Seymour gets insider info for media role

GOOD MORNING: Does Macy's tell Gimbel's? Jane Seymour spent a day at the NBC newsroom, getting background for her role in CBS' vidpic "Spin," in which she plays the producer of a show a la "60 Minutes." She said, "They (NBC) let me in all their meetings, listened to comparisons with other networks, let me in on inside jokes, let me see videotapings and basically how the news media and politics work and spin stories.""Spin" deals with a senator running for the presidency --"he is a known sexual harasser," Seymour says. "I'm given a scoop by someone who's been harassed." The vidpic will demonstrate both the good and bad of the media and politics, she says. "And I'm hopeful CBS will be brave enough to put it on the air close to the election. I am grateful to CBS and Les Moonves for such quality programming and allowing me to take part in it." Her husband, James Keach, is director and the producers are Frederick, Richard and Keith Pierce in association with Seymour-Keach Catfish Prods. William Devane, Bruce Greenwood and Linda Purl co-star. Seymour has completed five fall segs of "Dr. Quinn." In the new season, she says, a new character is introduced, one with whom she does not get along -- an Hispanic teacher. Seymour also completed her first animated feature emoting in "The Quest for Camelot" co-starring Christopher Reeve as King Arthur. Jane plays the mother of a girl who would be a Knight of the Round Table.

IF TONY DANZA SOUNDS like Ted Kennedy, it's intentional, he tells me. Danza is in Showtime's "North Shore Fish" set in Gloucester, Mass., but shooting in Toronto. Israel Horovitz's play-to-TV also stars Mercedes Ruehl, Peter Riegert, Wendie Malick and Carroll Baker. Also an appearance by Horovitz, Danza tells me. Steven Zuckerman, who directed the play, makes his film directing bow. Danza has already taped his co-hostint for Bob Hope's August "Laughing With the Presidents" NBC special, a collection of Hope's White House humor dating back to FDR, with clips to match. Danza says his presidential parlez-vous is limited to George Bush. Danza next films "A Brooklyn State of Mind" with Vincent Spano, Danny Aiello and "Il Postino's" Maria Grazia Cucinotta. "I'm trying to show people I'm capable," says Danza, who follows with his act on the road in sites including Valley Forge, Westbury and the Drury Lane in Chi. He says his nitery turn is "an homage" to idols like Red Buttons, Milton Berle, Jan Murray, Don Rickles, etc. To further illustrate his capabilities, Danza talks Friday with his new NBC bosses about a domestic comedy for which he has an idea based on his own family. His 25-year-old son Marc (ESPN) is engaged to wed Julie Frattalone, a news copywriter. Danza says the non-pickup of his ABC show remains "a source of consternation -- and very sad." But he sounded very happy as he unspooled all the above ... Add to the Bob Hope NBC special a book version, "Dear Prez, I Wanna Tell Ya!" edited by Ward Grant for General Publishing. In the foreword, Johnny Carson writes, "It's the job of the comedian to remind presidents they are just temporary residents of the White House and eventually they will have to return to the real world"... And talking politix: Carol Channing will sing at the Democonvention. The song: "The Best of Times" from "La Cage Aux Folles" (the Allan Carr B'way musical legiter which ran for five years -- and not the movie "The Birdcage"). Incidentally, Ronald Reagan's camp wanted to use the song as their campaign tune for his reelection bid in '84, but an element of the GOParty objected because they perceived the tune as being from a "gay" show. Channing was among the many friends who sang "Happy Birthday" to Jerry Herman on his 65th, Sunday. Angela Lansbury and Eydie Gorme duetted (with Herman on piano) "If He Walked Into My Life" from "Mame"; Angela sang it on B'way and Eydie had a hit record. Among other alumni from Herman shows: Gene Barry, Janis Paige, Juliet Prowse. Also, Gretchen Wyler, Ann Miller, Bea Arthur, Betty White, Carr and Dom DeLuise.

BOB EVANS READ A POEM in tribute to his first wife, Sharon Hugueny, at services last Saturday at El Matador State Beach. Another ex-husband, Ray Ross, was on hand, as well as her widower, writer Gordon Layne. Singer Kitty Jones, Sharon's longtime friend, gave the eulogy and arranged the service; participants included actor Robert Colbert, plus Sharon's fellow WB contractees Janis Paige, Diane McBain and Stefanie Powers ... Services for the late, great producer, Pandro Berman, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hillside Cemetery in Culver City ... Veronique Peck reports Greg is doing fine post-appendectomy in Karlovy Vary, whose fest Peck was attending and had received their Lifetime Achievement Award when stricken Saturday. Surgery was performed early Sunday ayem. He'll be hospitalized five days, then the Pecks head to Paris, where he'll recupe further before heading home. Veronique reports everyone "has been wonderful to him."