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TELE I \ Pulse '9 to 5' isn't worth the time Miss Moreno gives the strongest performance, but she's unable to rise above the poor level of writing with which she's been saddled. Tambor, a gifted comedian, seems to be the only one who can rival his film counterpart's performance. The sitcom's executive producers are Jane Fonda and Bruce Gilbert, who also produced the film. They are capa­ ble of creating much better material. ©1982 Com potoo by Steve K. Walz Except for "M*A*S*H," which became a better series than its motion picture predecessor, most TV shows based on films have been failures. ABC's sitcom, "9 to 5," based on the hit 1980 film, is no exception. The TV version, like the film, concerns the plight of women office workers. But the chemistry that was present between the film's stars -- Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman -- is absent here. The sitcom features Miss Parton's sister, Rachel Dennic son, writer-actress Valerie Curtin and veteran performer Rita Moreno. They are locked in a constant battle for more respect with their chauvinistic boss (character actor Jeff Tambor). Miss Dennison is attractive, but she doesn't open her mouth wide enough for the viewers to understand what she s saying. Miss Curtin should have stuck to writing because her acting is flat. Cast of "9 to 5" (l-r): Rachel Dennison, Valerie Curtin, Jeffrey Tambor and Rita Moreno. Pi j >T7o(SnV £ By J.T. YURKO -- F|LM CRITIC A favorite Neil Simon char­ acter is the precocious, street­ wise New York adolescent -- who is more adept than her parents at handling adult prob­ lems. In previous Simon flicks, Quinn Cummings ("The Good­ bye Girl") and Kristy McNichol ("Only When I Laugh") played such characters. Now Dinah Manoff carries on the tradition in Simon's latest, "I Ought to Be in Pictures." Walter Matthau plays the father of Miss Manoff, whom he left in New York when his marriage broke up. He now works as a hack screenwriter in Los Angeles, who spends most of his meager earnings at the race track. He hasn't seen or even spo­ ken to Miss Manoff since she was a child. Imagine his surprise when she shows up at his home, after hitchhiking across America, and announces her intention to become a movie star. The situation of the wise­ cracking Brooklyn girl meeting the Hollywood hack is ripe for Simon's comedic touch. The film is full of Simon's clever one-liners; no one writes them better than he. Of course, having a cast as gifted as this can make any script more appealing. Matthau's acting here is just as superb as his previous perfor­ mances in Simon films ("The Odd Couple." "California Suite" and "The Sunshine Boys"). Ann-Margret is sub­ dued and effective as Matthau's lady friend. Miss Manoff could be a can­ didate for next year's Acade­ my Awards. When the Brook­ lyn accent and Hollywood lifestyle meet, east and west collide with some memorable scenes that are as touching as they are funny. ©1982 compuloo "The Return of the Secaucus Seven," which airs April 29 on The Movie Chan­ nel, is about the annual reunion in a rural New England town of seven friends who were college students during the 1960s The film is enjoy­ able. even though it contains no name actors, no virtuoso performances and no action. (The roughest scene involves a pick-up basketball game ) But the film works because its characters accurately por­ tray the emotions of that group of well-educated, idealistic people from an idealistic time who have had to come to terms with the real world. It's obvious that the film's director, John Sayles, likes his charac­ ters very much, and conse­ quently, so do you. USA continues its playoff broadcasts. The Stanley Cup playoff conference champion­ ships will air April 27 and 29, while NBA playoffs,, will air April 28 and 30 On April 27, for the third straight year, ESPN provides live coverage of the first day of the NFL draft. New England Patriots' coach Ron Meyers will get the first pick of such top college players as Kenneth Sims, Art Schlichter, Marcus Allen and Jim McMahon I OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES, from 20th Century-Fox. Directed by Herbert Ross, written by Neil Sifnon. Starring Dinah Manoff, Walter Matthau, Ann-Margret. Rated 'PG.' + + +