Today’s News, Tomorrow’s Television : Chamberlain plays a man of God again; ABC movie pairs Newhart with a show-biz chimp

Richard Chamberlain sheds his good-guy image to play a sinister preacher inABC’s adaptation of David Grubb’s classic novel “The Night of the Hunter,” whichwill air later this season. Thirty-six years ago, Robert Mitchum starred in theacclaimed film version of “Night.”

Bob Newhart and a chimp will star in the ABC movie “The Entertainers,” forbroadcast during the 1991-92 season.

Newhart will play a vaudeville-style comedy actor whose life and career comes toa halt when his partner of 30 years, a chimp named Archie, has a heart attack.

Bonnie Bedelia and Brian Kerwin star in “Switched at Birth,” a new NBC four-hourminiseries set to air this spring, based on the true story of two girlsallegedly swapped shortly after their birth in a Florida nursery and raised fora decade by the wrong biological parents.

Production has begun on a new ABC “Columbo” movie, “Columbo and the Murder of aRock Star,” due for broadcast this season.

Dabney Coleman, Shera Danese (Mrs. Peter Falk) and veteran rocker Little Richardguest.

Victoria Principal, Paul Sorvino and Jonathan Banks are filming “Nightmare,” apsychological thriller about a woman who goes to extremes to protect her childfrom a molester. “Nightmare” will be air on NBC in the spring.

John Loprieno, Cord Roberts on ABC’s “One Life to Live,” is appearingoff-Broadway in the musical “The Rothchilds.” The show is directed by LonnyPrice, who plays assistant district attorney Howie Miller on ABC’s “Loving.”

Quincy Jones makes a cameo appearance in an upcoming episode of ABC’s “Life GoesOn,” as the owner of a record store who is arrested for selling allegedlyobscene rap albums.

Wesley Addy and August Dabney, who play Cabot and Isabelle Allen on ABC’s”Loving,” are being written off the show. Addy makes his last appearance Mondayand Dabney will exit early next month.

Also leaving are Stan Albers, who plays Curtis Alden, and Louise Stubbs, whoplays Minnie Madden.