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    NBC's "Search," facing additional competition from "Owen Marshall" in
the revised "second season" schedule, added a little refurbishing of its own
Wednesday (Jan. 24) when the skein aired the first episode shot since Tony
Spinner took over the production reins of the series - the third such topper
since the show preemed in September.

    In a stanza toplined by Tony Franciosa, Spinner got the series' concept
turned away from its previous combination of electronic jukebox and
superficial international intrigue, not far enough to constitute a dramatic
turnaround but enough to suggest that he's on the right track.

    Essentially, the plotline had Franciosa and Dane Clark groping around in
grimily effective waterfront settings in search of the thugs who had killed
Clark's wife, kidnapped his daughter and shot him.  The thugs were straight
out of stock, the chase device somewhat routine, but the interplay between
Clark and Franciosa had the realistic ring that has been sorely missing from
earlier episodes.  Also down-pedaled were the home base light show with
Burgess Meredith, et al, with a completely new set of faces managing the
headquarters' chairs.  All in all, new approach seems better than the old.

                                                                             
           Bok.