STUDIO HEADS INCENSED BY ANTI-DRUG SPOTS

Television Networks Were Offered Financial Incentives If Certain Programs
Preached Against Narcotics.

PASADENA- The bosses of several studios that produce prime-time TV shows
said Friday that they were angry that the networks had been working with
President Clinton's drug policy adviser to insert anti-drug messages into
programs.

Five studio heads, responsible for shows like 'ER," "The Drew Carey Show"
and "The Simpsons," all said they were unaware the networks were offered
financial incentives by the government if certain programs preached against
drugs.

"I think it's appalling," said Gail Berman, president of Regency Television,
which makes "Malcolm in the Middle" and "Roswell." "It's inappropriate for
government to participate in this way in the production of television."

Clinton's drug advisers said they had consulted with "ER" writers, and even
said they believed a recent episode in which a teen-ager came into the
emergency room suffering from alcohol abuse was in the production of
television."

Clinton's drug advisers said they had consulted with "ER" writers, and even
said they believed a recent episode in which a teen-ager came into the
emergency room suffering from alcohol abuse was a result of their efforts.

Peter Roth, president of Warner Bros. Television, which makes "ER" for NBC,
said neither he nor "ER" producer John Wells was aware of the government's
efforts. Roth said he would never demand his producers or writers reflect a
particular point of view on a social issue, even if there were a financial
benefit.

Clinton denied that his drug office was trying to rob TV networks of
creative freedom through the policy.

"There was no attempt to regulate content or tell people what they had to
put into it," he said Friday. "Of course, I wouldn't support that."

The government spends millions of dollars each year to buy ads on network TV
for anti-drug public service announcements. Recently, it has been forfeiting
some of the time it had bought if the networks could prove they inserted
anti-drug messages into programs. That enables the networks to make more
money by selling ad time to other clients.

ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and the WB have all acknowledged letting the White House
press office review the scripts of some of their programs.

Clinton spokesman Joe Lockhart said he'd like all elements of popular
culture to join the effort to send a strong message about the dangers of
drugs, especially to children.

"We just think it's important to get the anti-drug message out in as many
ways as we can," Lockhard said.

Officials from Clinton's drug office were in Pasadena on Friday to release a
study that concludes television generally does better than movies or music
when it comes to depicting drug, alcohol and tobacco use responsibly. The
study encompassed a period in which the officials were quietly working with
the networks to get their message across.

David Kissinger, president of Studio USA, who oversees production of "Law &
Order" and "Xena: Warrior Princess," said he believed the cooperation
between the government and networks is both wrong and destined to be
ineffective.

"The best way for television shows to reflect values the society regards as
important is for the producers to actually care about them and not for the
government to impose it on them," he said.

Gary Newman, president of 20th Century Fox and responsible for "The
Simpsons" and "Ally McBeal," said he was unaware of the government's efforts
and is opposed to them.