National Geographic Explorer Egypt: Beyond the Pyramids

 ((Sun. (30), 9-11 p.m., TBS))

By TONY SCOTT

Taped by National Geographic Explorer. Exec producer, Tom Simon; series producer, Michael Rosenfeld; director, Andrew Carl Wilk; writers, Bob Goldberg, Michael Rosenfeld.
 

"Who Built the Pyramids?": Producers, Steve Burns, Amy Bucher; writer, James Barrat; "Cairo Unveiled": Filmed by Simon and Goodman Picture Co. Producers-directors , Karen Goodman, Kirk Simon; camera, Buddy Squires; editor, Sara Fishko; sound, George Shafnacker; music, Brian Keane; Lucy's voice, Howaida El Gindi.

Host: Robert Urich.

Three short films make up the premiere edition of National Geographic's sixth Explorer series, with the first two of varying interest and the third, "Kon-Tiki Man," not available for preview. The two-hour weekly travel program's back on the air; so far, the spark's less than commanding.

First half-hour seg, "Who Built the Pyramids?," announces that the builders of the houses of eternity, as they're known, were not slaves--they were dedicated citizens. This having been already bruited about, Dr. Mark Lehner of the University of Chicago explains that the workers' cemeteries have been found, and the graves offer some I.D. to the deceased.

Spec shows ancient bakeries and it talks of breweries, and Lehner notes that what's been considered only a small wall and gate until now was a tall wall that marked off the sacred grounds.

The limestone quarries for the pyramids are close to the structures, and the workers dragged the stones on wooden sleds to the pyramids--but how they hoisted them to the top is unclear.

"Cairo Unveiled" is the coy title of another half-hour seg, this one about belly-dancer Lucy and how she rose from a modest background via weddings and small clubs to make $ 25,000 a night.

Lucy's seen with various costumes, walking through the streets greeting old friends, ridingin a car with phone, and dancing.

The veil's drawn across how she lives, where she lives, anything personal. She says she's untrained, but she seems to know what she's doing. And how to get paid plenty for it.

First edition of the weekly series doesn't exactly electrify. Host Robert Urich appears occasionally at Egyptian sites to comment on aspects of life in the Valley of the Pharaohs. Otherwise Larry Lewman narrates what's going on, with exquisite drawings by Yeorgos Lampathakis to show how ancient Egypt must have glowed.

Camera, Burns; editor, Kris Kral; sound, Glen Marullo; music, Fred Karns; narrator, Larry Lewman.