Reviews

In the height of the Women's liberation movement during early 1970's it seemed that certain men were afraid of stronger women. Ira Levin used that to create a novel that is not necessarily great literature, but a novel that people are going to remember for a long time to come. The Stepford Wives proved to be a page tuner and a book that people could not just put down.

By 1975 William Goldman and Bryan Forbes adapted the book into a motion picture, and while the movie has not aged with grace it does have that same hook at the novel.

The movie begins with the Eberhart's moving out of New York City and into the town of Stepford, Connecticut. In this movie Joanna is a stay at home photographer. At first Joanna (Katharine Ross) is ready to began a new life, in spite of the way the woman behave, but as soon as she says how one of local women reacts after getting into a car accident she begins to have doubts.

The doubts continue to grow when Joanna's husband Walter invites the local Men's Association to their home and one of its members does a black and white sketch of her (common art style in the 1970's (Remember the early titles of the TV Daytime Drama "Young & the Restless" anyone?).

Joanna meets up with another newcomer Bobbie Markowe (Paula Prentiss) to find out what is behind the women and their attitudes about being the best housewives to their men. They turn to Charmaine Wimperis (Tina Louise) who also moved in to town with her husband, and try to get some kind of women's group going, with little success. Soon enough, Charmanie is Stepfordtized and has giving up her love of Tennis, and is willing to do the housework that Wimperis housekeeper used to do.

Bobbie thinks that the local water supply somehow connected to this but they end upshort. Eventually Bobbie becomes a Stepford wife and Joanna get even more frighten.

She now wants to move out of Stepford but her husband tells her to go see a shrink which Joanna does and the good news is she is a women. Joanna tells her that she has a strong feeling that she will be the next woman to get the Stepford treatment. Sadly Dr. Fancher tells her that she another commitment but tells Joanna to get herself and her children out of Stepford A.S.A.P. However Walter is on to her, and sent the children away which leads to the climax in which Joanna confronts Dale Coba (Patrick O'Neal) who heads the Means Association.

It seems that Coba is behind the Stepfordtizing (there are several Technological Plants in town that Joanna drives by in the film including one in Coba's name), and has the skills and the knowledge to create the perfect and submissive wife. He admitted earlier during his visit at the Eberhart home that he likes watching women doing "domestic chores." The buildup in the movie is different then the one in the book, but it has the same resolution and ending. The movie is not the greatest thriller in the world but it pulls you in and keeps you tied to your seat until the very end.

25 years before Napoleon Dynamite was released, another film about kids coming of age in a small town was in the big screen cinema. That movie was called "Breaking Away." Ironically both movies were released by FOX.

Like Napoleon Dynamite, Breaking Away was also shot in the same small town in which the movie took place rather than some sound stage in Hollywood. Rather than Preston, Idaho; the town ND takes place, Breaking... takes place in the town of Bloomington, Indiana.

The outcasts in this film called "Cutters" and were fair game to a group of college students that attend the local University in town, and came from other parts of the country and even the world. You see chances are that the Cutters would not go to college and would stick to their blue collar lifestyle for the rest of their days. Some collage kids look down upon this.

The Cutters would face off with these college snobs (and then some) in the town's annual bike race (Little 500). The best rider is Dave Stoller (played by Dennis Christopher) who tries to mimic the Italians (and driving his parents, neighbors, and even his friends crazy in the process) in his attempt to become one of the best cyclist in the nation if not the world. Dennis Quaid was on his way to becoming a movie star by portraying the though cutter and leader of the group Mike.

The big difference between the Napoleon Dynamite and Breaking Away is that this movie had more of a plot.

If you saw Napoleon Dynamite then I recommend you check out "Breaking Away."

Boohbah is the third series from the British children's TV production outfit Ragdoll to be imported to America. "Tots TV" and the ever famous "Teletubbies" were the first shows to imported to the States.

Boohbah is targeted towards the graduates of Teletubbies (ages 3-6), and focuses on movement along with leaning math, science, and problem solving. However the learning is for the most part is visual and numbers are not seen on the screen at all. The show breaks down into these segments.

Opening Titles: Shows different children around the world playing with the Boohball which travel constantly around the world responding to the call of Boohbah. The opening is different from show to show with different children.

Warm Up: Here we meet the Boohbah's (the show producers call them "atoms of light"), who come out of their "Pods" and like children are hyperactive. However when called by their names (Humbah, Zumbah, Zing Zing Zingbah, Jumbah, Jingbah), the Boohbah do a simple movement for children to follow. After awhile the Boohbah lose control again but "freeze" when their names are called.

Storyworld: To set up the segment. Children move a big wrapped present into the rainbow colored spiral. Once in place the children actually blow the present into Storyworld. As they blow the package dissolves and the shape of the present appears but not identified until the package appears in storyworld. The storypeople have names like Mr. Man, Mrs. Lady, Grandmamma appear. These people don't speak at all and are like game board pieces. The story themselves are basically puzzles in which the children help the storypeople solve a problem. The children can shout "Boohbah" to freeze the story, and blow additional gifts to the storypeople. They shout Boohbah to continue the story and a solution of some sort comes to pass.

Boohbah Dance: The Boohbah's come back to do a slightly complicated dance. The dance is inspired by the day's storyworld segment.

Look What I/We Can Do: A child or a group of children appears in an area of green and perform a simple dance on a transparent rainbow spiral. Three different dances are featured.

A few quick dances from the Boohbah's are seen before the show comes to close.

With the exception of the storyworld segment, their is very little narration in this show. The Boohbah's sole purpose is to make children happy unlike their distance cousins their is no individual personality in any of the Boohbah's. To help children learn from Boohbah the parents truly to need to watch this show with them.

