Paramount Brings ‘Cheers’ to the Masses : Tapes of the long- running show will be available in various stores. The one-hour premiere is priced at $10; the other six volumes will cost $13.

Now that “Cheers” has shut down business at NBC, Paramount is expanding its availability on home video.

Episodes of the famed half-hour comedy series have been available, by mail order, through Columbia House. Most people, though, aren’t tuned into the mail-order video market. So in late September, Paramount will begin shipping “Cheers” tapes to video outlets.

The one-hour premiere from 1982 is priced at $10 while the other six volumes--each including two half-hour shows--will cost $13.

Though they can usually tape episodes of their favorite series during reruns, many people love to buy the packaged versions. One big plus is that they get the entire show rather than the versions shown on syndicated TV, which are edited to squeeze in extra commercials.

Alan Perper, Paramount’s senior vice president of marketing, said the “Cheers” tapes are targeted for grocery stores and retail outlets such as Target and K mart to try to position them as “impulse buys.”

Low-priced TV-show tapes are often duplicated at the slower speed (EP), which usually means inferior audio-video quality. Perper said that the “Cheers” tapes will be in the normal SP mode--good news for collectors who don’t want fuzzy visuals.

At the moment, Perper said, the company has no plans to release additional episodes on a regular schedule. Paramount prefers waiting to see how the first batch sells.

Videobits

* According to a source at Orion, that four-hour version of “Dances With Wolves,” scheduled to hit home video this fall, has been delayed, probably until late next year. The long version, featuring footage that didn’t make it into the theatrical release, already has aired in England and is scheduled for American telecast as an ABC miniseries this fall.

Part of the home-video delay may be the attitude of director-star Kevin Costner. It’s long been rumored within the home-video industry that he was miffed at Orion for making a deal with McDonald’s to sell the movie in its fast-food outlets. The notion of his Oscar-winning film being sold with burgers and fries is apparently hard for Costner to digest.

* Being Mrs. Ted Turner hasn’t moved Jane Fonda to retire from the exercise tape business. She has three coming out on Sept. 15: “Jane Fonda’s Favorite Fat Burners” ($20), “Jane Fonda’s Pregnancy Workout” ($15) and “Jane Fonda’s Start Up” ($15).

* More laser-disc woes. According to the latest Electronics Industry Assn. figures, laser-disc shipments to dealers in the first six months are down 4% from the same period last year. Despite offering a much better picture than videocassettes, laser discs haven’t caught on in a big way--partly due to the economic slump of the last few years.

New Releases

“Sommersby” (Warner, no set price). Away for many years, Jack Sommersby (Richard Gere) returns to his Tennessee town after the Civil War a changed man--a crude brute turned bright, caring community leader. The real Sommersby or an impostor? Even his wife (Jodie Foster) isn’t sure. A murder trial uncovers the answer, while creating a unique dilemma for him. Fairly absorbing, well-acted romantic drama without a phony, Hollywood happy ending. Remake of the 1982 French film “The Return of Martin Guerre.”

“Bad Lieutenant” (LIVE, $93). A stunning performance by Harvey Keitel as a degenerate, burned-out New York City cop who’s spiraling down the drain. A grim, jarring movie that’s not easy to watch--particularly if you’re easily shocked or grossed-out. But if you relish good film acting, don’t miss it. Available in NC-17 or as a tamer R, with five minutes edited out.

“Untamed Heart” (MGM/UA, $95). Blue-collar romance blooms in a sleazy diner. A strange busboy (Christian Slater), who apparently has a heart transplanted from a baboon, falls for a lonely waitress (Maria Tomei). Slight, but rather enjoyable romantic comedy, mainly because of Tomei, who turns in a startling, multifaceted performance, exposing a softer side than the one she showed in her Oscar-winning role in “My Cousin Vinny.” Rosie Perez co-stars as the heroine’s pal.

“Sniper” (Columbia TriStar, no set price). In the jungles of Panama, two assassins--one expert (Tom Berenger) and one novice (Billy Zane)--stalk a rebel leader. OK on the straight action-film level, offering some tense, violent sequences.

Upcoming

Just announced: “Indecent Proposal,” starring Robert Redford and Demi Moore, is due out Oct. 13. “Jack the Bear,” with Danny DeVito, comes out Oct. 6. The kids’ baseball movie “The Sandlot” is scheduled for Oct. 20.

Also: “Benny & Joon,” “Falling Down” and “The Vanishing” (Wednesday); “Chaplin,” “Mad Dog and Glory” and “The Crush” (Aug. 18); “Groundhog Day” and “Boiling Point” (Aug. 25); “This Boy’s Life,” “CB4,” “Alive” and “Point of No Return” (Sept. 1), “Map of the Human Heart” and “El Mariachi” (Sept. 8); “National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon 1” and “Fire in the Sky” (Sept. 15); “Aladdin” (Oct. 1).