What's On!

One of the best filmed Romeo and Juliets is on next Thursday. It's one you'd have to get parental permission to watch in school, so you might want to do the same here -- hey, no fair getting me in trouble! It's on cable!

On Easter, we have a trio of biblical stories -- one's the classic Ten Commandments, one's a miniseries about Jesus, and the other is an excellent documentary about architects, scholars, and a tomb.

And if more current issues interest you, check out Wednesday's "Banks", which will teach you a lot of what you need to know about running one of your own... say, here on Whyville...!

Watch the shows and let me know what you think. Email me, the MediaWiz of Whyville!

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

Friday, March 29

"Home Tech" (History Channel, 7-8pm E/P) When I first hear about this documentary they said it covered topics ranging "from the out house to the smart house". Now being re-run, I see that it's indeed about those topics, but also provides perspective about other technology that we take for granted. Just imagine life without indoor plumbing, much less dishwashers, hair dryers , even SOS pads. I mean you'll look at them differently -- and maybe think about the details of the technology involved -- if you just for a minute let your mind wander into a space where these things weren't around to help you through your day.

Saturday, March 30

"Paper Moon" (Turner Classic Movies, 6-8pm ET, 3-5pm PT, Rated PG) This movie provided 10 year old Tatum O'Neal one of the most interesting roles a kid her age ever hope for -- and she stole every scene she appeared in, including the ones with her own father, actor Ryan O'Neal. She even won an Oscar, beating out everybody else including her father. In the story they are a pair of scam artists (swindlers so charming that you sort of love them) travelling around the Midwest during the Depression. What happens to them provides viewers a valuable history lesson. (Nevertheless, somebody's going to e-mail me that this particular movie about a smart, strong girl presents a bad example of youthful behavior, although that talk will probably only come from people who haven't sat through the complete movie. Folks, including parents, who really watch it will say oh, yeah, it's cool.) Also available on video.

Sunday, March 31

"Jesus Of Nazareth" (History Channel, 10am - 6pm E/P) In observance of Easter Sunday, the History Channel is broadcasting all 4 episodes of an excellent dramatic miniseries about Jesus directed by Franco Zefferelli with an amazing cast. (He's also the person who directed the fine production of Shakespeare "Romeo and Juliet" airing April 4 -- see below.) The first episode runs until noon, the second follows until 2pm, the third until 4pm, and the final one concludes at 6pm. Also available on video.

"The Ten Commandments" (ABC 7-11:45pm E/P) On a personal note, I wanted to say that the first time I viewed this epic, Oscar-winning Hollywood production about Moses and the Exodus I was visiting a Muslim country (Morocco). I was puzzled to see that a movie about ancient Israelites -- which was also, of course, a U.S.-influenced version of the story -- was the most popular show in town. Well, I was behind the curve of learning back then. Nowadays, it's more widely understood that Moses, and also the Patriarch Abraham and his family, are personages in the sacred writings of all 3 of the major faiths that originated in the Middle East. Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It's something to think about when watching ABC's broadcast of this 1956 movie starring Charlton Heston in the title role. Available on video.

"Tomb Of Jesus" (National Geographic Channel, 8-9pm E/P) This world premiere of a documentary recently filmed in Jerusalem features what may be the first televised footage of a Biblical-era quarry deep beneath the Church Of the Holy Sepulchre. Findings there have set off a controversy among the leading archaeologists, historians and Biblical scholars who were interviewed for this film. The tantalizing evidence includes a 15 inch-wide track in front of the doorway of a cave there indicating a large boulder or rolling stone would have been into place to seal the opening in the same manner as described in the Bible.

Monday, April 1

"Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" (Hallmark Channel 8-9pm E/P) This is Part I of the "pilot episode", or introduction to the popular and very informative TV series (currently in re-runs) about one of the first female doctors on the 1860's American Frontier. It explains that she got to the West because she answered an ad in a Boston paper requiring a doctor in Colorado Springs. Part II airs April 2nd from 8-9pm. Jane Seymour stars as the fictional Dr. Michaela Quinn. There's a website with historical and medical information about the time and place of the show -- a good example page on the site is http://www.drquinnmd.com/drquinn/school.html.

Tuesday, April 2

"NOVA Programs Online: Dying To Be Thin" (viewable anytime, 24/7 on your home or school using either QuickTime or RealVideo software) This is a departure from my usual recommendations because I'm suggesting you watch a TV show on your computer. Some excellent documentaries are now becoming available to you anytime, anywhere, not just when the TV people decide to show them. In addition to the "Dying To Be Thin" program about eating disorders, at http://www.pbs.org/nova/thin/program.html, you can access programs about DNA, cancer and fetal development at immediately adjacent sites.

Wednesday, April 3

"Banks" (History Channel, 7-8pm E/P) This is one time when I could bet that kids who are involved in virtual businesses of Whyville will be real quiet while watching this documentary. They will be taking careful note of the way the 'big kids' handle money. I mean bankers -- from all the way back to when they had to defend their holdings with swords (and sometimes expand their holdings that way, too). The program also describes banking by internet as the latest thing -- and you need to know about that, too.

"Mexican Revolution" (PBS, 8-9pm E/P and check your local station or www.pbs.org to confirm the time in your town. TV rated PG) This episode of the PBS dramatic series about a Mexican-American family living in Los Angeles takes an interesting turn -- it becomes a black and white historical newsreel on the occasion that the family hears about their grandmother was a female soldier in the early 1900's. Her nickname then was "La Coronela" which means The Colonel. Lots of information here that not many Americans, not even Mexican-Americans, know much about -- but should.

Thursday, April 4

"Romeo And Juliet" (American Movie Classics, 10pm-midnight ET, 7-9pm PT) This multiple Oscar-winning movie of Shakespeare's play directed by Franco Zefferelli is easy for young viewers to follow. That's not just because it's well directed, but also because he and she are played by real teen-agers -- 17 and 15 respectively -- and they're both drop dead gorgeous. Also available on video.