Media Menu

These listings cover television programs up to Thursday, May 16th.

Greetings, TV viewers!

This week's MediaHour will be held in the brand new Greek Theater! To get there, go to City Hall in your bus menu, then click on the stone sign out front. See you there on Wednesday!

Our discussion will cover health issues -- watch "The Real Skinny" on Friday night (tonight!) and "Fat: The New Epidemic" on Tuesday. Let us know what you think of the journalism in both shows, as well as how you feel about the nutrition studies they expound upon.

Next month's Book Hour novel will be Maniac Mcgee by Jerry Spinelli. It's about a teenager who, if we described him here in just a few words, you would want to avoid. But if you read this unusual book, I think you'll find him irresistible.

Want some clams? Watch the show-of-the-week, then talk about them with me and other citizens (including other city workers, if they're available) at the Greek Theater, over in City Hall. You'll find that the Theater makes discussions a little easier, since City Workers are able to direct people's movement and behavior, when we need to. We meet on Wednesdays from 6:30pm and 7:30pm Whyville Time (that's the same as Eastern Daylight Time).

If you come and really take part in the meeting, you'll get up to 50 clams from City Hall (or more, if your efforts are exceptional)... you like that?

To sum up: tune to the show, show up to the chat, chat up your thoughts, and get clams!

Everyone is welcome to email me what you and your parents think: Y-mail me, the MediaWiz of Whyville!

And now... the Media Menu!

Friday, May 9

"Models: The Real Skinny" (A&E Network, 9-11 pm E/P) This is a documentary about four young women struggling to make it in the cutthroat world of modeling. They include Karolina Kurkova, the youngest girl to appear on the cover of "Vogue"; Canadian Sam Payette, who's battling her weight problems; Liya Kebede, who's been seduced by the promise of fame and fortune; and Jamie Bochert, a waitress who came to New York penniless. You'll also see the 'scouting' process underway in malls, fast food restaurants, Eastern Europe, Belgium and Brazil, plus interviews with model's agents, Vogue editors, fashion show producers, and top designers like Calvin Klein.

"Health, Wealth and Bill Gates" (PBS, 9-10 pm E/P) This special edition of "NOW With Bill Moyers" asks, "Why would a man who spent his life building wealth want to give most of his money away?" The program examines health issues around the world. Doubt greeted the richest man in the world in 2000 when he and his wife formed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, through which he will donate most of his fortune -- now estimated at $40.7 billion. Critics questioned his commitment to philanthropy, calling the move a public relations tactic to divert attention from anti-trust litigation against Microsoft, the company he founded in 1975. . Recorded in front of a live audience at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, the interview provides a rarely seen view of Gates and explores why he's dedicating his fortune to sharing advances in health with the global community. The broadcast also includes a segment that provides context to major public health issues -- epidemics like AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and trachoma.

"ABC 20/20 -- John Stossel's 'Give Me A Break'" (ABC, 10-11 pm E/P) The main report in this newsmagazine is about the recording industry's campaign against people who download music off the Internet. Reporter Stossel's viewpoint is: "It is stealing. But it is also very popular. Most young people do it. At this moment, several million are at their computers sucking music off the Internet. Last month the music industry filed more lawsuits, this time against college students who set up Web sites that helped others download. It's not the first time that businesses felt threatened by changing technology. When radio first came out, the music business vehemently objected to the stations playing their records. Now they beg radio stations to play their songs, because that promotes CD sales. I said to (industry lawyer) Cary Sherman, "My son downloads. You gonna sue me?" Sherman said, "Well, downloading is illegal, too -- [but] our first interest is in getting people to stop uploading -- stop offering the music. I asked, "So you won't come after my son?" "I can't promise that," Sherman said."

Saturday May 10

"Beyond The Prairie" (PAX Network, 9-11 pm E/P) This is a version of the "Little House" stories that cover some of the events that take place in the last three books of that famous series of novels -- plus the author's memoir, The First Four Years. Laura is living on the prairie near De Smet, South Dakota and eventually meets the man that she will marry, Almanzo Wilder. Life, however, is not easy on the prairie and after a crop lost to hail, the loss of their baby son, the burning down of their house, and a terrible bout of diphtheria, the Wilders must make some hard choices about how to move on from the tragedies.

