What's On!

I'm still amazed by the story of John O'Neill, the FBI agent who predicted bin Laden's attack on the U.S. -- and who, after losing his job with the FBI over his prediction and suggested response, took a position as head of security for -- believe it or not -- the World Trade Center.

Also check out some impressive reports on corn, of all things, West Point, "old people", and a fabulous, high-flying movie with Katherine Hepburn titled Christopher Strong. What do you think of Katherine's outfits (shown below)?

Watch the shows and tell me what you and your parents think. Email me, the MediaWiz of Whyville!

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

Thursday, October 3

"Frontline: The Man Who Knew" (PBS,9-10 pm E/P) This documentary is the saga of FBI Special Agent John O'Neill, the bureau's top counter-intelligence agent, who investigated the bombings of U.S. Embassies in African and the attack on the USS Cole -- and concluded that Osama Bin Laden was planning a devastating attack in the U.S. But he was forced out of his job because he wanted to take preemptive action to disable the Al Qaeda. (The program's accompanying website http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/knew/ has an interactive map with details of what O'Neill knew about Bin Laden, and when.) The job O'Neill took after he left the FBI was as head of security for the World Trade Center, where he was killed in September 11, 2001.

Friday, October 4

"Owl In Love: Talk Of The City Book Club Of The Air For Young Adults" (listen on KPCC-FM, 2-2:30 pm PT in southern California ,or log on www.kpcc.org -- click on Talk Of The City for streaming audio version after 5 pm PT) This cool radio show about books for younger readers has recently become available worldwide via internet. Host Kitty Felde is really smart at getting young readers to describe their experiences with books such as the one featured in this broadcast, "Owl In Love" by Patricia Kindl. It's about a 14-year old who shape-shifts into an owl at night and hangs out in a tree near the home of her one love, her science teacher, Mr. Lindstrom. (I'm not making this up -- almost everything you suspect might happen in such a situation does happen in this book -- including that you'll learn a lot about owls.) Listen to the show and go get the book, which is widely available.

"NOW with Bill Moyers: Seeds Of Conflict" (PBS, 9-10 pm E/P) The main story in this newsmagazine is about corn (maize, to our Commonwealth readers). From Mexico, the genetic birthplace of this grain, to the epicenter of agribiz in the U.S. Midwest, farmers and scientists answer the question: Are genetically engineered corn crops good for the environment, for farming, for human health?

Saturday, October 5

"Discovery Kids on NBC" (NBC, 10 am - noon ET , 8-11 am PT) This day marks the beginning of NBC's carriage of a Saturday morning package of seven different series prepared by the Discovery Networks. They are: "Prehistoric Planet", "Walking With Prehistoric Beasts", "Croc Files", "TLC's Operation Junkyard" "Endurance", Scout's Safari" and "Black Hole High". Log on to http://nbc.com/nbc/Discovery_Kids_on_NBC for details each week, and I'll be on the lookout, too, for specific future episode viewing recommendations.

"Surviving West Point" (National Geographic Channel, 8-8:30 pm E/P) This is the premiere of a weekly half-hour documentary series filmed from 12 students' viewpoint inside the U.S. Military Academy at West Point New York. Super-stars at home in high school, these fresh-faced young women (5) and men (7) who come to the Academy get quite a shock when they find themselves shoved and stretched to their physical and emotional limits for the purpose of transforming them into leaders of a 21st century army. For profiles of each of these young ''survivors" log on to http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/highlights/westpoint.html.

Sunday, October 6

"The Alamo" (Turner Classic Movies, 2:20 -6 pm ET, 11:30 am-3pm PT) I have suggested this historical movie before, but I'm putting it on the list here again so you can compare it with a documentary on historical facts of Texas history, including the Battle of the Alamo, which airs Wednesday, October 9 from 9-10 pm E/P. The movie is widely available on video (because John Wayne is in it).

"The Lost World: Part I" (A&E Network, 8 pm-midnight E/P) This is a new movie version of the classic Arthur Conan Doyle science fiction novel about a scientific expedition an area of the Amazonian jungle which some people though was the location of a "lost world". You know "dinosaurs" even the 'missing link' between apes and humans. OK, that's what the explorers do find. What they didn't expect there was a church missionary who had gotten there ahead of them and who was willing to sabotage the expedition to keep the secret of this lost world from reaching civilization. Part II airs Monday, October 7, 8pm -midnight E/P. Read the book if you can't stay up to see the show. (The author, by the way, also wrote all the original Sherlock Holmes mysteries, so he really knows how to keep you in suspense.)

