Television

By RICHARD CORLISS

Temperature's rising on late night TV, and the young fellow with the thermometer -- oh, it's a microphone -- is Ron Reagan, former ballet dancer, occasional journalist and permanent son of the 40th President of the U.S. Gipperphiles will tune in to THE RON REAGAN SHOW to see the host twit Kitty Kelley, "who we know applies only the highest journalistic standards to her work." Gipperphobes will be pleased to hear Ron bad-mouth the policies of the Reagan Administration. He treads the tightrope in Jimmy Stewart style, his aw- shucks ingenuity tempered with wry skepticism. The kid needs both in this R-rated melange of volatile guests (discussing steroids, Fundamentalism, rap music, gay rage) and a rowdy, het-up audience. The result is part encounter group, part bear baiting. And Ron seems willing to play, not omniscient emcee, but human sacrifice. "I used to be able to control this show," he quipped after both he and his wife had been called gay, "but no more." It makes for gruesome spectacle and, so far, nifty TV. R.C.