HOLLYWOOD -- When Melody Anderson agreed to star in 'Manimal,' the new NBC-TV adventure series, she expected to play romantic scenes with co-star Simon McCorkindale but finds herself playing most scenes with wild animals.
Melody is the arresting blond beauty who starred last month in 'Policewoman Centerfold,' the highest rated TV movie of the young 1983-84 season.
But it is 'Manimal' and its menagerie that Melody hopes viewers will tune in to see during the coming year.
McCorkindale plays a crime fighter with the ability to transform himself into wild or domestic animals when the occasion calls for it. The trick was handed down from his father who learned black magic from witchdoctors in the bush.
If this strains viewer credulity, bear in mind there is an orangutan running around in a business suit speaking perfect English in 'Mr. Smith' on the same network, and it is one of the lead-ins for 'Manimal.'
Melody is not necessarily embarrassed about co-starring in 'Manimal,' considering that she co-starred in such other intellectually challenging series as 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'B.J. and The Bear.'
She also starred in the movie, 'Flash Gordon,' after which she did not work in movies or TV for two years.
So when 'Manimal' came along, what the hell. Melody didn't have that much to lose -- she thought.
'I play a New York City police detective,' said Melody, smothering a grin. 'If you can believe that, you will be able to believe Simon can turn himself into animals.
'The show has become something of a 'Perils of Pauline.' I've been bruised, bitten, kicked and spit on -- and that's only by the human actors. No! I'm only kidding.
'But the animals have done all those things, plus choosing to relieve themselves in the middle of my closeups.
'Wild animals really keep you spontaneous. If you're doing a scene with an elephant and it decides to do something, you don't argue. You go along.
'Sometimes I get the feeling we're doing a kind of Marlin Perkins hour.'
To date Melody has done almost everything but neck with a giraffe. Her co-stars have included hawks, tigers, lions, elephants, zebras, camels, pythons, boa constrictors and even wallabies.
The producers protect Melody from being unncessarily fanged, clawed or beaked by providing doubles and stunt persons for genuinely hazardous scenes, especially with panthers, the show's favored animal for wreaking revenge on the miscreants and felons.
'The main panther on our show is still quite wild,' Melody said. 'We have another panther named Stormy who specializes in a mean growl. And we have a third one who is more tame.
'Because they use a lot of closeups of me in some of the animal shots, it's not possible to use doubles. I don't mind the scratches and little bites. We haven't had a serious accident on the set yet.'
Melody hasn't applied for hazardous duty pay from Glen Larson Productions. She even enjoys working with the wildlife.
'In any series you can get into a state working day after day, 14 or 16 hours,' she said. 'The days can get flat and boring sometimes. But the animals in this show have a wonderful effect on the cast and crew.
'On the days they're brought in to work, it perks us all up. Everyone lightens up. We enjoy petting and playing with some of the tamer ones.
'I'm a fearless person but I know, too, that we're surrounded by great animal trainers -- also I know a good Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, my life insurance is paid up and, of course, I think of my paycheck and I stay brave.
'Anyhow, I wanted to be a veterinarian when I was younger. I really enjoy working with exotic animals.'
Much as she appreciates the steady work in 'Manimal,' Melody is more impressed with her work in 'Policewoman Centerfold.'
'It accomplished what I wanted as a performer,' she said. 'It was the first time I ever had to carry a show and it was done under pressure. Now I'm recognized by viewers, and that's a very good feeling.'
