TURN-ONS AND TURN OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES : Excellent Good Fair Poor : VIDEOCASSETTES

“The Lily Tomlin Special, Vol. I.” Karl-Lorimar. $39.95. This is the first of Tomlin’s often hilarious and daring network specials from the ‘70s to be made available on video. The 1973 show won two Emmys, for best special and best writing. One suspects that the awards came largely in response to the long final sketch co-starring Richard Pryor and Alan Alda, since its realistic subject (poverty and drug addiction) went against the “comedy special” grain. Oddly, that downbeat mini-play now seems a bit obvious and pretentious, and what precedes it--particularly a skit about a separated couple (Alda and Tomlin) accidentally meeting at a restaurant--holds up better. Information: (714) 474-0355.