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MQCSI Profile "Hill Street's" Charles HakI likes Renko's cowboy image by Brian Robinette Charles Haid portrays colorful Officer Andy "Cowboy" Renko on NBC-TV's "Hill Street Blues," a well-intentioned character literally brought back from the dead last year shortly after completing the pilot segment for the humorous police- drama series. As most "Hill Street" (seen Tuesdays) aficionados no doubt know by now, Officer Hill (played by Michael Warren) and Renko were seriously wounded in the line of duty in that first episode. Originally, the plan was to spare Hill and commend Renko's soul to that great precinct station in the sky, but NBC, the executive producers--and Haid--liked what they saw A simple "voiceover" line was inserted in a phone conversa­ tion to let the viewers know that both had survived. "At the time, I was not interested in doing any television series and I told them that," said Haid, who co-starred in two earlier ill-fated series, "Kate McShane" and "Delvecchio." "But then I saw the pilot of 'Hill Street' and I liked it. I thought the characters were well done. I discussed the direction of Renko with (Steven) Bochco (co-executive producer and co-creator) and we agreed . " Haid and Bochco had worked together before on "Delvec­ chio," and met while both were students at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Tech, an alma mater shared by several "Hill Street" cast members, including Bruce Weitz and Barbara Bosson As outspoken as his character, Haid sees Renko's.cowboy patois, pearl-handled pistol and other Wild West affectations as patently bogus, since Renko is New Jersey-born. "Waylon Jennings comes from New Jersey and has taken on those cowboy characteristics, so why can't Renko?" asked Haid. "He's never set foot west of the Mississippi. There are millions of Renkos who work in assembly lines. The image of the cowboy nowadays represents the last of the individuals, and Renko likes to think of himself that way. "I see him as the analogous male stereotype. My interest is in seeing what makes that fool work--that's what he is, definite­ ly a fool. He's typical of many males. He's an innocent fool, but the poor bastard is learning the hard way." TV COMTUCOC MRVICfS IMC in the spotlight Four PBS stationf to present "PI Estelle Parsons displays her flair for comedy as she portrays a middle-aged woman with psychic powers in the humorous teleplay, "Come Along With Me," which will be aired on PBS in 1962 as part of the new public television drama series, "Playhouse." Barbara Baxley and Sylvia Sidney are also starred in the program which was directed by Joanne Woodward. "Playhouse" will be televised nationally on Tuesday even ings over a period of 25 consecutive weeks, beginning Tuesday, January 5, 1982. Programs will vary in length from one to two hours each, and some productions will be aired in multiple episodes. • "Playhouse" marks public television's first concerted effort at broadcasting a continuing series of high-quality dramatic pro­ ductions. A consortium of four public television stations--KCET (Los Angeles), South Carolina ETV, WGBH (Boston) and WNET (New York)--will present the new offering. " 'Playhouse' is a cooperative drama venture designed to combine the best of original American production and program­ ming from abroad," said David M. Davis, executive producer of the series. "It is hoped the project will attract the finest American creative talent from the independent film and video communities, production companies and public televison sta­ tions " During its premiere season, "Playhouse" will offer original dramas by American authors; special adaptations drawn from the wealth of existing American literature; multi-part, episodic dramas especially created for television; and adaptations of im­ portant American stage works re-discovered for the television audience. Authors, writers and composers represented in "Play­ house" include. Ray Bradbury, Leon Capetanos, John Cheever, Tom Cole, Jacques Futrelle, Erie Stanley Gardner, Percy Granger. Micki Grant, Shirley Jackson, Frances and Richard Lockridge, B.J. Merholz and Julian Mitchell. The series will also feature an outstanding array of per­ formers To date, that roster includes: Barbara Baxley, Trazana Beverly, Scatman Crothers, John Cullum, Fred Gwynne, Lance Kerwin, Chris Makepeace, Barry Miller, Ed Olmos, Estelle Par sons, Telly Savalas, Sylvia Sidney and Sam Watcston. TV ooMPUtos somen, INC.