What's On!

Note for Whyville Times readers:

You may have noticed a slight shift of emphasis in the choices in these columns. Added amongst the science shows lately have been programs with on topics that might stimulate class discussion, promote book-reading and even spur the writing of an extra credit project. (In the U.S., kids have to pass a newly mandated writing-competence test for college -- and in some places just to get out of high school). So, don't be puzzled if you find a documentary about something that you and/or a family member really want to think about -- besides science.

As usual, it's time for me to urge you to watch the shows and let me know what you think. Email me, the new MediaWiz of Whyville!

Click here for an index of this week's shows. And now, the Media Menu!

Thursday, August 1

"Pooh Friendship Day Marathon" (Disney Channel, 7am-3pm E/P) I would be a grinch if I held back pointing out that sixteen back-to back episodes of "The New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh" were airing today. Here's a chance to tape them all, for yourself and the younger members of your family. The meaning of friendship -- between Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Owl and Rabbit -- is the theme throughout.

"New York City Blackout" (History Channel, 4:30-5pm E/P) This technology documentary explains how the electrical generating and distribution system of the entire East Coast of the U.S. broke down in November 1965 -and how the people of New York survived in the dark. Some stuff was learned that helped other states avoid subsequent power crises.

"Wide Angle" (PBS, 9-10pm E/P) Journalist Daljit Dhaliwal and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James P. Rubin host this documentary about workers in Cambodia who are laying a high-tech fiber-optic cable that will link their country to the rest of Asia and Europe. It provides a haunting glimpse of the worker's encounters with painful reminders of Cambodia's recent, violent, past.

Friday, August 2

"ABC 20/20" (ABC, 10-11pm) There are several reports in this newsmagazine that could be of interest to younger viewers, notably the one on "crop circles", which ABC News has been investigating for years and is now the subject of a new Mel Gibson movie. (See additional telecast suggestion below) Also, the program takes issue with the way wildlife protection laws may be over-utilized by the government to protect private business. A weird report on what rock stars demand when they are on the road (only tofu hot dogs, please). The initial segment of the program is about domestic violence, which is very much in the news these days, but may not be the type of thing a younger kid would want to see a report about.

Saturday, August 3

"Crop Circle Controversy" (History Channel, 8-7pm E/P) There's fun stuff in this documentary -- and it's also the topic of a big Mel Gibson movie. You'll learn a lot of history - like way back in 1687 folks were publishing reports about a "Mowing Devil" making circular patterns in crops - and there are interviews with scientists from all over the world, debating about who, or what, has been doing this stuff through the centuries. The program will be followed at 7pm by an hour-long "History vs Hollywood" documentary which compares the Mel Gibson movie to the latest news reports about crop circles -- including interviews with "Croppies" who believe that such things are being created by some unknown force and may well be a sigh of things to come.

Sunday, August 4

"CBS 60 Minutes" (CBS, 7-8pm E/P) The three topics covered in this newsmagazine are shoe-crazy teens (it's not their fault), playwright August Wilson (an inspiration to inner-city kids) and a dangerous mother (I don't recommend this episode for younger children) Shoes: In their zeal to sign the next Michael Jordan, footwear makers like Adidas and Nike are approaching basketball players as young as 10 years old. Critics say the practice is corrupting youth. August Wilson: This Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright is interviewed as he visits his Pittsburgh neighborhood from which he drew so much of his material. Mother: Brenda Snyder appeared to be a good one, especially in her in efforts to get her children medical attention when they mysteriously stopped breathing on several occasions. But authorities eventually caught on after her 2-yearold Lisa died - her mother had murdered her.

"Endless Summer" (Turner Classic Movies, 9-10:45pm ET, 6-7:45pm PT) This is a documentary about surfing. Also available on video, I think it's THE documentary on the subject and suspect you will agree. Anyway, it's full of ''attitude'' and also it's about physics (defiance of gravity, etc.) I've put it in the column on its own merits as a report about surfing when it was first getting popular and also to get you to read a book which brings the story up to the present: "Girl in the Curl: A Century of Women's Surfing" by Andrea Gabbard (You can find out about it through the various on-line booksellers).

Monday, August 5

"Basic Training" (History Channel, 8:30-9pm E/P) This is the initial episode in a new weekly documentary series which will follow six recruits through every moment of Army basic training. It examines the evolution of the methods, philosophies and technology used.

Tuesday, August 6

"Nova: Roman Bath" (PBS, 8-9pm E/P) Now don't get too excited. This documentary isn't about people casting aside their togas and going skinny-dipping. But it is fascinating nonetheless. A team of modern engineers and artisans try to build a Roman bath house (sort of a big sauna) using bronze age technology. You'll learning many things about physics and chemistry - true back then and still true -- but mostly that we modern people have forgotten that heat rises. The Romans built their heating systems in the floor and we put it in the ceiling or the wall.

"Science Times" (National Geographic Channel, 8-9pm E/P) This science newsmagazine, produced in conjunction with New York Times Television covers a topic of particular interest to folks who have visited the Spin Lab in Whyville: physics of ice skating. Tara Lipinski and Kurt Browning, plus hockey stars from the New York Rangers demonstrate the scientific aspect of their sport. There's also a report on the latest developments in high-tech security (Does it work?) including biometrics, the science that reveals identity by zeroing in on the body.

"Towing" (History Channel, 10-11pm E/P) Here's a no-nonsense topic for a technology documentary -- towing. It's little noticed, but it's everywhere -- from little tugboats that glide massive ships into port, machinery that drags roller coaster cars up and down inclines, funicular railroads up mountainsides and hydraulically-powered tow trucks that rescue and carry to safety buses, trucks and passenger cars.

Wednesday, August 7

"The Thin Red Line: The Invention of Notation" (Ovation Network, 8-9pm ET, 5-6pm PT) This documentary, the first episode in a series hosted by music scholar Howard Goodall, is about the invention of music notation. It's sort of a code, when you think about it, and it's hard to imagine that there was a time when musicians had to listen to and memorize music -- just like before the invention of writing that's how stories were transmitted from person to person.

Thursday, August 8

"Backstory: Wall Street" (American Movie Classics Channel, 7-7:30pm ET, 4-4:30pm PT) This is a documentary about the making of a movie entitled "Wall Street" (which is out on video). When the movie came out it was thought to be unflattering to hard-working stockbrokers in New York. Well, there was more truth than fiction in that movie, as the documentary points out.