By: BARRY GARRON
Date: 09/24/91
As a new TV entry, "Homefront" (8:30 tonight on Channel 9) is swimming against the tide.
Conventional Hollywood wisdom says new shows must be fashionably hip and ultra-contemporary to attract the teen-age and young adult viewers desired by advertisers.
"Homefront" is a drama set in the period immediately after World War II. That's practically ancient history to younger viewers.
No matter. Old viewers and young should find a lot to like in this new series from the creator and producers of "Knots Landing. "
The large ensemble cast of newcomers mines a rich, new vein of acting talent. The storytelling is brisk and compelling. The dramatic conflicts are timeless. And the music and period costumes are a welcome change of pace.
Central to the show is the Metcalf family. While oldest son Hank (David Newsom) has been overseas, younger brother Jeff (Kyle Chandler) has taken up with Hank's girl, Sarah (Alexandra Wilson). Their sister, Linda (Jessica Steen), had been going with the son of the family that owns the big factory. During the war he broke off the relationship and married Gina (Giulliana Santini), an Italian woman. Neither girl is acceptable to his snobbish parents, Mike (Ken Jenkins) and Ruth (Mimi Kennedy).
Then there is Hank's friend, Charlie (Harry O'Reilly), who dumps Ginger (Tammy Lauren) for an English war bride, Caroline (Sammi Davis-Voss).
And there's Robert (Sterling Macer Jr.), whose heroic Army record is not enough to overcome the racial discrimination he faces upon his return home.
"Homefront" captures the hope and optimism of the postwar years but does not ignore the inequalities and injustices of the times.