mirror Has Two Faces" at Tavern on the Green. Unfortunately burgundy and "that way" meant away from the divine Miss Streisand; from her co-stars, Jeff Bridges and Mimi Rogers; and her consort, James Brolin. So begins the report to me from my trusty legman, Denis Ferrara. He goes on: "So I never got in to see Barbra.

The life of a driven, single New York career woman changes after she's unexpectedly saddled with a kid. . . . Diane Keaton in "Baby Boom"? No, Diane Keaton in "Northern Lights," tonight's new Disney Channel movie. The premise--life-weary adults find redemption through an innocent child--is oh-so-familiar, but there's offbeat pleasure in the execution, due mostly to performances by Keaton and her standout co-star, Maury Chaykin ("Unstrung Heroes"). There's no suspense here.

Arnold Marcus is out of line in his criticism of producer Linda Yellen (Calendar Letters, April 27). Yellen deserves praise, not criticism. By virtue of her continued casting of actress Vanessa Redgrave in her productions, she has shown herself to be a courageous individual with great respect for talent and art, an unbiased individual who is capable of distinguishing politics from art. What Redgrave does offscreen is her own affair, and should have no bearing on her work--her work speaks for itself.

As an American, I appreciate Linda Yellen's emphatic proclamation to never again work with Vanessa Redgrave (Film Clips, "Redgrave's Boycott Bites Back," by Jack Mathews, April 18). But Yellen must have been living in never-never land too long. She cast Redgrave in "Playing for Time" to, God help us, play a Jewess!!! Yellen cast Redgrave as Renee Richards in "Second Serve." Yellen is apparently very hard to convince. Or perhaps, too long on the wrong side. While Redgrave calling for a boycott of Israel, dancing with the PLO, rifle overhead, burning the American flag and suing the Boston Symphony (with, sorrowfully, help from American Actors Equity)

The producer of the forthcoming CBS television film "Second Serve," starring Vanessa Redgrave, is Linda Yellen. The name was given incorrectly in last Saturday's Calendar.