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These listings cover television programs up to Friday, July
4th.
Greetings, TV viewers!
This week's MediaHour is "Maggie", a documentary on Margaret
Thatcher, ex-Prime Minister of England and arguably one of the toughest women the world has
ever known. Think Hermione in Harry Potter is a know-it-all? Add "tough-as-nails" to that and you'll have "Maggie". Watch the show on PBS and come tell us what you think of her personality and politics!
Sometime this summer, I will be starting a Writing Workshop for citizens. Y-mail me your writings and we'll meet every week to discuss new techniques and writing styles! We'll be choosing the day soon -- and possibly moving the MediaHour time, as well.
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 pretty easy, since City Workers are able to direct people's movement and behavior, when we need to, and keeps everyone's chat bubbles from overlapping too much. We meet for MediaHour on Wednesdays from 6:30pm and 7:30pm Whyville Time (that's the same as Eastern Daylight Time).
Everyone is welcome to write to me what you and your parents think:
Y-mail me, the MediaWiz of Whyville!
And now... the Media Menu!
Friday, June 27
"The Death of the U.S.S. Maine" (Discovery Channel, 8-9pm E/P) Here's another of
those documentaries about a tragic event that provoked America to go to war.
The program examines photos of the wreckage of the U.S. Navy ship that blew up
in Havana in 1898. You will see modern engineers perform a forensic "autopsy" of
the U.S.S. Maine. This examination should explain the explosion that coined the
phrase "Remember the Maine! To Hell with Spain" and started the Spanish-American
War.
Saturday, June 28
"Sinbad: Movie Series" (TCM Network, 8pm-midnight ET, 5-9 pm PT) Now that
we're in the midst of Harry-Potter-mania, here's a chance to compare to compare
his struggles against evil sorcerers with the methods of the classic hero,
Sinbad. Read the book version, "The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor" by Quentin Blake, or watch these movies on cable or by renting the video version:
in "The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad", he hunts for a roc's egg to save his love from an evil sorcerer. In "The Golden Voyage Of Sinbad" he battles a fiendish magician and his many monsters. In "Sinbad And The Eye Of The Tiger", when a witch turns a young prince into a baboon, Sinbad fights to save him. Note:
on July 4th (see below), HBO is showing a documentary about the animation techniques used to make the newest version of the Sinbad story to hit the theatres, "Sinbad: The Legend Of The Seven Seas".
Sunday, June 29
"Maggie" (PBS, 9-11 pm E/P) British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ruled the U.K. with a fistful of hard-line economic, social and foreign policies that helped earn her the name "The Iron Lady." Arguably the most significant Englishwoman since Queen Elizabeth I, her story begins in Grantham, Lincolnshire, where she was born in 1925. Her Sunday School teacher Nellie Towers remembers her youthful self-confidence: "We had a musical festival organized by the church and she entered the piano solo for her age group. And she came first. The next day her music teacher said to her, 'You were lucky, Margaret, to win.' And she said, 'I deserved it.'" The film portrays her election to Parliament in 1959 and years of rising through the ministerial ranks, balancing a demanding career with marriage and motherhood, and struggling against the class snobbery and sexism that characterized the British Parliament at the time. It tells the inside story of her election victory in the 1979 general election
-- becoming Britain's First Lady. Then she proved herself an implacable fighter in successive battles: the Falkland Islands War with Argentina, the miners' strike, the IRA Brighton bomb and two more general elections. Of her struggles ex-cabinet Minister Jim Prior recalls, "Her character is one of belligerence. She did love argument, she thrived on it, she needed it. That was her drug if you like." (Does this remind anyone of Hermione in the Harry Potter
stories?)
Monday, June 30
"National Geographic Today: Liquid Planet" (National Geographic Channel, 7-7:30 E/P) Here's something for kids beginning to think about becoming a marine biologist. This daily news journal has added a regular feature segment about the ocean and aquatic topics. Monterey Bay Aquarium will be the origination site for reports that will also include research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and leading southern California marine science sites. More info at
http://www.mbayaq.org and
http://www.whoi.edu.
Tuesday, July 1 -- Independence Day, Canada
"Fireworks" (PBS, 8-9 pm E/P) This documentary explores the science and spectacular art of those who play with fire for our visual delight. There is more than meets the eye to creating the sequence of vivid colors and impressive effects that will light up the night sky
today in Canada and this Fourth of July in the US. Details at
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/fireworks/.
Wednesday, July 2
"Biography: Arnold Schwarzenegger" (A&E Network 8-9 pm E/P) Well, I guess it's time to find out some biographical details about the man who is trying to become the governor of California. It's the story of the boy from a small Austrian village who became the most successful competitive bodybuilder of all time and went on to become one of the most popular movie stars in Hollywood history, even though at first he could barely act. Now he's is active in Republican Party politics, even though he's married to Maria Shriver, a member of the Democratic Party dynasty -- the Kennedy family.
"Doctors without Borders: Life in the Field" (National Geographic Channel 9-10 pm E/P)
This is the initial report in a documentary series about Medecins Sans Frontieres
-- or MSF. These are medical teams delivering emergency aid worldwide to victims of armed conflict, natural disasters and epidemics as well as social and geographic isolation. In this episode, Els Adams
-- a Dutch nurse and Jackie Mukoyogo -- a British doctor deal with a starvation crisis in Angola. Meanwhile, in Bolivia, a Columbian doctor Oscar Bernal treats a pregnant teenager facing life-threatening complications. Presented by Kiefer Sutherland. For more info log on
http://www.msf.org/.
Thursday, July 3
"The Black Stallion" (TCM Network, 3:30-5:30 pm ET, noon-2:30 pm PT -- also available on video and
DVD) This is the 1979 Academy Award Nominated movie of the classic novel, The Black Stallion" by Walter Farley, directed by Carroll Ballard. It's shows how a boy and a horse forge a close friendship after being shipwrecked together in Africa. Some people say this is the most beautifully filmed, magical film they've ever seen. Stars are Kelly Reno, Mickey Rooney and Teri Garr.
Friday, July 4 -- Independence Day, USA
"Leaders -- With David Faber" (CNBC Network, noon- 1pm ET, 9-10 pm PT) You've heard the latest news about music file sharing
-- the recording companies are going to sue individuals who've shares a lot of songs. This news-interview program on the NBC business channel explains what's going on. Only you will know if 'digital piracy' is an interesting topic to
you; unless, by the time you're reading this, the record company lawyers have already decided to call you.
"First Look: Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas" (HBO, 3:30-4 pm E/P) This is a documentary about the technology used to create this animated film that chronicles the adventures of the legendary Arabian sailor, Sinbad. The voice cast includes Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joseph Fiennes and Michelle Pfeiffer.
"A Capitol Fourth" (PBS, 8-10 pm E/P -- check local times) It's America's biggest birthday party! Viewers join the July 4th celebration from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol for an evening of musical entertainment, topped by a dazzling display of fireworks over the Washington Monument Hosted by veteran actor Barry Bostwick, it features Dolly Parton, The Chieftains, Kristin Chenoweth and the National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Erich Kunzel.
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