Byline: Dusty Saunders

I have a dandy idea for a segment on Dateline NBC.

Have Jane Pauley or Stone Phillips interview outspoken producer Dick Wolf about the overload of network news magazines in prime time.

Such an interview will never happen, of course. And that's a shame. Wolf, creator of the popular Law & Order, has gradually built a a platform for his argument.

Wolf mounted it again recently with TV critics, while discussing his new NBC series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, a spinoff of his long-running dramatic hit.

Special Victims Unit, airing at 8 p.m. Monday this fall, stars Dann Florek (formerly of Law & Order), Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni and Richard Belzer, who reprises his cynical Det. John Munch character from Homicide: Life on the Street.

Wolf doesn't back away from criticizing NBC for scheduling the new series in that time period.

``This is definitely a 10 p.m. show (9 in Central and Mountain time zones),'' Wolf says while outlining the series' adult content.

As you might gather from the title, Special Victims Unit features New York police detectives dealing with brutal offenses against persons, including rape. (The series' original title: Law & Order: Sex Crimes Unit.)

``The network knows how I feel about airing this type of show in an earlier time period,'' Wolf says.

``This series was not designed to be shown at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. locally). The emphasis is not on sex but rather on criminality that has a sexual basis.

``Episodes deal with the effect sexual crimes have on victims, families and police officers who must cope with such tragedies on a regular basis. Yes, it's pretty strong stuff. It deserves a later time period.''

Using his Law & Order series, ER and NYPD Blue as examples, Wolf says, ``I think it's very clear that local news does better in terms of audience profiles with adult, Emmy-winning dramas as lead-ins.

``I would invite you, if you were a station manager, to look at a Nielsen ratings book. You'd rather have Law & Order or ER as a lead-in to local news. Those viewers are more affluent.

``Frankly, I don't think it makes a d--- bit of difference where Dateline is. After all, it's on five times a week.''

A combative smile. ``My feelings about the excess of network news magazines is a matter of record.''

Wolf has not given up his battle for a later time period.

``NBC knows how I feel about this. I keep pounding the drums with you people (the critics).

``What can I say? Write Bob Wright (NBC president). Write Scott Sassa (president of NBC West Coast) a letter. Something will probably happen later in the season.''

It's not just the 8 p.m. time period that bothers Wolf. It's the Monday night competition.

``We're opposite the highest rated series on Fox (Ally McBeal), the highest-rated comedy on CBS (Everybody Loves Raymond) and ABC's Monday Night Football.''

Another combative smile.

``I think it's a great time slot.''

Overlooked in this Great Prime Time Debate is the fact Wolf and Special Victims Unit are involved in television history.

Under a groundbreaking deal between USA Pictures (the production house) and NBC, episodes of Special Victims Unit will show up on USA cable 13 days after airing on the network.

NBC affiliates have objected vigorously, feeling such scheduling will hurt their prime time audience ratings and revenue streams.

Wolf, while understanding affiliates' concerns, feels such scheduling could be ``the wave of the future.''

``Basically, this is a restructuring of the business at a time when networks are looking for new sources of revenue. And it gives viewers a second chance to see a show two weeks later.''

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Color Photo

The cast of NBC's new Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, strikes an arresting pose. From left are: Dean Winters, Dann Florek, Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Michelle Hurd and Richard Belzer. By NBC.

COPYRIGHT 1999 Rocky Mountain News. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of the Dialog Corporation by Gale Group.