Best of '87

AMERIKA (ABC). The year's most overdiscussed and underappreciated mini-series painted a bleak picture of the U.S. under Soviet rule. But instead of right- wing politics, Writer-Director Donald Wrye offered a richly textured and beautifully acted (especially by Christine Lahti and Kris Kristofferson) rumination on Americans in crisis.

EYES ON THE PRIZE (PBS). A decade of civil rights struggles, from the Brown desegregation case to the Selma march, was chronicled in graceful prose and unforgettable images.

FRANK'S PLACE (CBS). Tim Reid stars as a transplanted college professor running a New Orleans version of Rick's Cafe. No big laughs, but a stewful of colorful characters and laid-back charm.

HOME FIRES (Showtime). Most TV family dramas are so slick and reassuring that this bruisingly realistic portrait of a middle-class clan in distress looked as if it had come from another planet. From the lack of attention it received, it might have.

THE IRAN-CONTRA HEARINGS For one summer week, TV viewers were transfixed by Ollie North, an earnest, gap-toothed Marine who zealously believed in what he did. And for nightly summaries, PBS's MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour was tops.

IT'S GARRY SHANDLING'S SHOW (Showtime). Now in its second year, Shandling's Pirandellian prank -- a show about doing a show -- has become television's smartest satire of itself.

LONG GONE (HBO). Paul Hemphill's novel about life and love and selling out in Class D baseball was turned into a wryly observant film. William L. Petersen headed a terrific cast, and even the baseball scenes looked authentic.

MIGHTY MOUSE: THE NEW ADVENTURES (CBS). What's this? A kiddie cartoon show that is clever and hip and well animated? Producer Ralph Bakshi (Fritz the Cat) clearly wants to recapture the great days of Daffy Duck and Bullwinkle Moose, and he gets pretty close.

SEIZE THE DAY (PBS). Robin Williams gave his finest dramatic performance (and Jerry Stiller offered splendid support) in an intense, well-tuned adaptation of Saul Bellow's short novel.

THIRTYSOMETHING (ABC). This yuppie drama may get a bit whiny and self- indulgent at times, but it captures the way '80s people talk as no other show has. Moreover, Hope and Michael (Mel Harris and Ken Olin) are the only couple on TV who convince us they are really, truly in love.