ABC News gets this week's award for the story you really didn't know you needed to hear more about. "The Manson Women: Inside the Murders" delivers the accounts of Leslie Van Houten and Patricia Krenwinkel of how they and other members of their love-in went about killing seven people in California 25 years ago. (No re-enactments; just the camera moving threateningly to spooky sounds.)
Charles Manson himself, hairy and running to fat, with a swastika decorating the bridge of his nose, is also heard from. He is plainly impressed with himself and has the nerve to address Diane Sawyer as "woman."
Ms. Sawyer, who presides over this official opening of "Turning Point," the fourth ABC prime-time news magazine, gives an explanation of sorts for a show whose main attraction is its stab-by-stab description of the killings. She cautions that children are now playing Manson's music: "He has a following."
An alternative explanation for "The Manson Women" is that last month's pre-debut offering of "Turning Point," a grim report on the effects of fallout from nuclear blasts in Nevada in the 1950's and early 60's, did not do well in the ratings. Can it be that the producers, who seem to be grasping for a rationale for their new series beyond keeping Ms. Sawyer, Barbara Walters and Peter Jennings occupied, decided that grisly might attract more of a following than grim? '48 Hours' 'A Killer Walks Free' CBS, tonight at 10 (Channel 2 in New York)
True-crime fans are in luck tonight. If Charles Manson doesn't do it for them, they can meet Russell Obremski, who has lately been returned to society after serving about as much time as the still-incarcerated Mansonites for killing two women in Oregon. He is the central figure in a "48 Hours" episode called "A Killer Walks Free," with Dan Rather himself recounting the crime. There's nothing like network competition.
Mr. Obremski ("I'm a nice guy") says he doesn't remember anything about his murders and objects to what he calls persecution by the children of the women he killed; Ms. Van Houten and Ms. Krenwinkel remember everything about theirs and say they do not like Charles Manson anymore. But they all seem to feel they have done enough time. My question is how much time they deserve on television. Turning Point The Manson Women: Inside the Murders ABC, tonight at 10 (Channel 7 in New York) Premiere of a news magazine directed by Roger Goodman; produced by Denise Schreiner for ABC News; senior broadcast producer, Betsy West; broadcast producer, Bret Marcus; Phyllis McGrady, executive producer; Diane Sawyer, anchor and reporter.