What's On!

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!

Thursday, May 2

"Wuthering Heights" (The Learning Channel, 10-11pm) This documentary looks at the parallels between the life of reclusive English author Emily Bronte and the classic novel about hidden feelings which she wrote. This book is often taught in high school and this program will give you a head start in understanding it.

"The Early Show" (CBS, 7-9am E/P) If you're up early enough to catch the first hour of this magazine show you'll be able to get some hot SAT test-prep tips for future use. There's a report about what 7th graders in California are learning SAT techniques via inexpensive courses run by a private company, Cambridge Academic Service (www.e-cambridgetutors.com).

Friday, May 3

"Spanish H-Bomb Crash" (History Channel, 4-4:30pm) The mysterious -- perhaps even alarming -- name of this documentary is not entirely misleading. That's because this is a true account of a defense-technology blunder in the 1960's when an American Basin-52 bomber accidentally released a hydrogen bomb which landed near a resort city in Spain. The whole world held its breath until the weapon was located -- and it turned out it had not been set to detonate.

"Bali: Masterpiece Of The Gods" (National Geographic Channel, 9-10pm E/P) This is a documentary about the Indonesian island of Bali, where the populace has held onto their ancient lifestyle based on religion, music and dance rather than take on a completely modern lifestyle. The result is a 'masterpiece' of a society, combining new but mostly old practices -- delightful to encounter.

Saturday, May 4

"U.S. Customs" (A&E Network, 8-9pm E/P) This documentary in the "Behind Closed Doors With Joan Lunden" series looks at the work of the nation's oldest law enforcement agency, the Customs Service. Lunden goes on a mission aboard one of the agency's Blackhawk helicopters used to patrol 20,000 miles of border and also goes inside the Port of Miami facility where they deal with smugglers.

"Super Jumbo Jets" (National Geographic Channel, 8-9pm E/P) This is a documentary about the kind of airplanes you might be involved with if you're thinking about being an aeronautical engineer. America's Boeing company is developing a future "Sonic Cruiser" that will travel 20% faster than today's regular passenger jets. And the Europe's Airbus company is planning to put the world's largest planes - carrying 800 passengers -- up in the air.

Sunday, May 5

"Blue Planet" (Discovery Channel 7-11pm E/P) Here are 4 new documentary episodes of the BBC marine science series that premiered to wild acclaim earlier this year. (I agree with the normally somber NY Times and Wall Street Journal reviewers who said it was "a ravishing series" and "miraculous".) Tonight's episodes are: "Seasonal Seas", mainly about underwater forest denizens (kelp and leafy sea dragons); "Coral Sea", about complex and endangered ecosystems; "Tidal Seas", about the Amazon delta and Canadian Bay of Fundy; and "Coasts", about animals that depend on both land and water to survive (such as killer whales which actually beach themselves hunting sea lion pups). Turn on your VCR. Also head over to www.discovery.com/convergence/blueplanet/blueplanet.html for further information, including other airdates of these 4 shows and also previously aired episodes.

"Ulysses S. Grant -- Part I " (PBS, 9-11pm E/P) This new documentary in the excellent "American Experience" series covers the military career of one of the U.S.'s most paradoxical leaders. An early army wash-out, business failure and drunk who was given a second chance in life when the Civil War started, he surprised everyone with his tenacity and grasp of the new military realities of that war. He won it. Not without controversy, however. Part II, about his even more controversial career as President of the U.S., airs Sunday, May 12th. Log on to the background website, http://www.pbs.org/amex/grant.

Monday, May 6

"The Known Soldier" (WB Network, 8-9pm E/P) This special episode of the dramatic series "7th Heaven" takes on a difficult current events issue: the reality behind the military casualties -- specifically the true story of the death in January 2002 of Marine Sgt. Dwight J. Morgan in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. A special guide for teachers' use in addressing in class the human costs of war and accompanying trauma of losing a loved one is available online at http://www.turnerlearning/thewb/7thheaven/knownsoldier.

Tuesday, May 7

"Arthur: All About Asthma" (PBS, 2-2:30pm -- it's important to check local airtimes because they vary from town to town) Broadcast on the occasion of "World Asthma Day" (May 7), this special episode of the animated series for younger children will help them learn what asthma is, what can trigger an attack, and how to stay active and healthy if they have the condition. A special guide on childhood asthma is available at http://pbskids.org/arthur/grownups/health_tips/asthma.html.

"Fire Wars" (PBS, 8-10pm E/P) This is a "Nova" documentary about the crews mobilized annually to combat the wildfires in the American West. Cameras followed the men and women of the Arrowhead Hotshots during the summer of 2000 as the battled a fire that burned for nearly 2 months. The U.S.'s traditional ways of dealing with wildfires -- not always well thought out -- is also covered (with more details at www.pbs.org/nova/fire).

Wednesday, May 8

"Panic Mechanics" (The Learning Channel, 10-11pm E/P) This is another one of those shows about way-out engineering techniques like "Junkyard Wars" or "Robotica". The idea this time around is to get 2 competing teams of mechanics to turn ordinary family cars into high performance racing vehicles -- in 3 days -- using only $3,000 worth of additional parts. (They'll make you wonder what why an Indy 500 racer has to cost 100 times that sum.)

"Stereos" (History Channel, 7-8pm E/P) This is a documentary about a technology you may never have thought about, you're so used to it: science's ability to transmit sound in stereo is a relatively new thing, and it took 100 years of struggle to get it to work. Edison tried and, as you'll see, a lot of wacky devices came along since his early efforts. (You'll be tempted to laugh at some of this stuff, but if you go into science as a career, you'll make just as many false starts, I promise you.)

"Muslims" (PBS, 9-11pm in the LOS ANGELES AREA ONLY) In the Los Angeles area, this documentary (see below) will be aired on May 8th at 9pm PT. Nationally it will be aired Thursday at the same time.

Thursday, May 9

"Backstory: Cast Away" (American Movie Classics Channel, 7-7:30pm ET, 4-4:30pm PT) This is a documentary about people using high-tech equipment to record the struggle of actor Tom Hanks to get along in the low-tech (or no-tech) world of a person stranded alone on an uninhabited island.

"Muslims" (PBS, 9-11pm E/P) FRONTLINE and the Independent Production Fund present a documentary about one of the fastest growing religions in the world today. Through the lives of ordinary Muslims from Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Turkey, Nigeria, and the United States, "Muslims" illuminates the diverse interpretations of Islam and the many facets of its worldwide resurgence. For in-depth information and a teacher's guide log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims.

"Siege Machines" (History Channel, 10-11pm E/P) This is a documentary about the development of giant machines that convert energy into mechanical force to go over, under or through castle walls, entrenchments, or modern technological defenses too strong for conventional force. These machines range from slingshots which sometimes weighed tons -- man's first long range weapons -- to laser cannons and missile-destroying devices used to overcome the barrier of outer space.