Raisin Capital of World Celebrates Its Comedy Miniseries

FRESNO, CALIF. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) _ The real tycoons of the world's raisin capital turned out Sunday for a Hollywood-style premiere of the television miniseries which lampoons the sun- dried passions and intrigues of Fresno's rich and not-so-famous.

Nevermind that none of the show's major stars showed up for the giant- screen viewing of ''Fresno,'' the CBS-TV spoof of soap operas like ''Dynasty'' and ''Falcon Crest.'' This much maligned, nondescript city in California's farming heartland is used to being treated like the family skeleton.

''This program isn't anything like real life around these parts,'' said raisin farmer Don Ajagopian. ''We've got our tycoons and our family intrigues, but it's small-fry compared to what goes on in this program.

''But, hey, for once we'd like for people to think we're as glamorous as cities like Dallas and Denver.''

About 2,000 people attended the black-tie affair at the city's convention center, where searchlights lit up the night sky. Forty-seven limousines were provided by local funeral homes and car collectors for guests who didn't have their own, said Todd Levy, party organizer. The event raised about $50,000 for charity.

Elsewhere, people were reported to be dressing up as raisins at viewing parties. They used purple tights and black trash bags to give them that wrinkled look.

''Some people are deadly serious about this whole affair,'' said Genevieve Sanders, 24, the National Raisin Queen, who wore a black, hand-embroidered Taiwanese gown designed by a man who once created dresses for the late Princess Grace of Monaco. Her escort - Disneyland's official Mickey Mouse.

''But most take this whole thing with a grain of salt,'' she added.

Most people said they ignored the miniseries' jokes about the city, including one which the local station almost cut from its broadcast. In the opening 90 seconds, a Spanish explorer finds some wild grapes after discovering the San Joaquin Valley. After tasting them, he spits them out, proclaiming, ''This tastes like Fresno.''

Besides Sanders, other members of Fresno's elite included directors of the California Raisin Advisory Board, the Raisin Wives of California, and virtually every available community and agricultural leader.

The show's major stars - Carol Burnett, Charles Grodin, Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr and Gregory Harrison - did not attend. They were here in August when temperatures averaged 104 degrees during three days of filming. The rest of the program was shot in a Burbank movie studio and in the San Fernando Valley.

The minor stars who did show up for the premiere told Fresnans to be good sports.

''I think Fresno will become the new Hollywood and in fact there will be no Hollywood, only Fresno after this series,'' deadpanned actor Bill Paxton, who sported a ''Raisin Power'' button on his lapel.

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