Sunday, May 11

"Anyone Can Grow Up: How George Bush and I Made It to the White House." (C-SPAN2's BOOK TV , 5-6 pm ET, 3-4 pm PT) This is live coverage of author Margaret Carlson's appearance at Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington D.C. Her book tells the story of her life growing up in Pennsylvania to becoming the first female editor at Time Magazine.

"CNN Special: North Korea -- the Nuclear Gamble" (CNN, 6-7 pm ET, 3-4 pm PT) This documentary presents the scientific and diplomatic issues related to North Korea's acknowledged possession of atomic bombs.

"Born Wild -- A Mother's Day Special" (National Geographic Channel, 8-9 pm E/P) This documentary about baby animals show that they are more than just cute and cuddly In fact, there's a dramatic science behind the survival of these young lives and a vital bond between animal mother and offspring. What happens when these bonds break? Watch orphan cheetah cubs survive in the wild with cheetah foster parents and how zoo animal babies are raised 'wild' by zoo workers.

"World Birth Day: Delivering Hope" (The Learning Channel, 9-11 pm E/P) This Mother's Day documentary special about human motherly instincts around the world includes reports on different birth practices. Parent discretion advised.

Monday, May 12

"Women On Top: Hollywood And Power" (AMC Network. 10-10:30 pm E/P) This documentary might give hope to girls who want to do more than act if they ever get near a film production company. Narrated by Chloe Sevigny (Boys Don't Cry, American Psycho), it traces the careers of Hollywood's most influential and powerful women through interviews and clips. Learn what kind of obstacles women filmmakers faced as late as the 1970s. And meet Hollywood's most powerful female movers and shakers, from Laura Ziskin, the producing muscle behind the mega-hit "Spider-Man" (2002), to Mira Nair, director and producer of "Salaam Bombay" (1988) and 2001's smash "Monsoon Wedding."

Tuesday, May 13

"Fat: The New Epidemic" (National Geographic Channel, 8-9 pm E/P) This edition of the "Science Times" documentary series, produced with the New York Times' TV division, describes how obesity is becoming America's number one cause of preventable death. While looking at the latest scientific weapons in the fight against fat, it also raises the question, "Can science save us from french fries?

Wednesday, May 14

"Junkyard Mega-Wars: Flight of the Century" (The Learning Channel 9-11 pm E/P) This is another chance to see a cool by ten program about smart men and women building -- and flying -- airplanes made from antique junk. The show commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers flight. Teams from Britain, France and the U.S. compete building vintage planes from the 1900's using period junk and tools from way back then (like hand saws and drills). They have only 20 hours.

"CBS 60 Minutes II" (CBS, 9-10 pm E/P) The main report in this news magazine presents details of the capture and rescue of two young U.S. P.O.W's during the Iraqi War -- from their point of view.

Thursday, May 15

"Vesuvius: Deadly Fury" (Discovery Channel 10-11 pm E/P) This is a documentary about events in 79 A.D., when eruptions from Mount Vesuvius buried the Roman city of Pompeii. A burning wave of gas shot out from the side of Vesuvius, killing the inhabitants of neighboring Herculaneum in just four minutes. Archaeologists are still able to examine traces of these ancient bodies for historical clues.

Friday, May 16

"Castles and Dungeons" (History Channel, 7-8 pm E/P) No, this isn't a videogame. It's a documentary about the real towering (and subterranean) marvels from the Middle Ages. Oddly, this program is airing as part of the "Modern Marvels" series. Architectural features that have long since vanished from modern buildings, such as murder holes, arrow slits, battlements and moats worked together to make castles virtually impregnable to attack. You'll learn how these things were built. They were homes to kings and nobles, economic centers, courthouses, treasuries, prisons, and, of course, the main location for torture chambers. I also heartily recommend the Caldicott Honor Book, "Castles", in which author-illustrator David Macaulay traces the step-by-step planning and construction of an ancient castle and town.