"The Assassination Of King Tut" (Discovery Channel, 9-11 pm E/P) This is a documentary about the mysterious death of the teenaged King whose name and face have become almost a synonym for the land he ruled 3,000 years ago. Was he murdered, maybe by his sister, before he reached the age of twenty? With the help of leading Egyptologists, forensic psychiatrists, medical examiners and criminologists a homicide investigation has been launched -- and you'll see it uncover surprising new facts.

Monday, October 7

"Monster Garage: Crusher" (Discovery Channel, 8-9 pm E/P) Here's another one of those documentaries about maverick technicians transforming one machine into something it wasn't supposed to be, but is super-effective at being the new thing. Tonight's show might be the kind of thing that gets kids flocking to enroll in automotive-tech class. The challenge depicted is to turn a 1973 black Miller Meteor Cadillac Hearse into a car-crushing, car-destroying machine. In a week, a team of motorcycle mechanics lead by a fellow named Jesse James (true) re-engineer the hearse to rip through the hood and metal framework of any car that stands in its way, while lifting it off the ground, slamming it down and crushing it. (They name their creation "The Grim Ripper").

Tuesday, October 8

"And Thou Shalt Honor" (PBS, 9-11 p.m. E/P) This is a documentary about a branch of the sciences -- both medical and social science -- known as gerontology. Many, if not most adults in their lifetimes will be both care-givers and cared for as advances in medical technology continue to make it possible to survive for years without chronic conditions that would have means rapid death just a few years ago. (This means YOU, unless you get stupid about certain lifestyle habits involving foods, drugs or the operation of automobiles.) This program is about things like Alzheimer's disease, cancer, stroke and other conditions that necessitate long term care - and it's likely somewhere in this program is a situation you're already experiencing in your family. Check out the website http://www.pbs.org/thoushalthonor.

"The Lost Dinosaurs Of Egypt" (A&E Network, 9-11 pm E/P) This documentary follows a team of American paleontologists on a real-life "Indiana Jones" type of expedition in the desert (sandstorms, scorching heat) to unearth what is now recognized as a new species of dinosaur, "Paralititian Stromeri". (Don't ask me how to pronounce it.)

"Unsolved History: The Alamo" (Discovery Channel, 9-10 pm E/P) This documentary carefully analyzes an account of the Battle of The Alamo in 1836 -- a diary containing recollections by a Mexican Army officer who fought there, Jose Enrique de la Pena. (In this version, Davy Crockett, the character played by John Wayne in the movie version, does not die nobly in the fighting, but surrenders!)

Wednesday, October 9

"The Bronze Screen" (Cinemax, 7-8:30 pm E/P) An overlooked aspect of the U.S. motion picture industry, is the work of Latinos in Hollywood, from the silent films of the early 1900's to the 1990's. Using clips from over 100 films, this documentary follows the struggle of gifted artists to bring a measure of reality to their screen images and transcend the cliched roles that often determined how other Americans, and the world, viewed Latinos. For further info, log on to http://cinemax.com/bronze_screen.shtml.

"Christopher Strong" (The Classic Movie Channel, 8-9:30 pm ET, 5-6:30 pm PT) This is a movie about a "headstrong woman with carefree ideas" (to use the language of the 1930's, when the movie was filmed). Screen icon Katherine Hepburn plays a pilot determined to win flying competitions and also the hearts of certain men. Naturally, for today's audience there's a hint of strong-role-model-for-young-girls going on here, but in the decade when the movie was made, a woman who would steal another woman's husband wasn't allowed to completely get away with it. However, any modern young lady who watches this movie might find pretty interesting the kind of outfit that some female pilots wore back then. (One real-life pioneer aviatrix wore bright purple silk jumpsuits. Hepburn's, in the movie, is silver.)

Image from IMDb.com.

Thursday, October 10

"Frontline: Missile Wars" (PBS, 9-10 pm E/P) Increasingly, science and technology are becoming political issues -- think of stem cell research, teaching of evolution in schools, not to speak of sex education. This documentary is about how missile technology is influenced not by research results but by political considerations. Through interviews with staunch proponents, skeptical scientists, military and intelligence experts you will see how America's planned -- but unproven -- multibillion dollar new national missile defense system is supposed to fit into a military strategy after 9/11.