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Because the news from California has put politics on everybody's mind, maybe we should have the
MediaHour topic be, "Which star do you think would make a good President,
Prime Minister or Governor... and which star would you most NOT want as the elected leader where you live?"
I would like you all to come to the MediaHour with your suggestions and defend them in
our
virtual forum.
Friday, August 8
"Red Flag" (History Channel, 8-9pm E/P) This is a documentary about Nellis Air Force base near Las Vegas, NV -- home to one of the most sophisticated military training facilities in the world. There, in 12,000 square miles of airspace the USAF are conducted the "Red Flag" training exercises, where over 100 NATO and USAF
combat aircraft engage hostile air and ground threats, unrestricted, at
supersonic speeds, in a real-world environment, offering pilots invaluable
experience in real-world air combat situations. As one aviator said after
returning from a mission over Baghdad in the first Gulf War, "this is really
tough, but it's not as intense as Red Flag."
Saturday, August 9
"American Chopper" (Discovery Channel, 8-9pm E/P) This technology documentary about motorcycles compares an old one and also a new one so extreme you might wonder if it should exist at all (it's based on the design of a top secret Comanche helicopter.) The show is part of a series which has a cool website http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/amchopper/amchopper.html.
Sunday, August 10
"CBS Sunday Morning" (CBS, 9-10:30am E/P) This high quality morning news magazine presents current affairs in a balanced way that you don't see on the evening news. And it covers feature stories in a way you should remember to emulate if you start making video-cam reports for a school assignment. This Sunday's stories include: A report on Liberia as relief groups deploy peacekeepers to hurry food and medical supplies to its citizens. A report about the estimated 134 million cell phones in use in the U.S.
-- up from four million in 1990 -- now generating zillions of complaints about breaches in cell phone etiquette. A profile of Lelia Josefowitz who, at 25, looks like any other 20-something, but on stage this violinist is setting the classical music world on fire. Also, a profile of Peter Jenkins of Atlanta, Ga. loves to climb and sleep in trees, so he founded Tree Climbers International in 1983.
Monday, August 11
"West Wing" (Bravo Network, 7-8pm E/P) This is the "pilot episode" (the very first one filmed) of the popular dramatic series about White House politics. Bravo Network will be re-running further episodes nightly beginning this month. In this 'pilot' the audience meets the different characters for the first time. Story: When it's learned that the President (Martin Sheen) injured himself during a bicycle accident, his absence becomes a factor as chief of staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer) must juggle a host of impending crises. These include a mass boatlift of Cuban refugees approaching the Florida coast , the reaction of conservative Christians to a controversial televised comment by deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford). Meanwhile, Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe), the trouble-prone deputy communications director, makes another critical error during a children's White House tour. If you watch any of these dramas you might have some fun in coming months by comparing the characters in the series with the real-life politicians currently in the White House or trying to win the job that allows them to live there. Some journalists are already comparing real-life Presidential Candidate Howard Dean to the President-character in the tv drama.
Tuesday, August 12
"Moment of Truth: Mother's Deception" (Lifetime Channel, 9-11pm E/P) This movie, originally made for TV, is about a woman who get's mixed up with a cult headed by a phony guru/psychiatric M.D. The doctor, through hypnosis, convinces her that her family life is a mess and that he alone is the answer to all life's questions. Her family has to go to the effort of returning her to the fold by enlisting the aid of a man experienced in rescuing people from cult activity. The movie is interesting if you want tips on recognizing how this type of cult sham is pulled off. and how to get yourself or your family out of it. There's a novel on this subject available in paperback and in the libraries: Dean Koontz' "False Memory".
Wednesday, August 13
"Robo Shark" (Discovery Channel, 9-10pm E/P) This is a documentary about a 6-foot-long animatronic shark equipped with onboard cameras. The Robo Shark is designed to blend in with real sharks and capture never-before-seen wild shark behavior. The resulting footage shows the bizarre deep-sea thresher shark in the Philippines; giant whale sharks feeding off the coast of Belize; and deadly hammerheads, great whites and bronze whaler sharks in South Africa.
Thursday, August 14
NEW! "Whale Rider" (this is a New Zealand movie playing in selected theatres worldwide -- check local listings) This movie about an 8-year old New Zealand Maori girl is based on the novel "Whale Rider" by Witi Ihmaera. The movie version has won prizes all over the world! The story is about
the a legend about a man named Paikea, who rode on the back of a whale and led his people to ancient New Zealand. Since that time, traditon has decreed that the first-born male descendant will become chief of the tribe. Then Pai is born... and she is a girl. She grows up within a close-knit village which retains the tribes tradtional spiritual relationship with the sea and their warrior values. Although loved by all, Pai faces rejection from her grandfather, who is brokenhearted that there is no grandson to carry on the line. But Pai is indeed blessed with the qualities of her ancestors and, in her own way, struggles in a male-dominated world to prove herself. Then the community is forced to come together to save a pod of stranded whales. Pai's spiritual affinity with the whales and her courage finally proves
that she is the true leader of her people. Movie rated PG-13 for brief incidence of strong language.
Friday, August 15
NEW "Dateline NBC" (NBC, 8-9pm E/P) You can never be too careful when it
comes to internet security. And since there always new tricks being
thought up by the bad guys out there, it's my duty to give you a heads-up
when there's a useful TV report. Most people
would be surprised at just how easy it is for others to obtain their
personal information -- addresses, social security numbers, etc. -- and
it's all legal. Dateline NBC hired two private investigators to be the
subjects of the main story in this newsmagazine -- and asked them to find
out how much information they could get on each other. The other story
is about the hottest diet in the county, the South Beach Diet, and the
doctor who created it.
"Anacondas" (Discovery Channel, 8-9pm E/P) This is a documentary about the worlds most most massive serpent. Zoologist Nigel Marven believes this snake could reach more than 30 feet in length. In this report on his search for such a monster he guides a whistle-stop tour of South America's most wonderful wildlife locations. For further info about anacondas log on to
http://gosouthamerica.about.com/library/blwildpixanaconda.htm.
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