Some broadcast and cable programs contain material included in the public school curriculum and on standardized examinations. Here are viewing suggestions for October 25-31, 2004.

The topic of this week's Media Hour is Halloween! What's your favorite Halloween show? Share your best myths and mysteries with your fellow Whyvillians. Then let's talk about Frankenstein and other classic sci-fi spooks -- what's the science behind them? What's possible and what's not?

What's the Media Hour? Watch the show(s)-of-the-week, jot down some ideas, then come and talk about them with me and other citizens (including other City Workers, if they're available). We get together at the Greek Theater (next to City Hall), every Saturday morning at noon, Whyville Time. 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 it makes everyone's chat bubbles overlap a little less than other rooms.

Monday, October 25

"The Brooke Ellison Story" (Health Science/Social Science, A&E Channel, 8-10 pm E/P, rated TV-PG) This movie is the true story of a young quadriplegic woman who, with her mother's help, completes high school and delivers the commencement address at her Harvard graduation. Lacey Chabert stars as Brooke Ellison, who was hit by a car at age 11 and was paralyzed from the neck down. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio portrays Jean, Brooke's mother and constant caregiver, who attended classes side-by-side with her. The movie was directed by the late Christopher Reeve, himself a quadriplegic as a result of an accident, who became a leading n advocate for stem-cell research. Log on to http://www.aetv.com/brookeellison/ for links to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, information on the status of America's health insurance plans, and access to the Official Brooke Ellison Website.

"American Experience: The Crash of 1929"(Economics/American History, High School, PBS, 9-10 pm E/P) This documentary is set in an era when the U.S. stock market was rising, a time when everyone could get rich. But a small group of bankers, brokers and speculators manipulated the stock market and became fabulously rich. The film captures the unbounded optimism of the age and the consequences when reality finally hit on October 29, 1929. Log onto the companion Web site to learn more about the Roaring Twenties: http://www.pbs.org/amex/crash.

"The First Lady: Public Expectations, Private Lives" (Social Science/History, PBS, 10-11 pm E/P) This is a documentary about First Ladies -- a topic lately in the news a lot. America's First Lady is not appointed, has no job description, no formal power and no salary. Yet there are many demands placed on her, and America's relationship with its First Lady is complex. Hosted by Stockard Channing (who plays First Lady Abigail Bartlett on NBC's "The West Wing"), it covers historical First Ladies and concludes with in-depth interviews with First Lady Laura Bush and Teresa Heinz Kerry.

Tuesday, October 26

"Nova: The Missing Link" (Science, Middle and High School, PBS, 8-9 pm E/P) This is a suspenseful scientific detective story, following clues leading to the identification of the ancestor of all four-limbed animals, including humans. Download a the web pages that show how students can collect, analyze and interpret information about objects in order to classify them into a cladogram. You have to look at the website to find out about that term: http://www.pbs.org/nova/link

Wednesday, October 27

"CBS 60 Minutes" (Science and Technology, Middle and High School, CBS, 8-9 pm E/P) The main report in this newsmagazine is about potential problems with new computer voting machines could affect millions of votes.

"Secrets of the Dead: Witches' Curse" (Science/History, High School, PBS, 8-9 pm E/P) This documentary focuses on the scientific aspects of "witch trials". The hallucinogenic drug LSD was behind the needless execution of 40,000 "witches" across Europe and in colonial America hundreds of years ago. New evidence reveals that the affliction known as "bewitchment" could be the result of a deadly fungus that sent people on a nightmare "acid trip." Log onto the companion Web site and find out how a common grain fungus might be responsible for the witchcraft trials that took place in Salem, Mass. in the 1600s: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_salem

Thursday, October 28

"Peace by Peace: Women on the Frontlines" (Current Events/Geography, High School, PBS, 10-11 pm E/P) Women who work for peace have been in the news lately. In the midst of terrorism and the ongoing horror of war, women around the world are standing up for peace, advocating restorative justice and teaching future generations that violence is not the answer. Filmed in Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi and Argentina, this documentary (narrated by Jessica Lange) celebrates the unheralded work of these courageous women.

Friday, October 29

"Ancient Monster Hunters" (World History, High School, History Channel, 6-7 pm E/P, TV-rated PG) As Halloween approaches, here's a documentary about the historical origins of some famous monsters -- such as the one-eyed, man-eating Cyclops and the ferocious griffin, part bird, part lion. Were these creatures, celebrated by the ancient Greeks and immortalized by the poet Homer, something more than myth? Leading paleontologists are exploring newly-translated written evidence and physical remains that may link the Greek classical age with Earth's prehistoric past. New data suggests that the ancients searched for, excavated, measured, and displayed massive fossils.

Saturday, October 30

"Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures" (History/Media Arts, Middle and High School, Animal Planet Channel, 8-10 pm E/P) On the eve of Halloween, this documentary looks back through film history and catalogues the big screen's scariest beasts. Even though they date from the black and white, fading color or pre-computer era many retain the power to frighten. Examples include King Kong, Godzilla, Wolf Man, The Raven, The Fly, The Birds (for sure) and Jaws.

Sunday, October 31

"L.A. 10,000 B.C." (Prehistoric History, Middle and High School, Discovery Channel, 9-11 pm E/P) Depending on where you live, you might not think that Los Angeles is something to think about in connection with Halloween. Then again, LA may be THE place you think about. Anyway, two millennia ago, when humans first arrived in the area that is now Los Angeles they came face to face with a terrifying variety of large, scary beasts. In this documentary you will find out how these early people battled with such monsters. (Hint: Today we know some answers because both men and beasts occasionally fell into nearby tar pits while they were fighting.)