Boohbah might scare certain parents away, but for those who enjoy movement might find it a decent show for kids.

For the ninth PR series Ninja Storm (based the Super Sentai counterpart Hurricanger). The PR crew more/less made to move from the U.S. to New Zealand to shoot the PR. This is also the very first PR series to be produced entirely by Walt Disney which acquired the Family Channel and PR was part of the deal.

In this series Shane Clark, Tori Hanson, and Dustin Brooks are students at the Wind Ninja Academy. However they tend to be slackers and their Sensei Kanoi Watanabe chastise them for their lack of commitment. However when an old student named Lothor return to enact his vengeance on Earth he kidnaps the students of the Wind Academy as well as other ninja schools. In process he turns Kanoi into a guinea pig

Shane, Tori, and Dustin miss the action are the only ones left, and because of that they have given Power Morphers to become the Wind Power Rangers. They are assisted by Kanoi's son Cameron who is not happy but the arrangement but still does his job well at Ninja Operations. However Lothor recruits two students from the Thunder Academy when he sees they were given to ability to become Power Rangers themselves. He tells them that Kanoi murdered their parents but so learn it's was a lie and eventually the Thunder Rangers side with the Wind Rangers in the fight against Lothor.

Cam wanting a piece of the action and to not just sitting on the sidelines goes back in time to retrieve a pendent that vanished years ago. He sees his parents in their younger years as well Kanoi's brother Kya. Cam eventually discovers that Kya would become Lothor. He also understands why his father held him back from learning the ways of the Ninja. Cam was to become the Green Samurai Ranger and does get a chance to fight with the rest of the rangers as well provide any weapons as need be.

The first weeks of Ninja Storm are good as the team was being put together. Lots of cliffhangers which make you come back to see what happens. Sadly when the team finally is completed their is a lack of story arc for a few weeks until the Lothor's Generals come into play. If their were more story arc's like their were in Wild Force then Ninja Storm could have done better than the previous PR series.

Lothor meanwhile has been made into a Dr. Evil type while some of the Generals that serve him have a darker bend. Lothor's nieces Kapri and Marah also provide the comic relief but have their moments of darkness and redemption at the very end. The heroes were great but they had to make Dustin the clown of Rangers. However he does shine with the rest at the end. Kanoi unlike Zordon is quick to discipline when the Rangers (and even Cam) get out of line, and it was seen several times during the show. That does not make Zordon bad, but Kanoi is not afraid to put his foot (or his GP body form) down. Also the creation of holographic Hip-Hop personality of Cam was a waste of time since he was not used as many hoped we would have been.

Ninja Storm was good but could have been better.

When this show came on the scene in Britain in the mid 1990's critics were concerned about the show's target audience since its aimed for children two and under. Eventually PBS picked it up for the American audience and it's been with us ever since.

The show specializes in simple stories, poetry, visuals, dance, and the observation of children in the real world (via the pinwheel shaped windmill transmitting those pictures of children to the Teletubbies on their stomachs).

While the Teletubbies are the equalvent of a one year old (the way they speak is a classic example of it), they seem to have their favorite things. Tinky Winky has his red bag (some think he is Gay icon because of this but its up for debate), Dispy likes his black and white hat, Laa-Laa has her Orange ball that look like a balloon, and Poe has her blue scooter. They each have a special song is they go around their play area called Teletubby Land, but they all love spreading love to each other with their "Big Hugs."

The show also makes use of repetition frequently. Usually when the Teletubbies beg to see, hear, or act something out again, whatever it is. This gives the children to soak something in better the second time it's played out. In the recent shows produced the show begins with a segment called "Teletubbies Everywhere" were the use of a video wall is used and video tricks are used such as duplicated Laa Laa's or whatever.

The Voice Trumpets (which look like Periscopes or upside Golf clubs) seem the govern the Teletubbies. They tell its time for the show, and when to say goodbye. They also sing simple song, and tell simple poems. They can pop up anywhere in Teletubby Land even inside the house they live in.

Teletubbies has proven to be a hit worldwide, and regardless whether or not this should ever gone on the air in the first place or if children's TV is being dumbed down. It could be worse, their is that six foot purple thing. Makes you think twice about bashing the Teletubbies.

This sequel to original Carmen Sandiego game show on PBS was to focus on historic trivia with some geography tucked in. Here are rules to this version.

Pre-Game: Carmen sends one of her crooks back in time to steal something of historic importance thus putting history and time in danger.

Round 1: Begins with three contestants who are called Time Pilots. Like in World they are shown skits, songs, and cast portraying important historic people. In each segment important clues are given. After which three choices are shown and now the contestants must lock in an answer on their podiums rather than using cardboard in the previous show. The first round also has tossup elements too including Data Boosts, and Global Pursuit (similar to "The Chase")

Round 2: After getting the loot back form Carmen's crook. The two top scoring players are given eight events and must put them in order of the most recent event to least recent event. The events are related to the item that was stolen earlier. The time pilots take turn in attempting to navigate though the events correctly. A mistake along the way, and the plot loss the turn and his/her opponent gets a crack but returns to square one (starting with the most recent event). Whoever completes the game restores history and has chance to chase the crooks.

The Trail of Time (End Game): In the Trail of Time the winning time pilot must go though several time portals (they resemble arcs from different time periods) within 90 seconds. In each portal the time pilot must press a button alerting Carmen Sandiego herself that they are ready for her question on history (it's usually related to what was discussed on the program already). The questions are a 50/50 multiple guess. If answered correctly the gate on the portal automatically opens and the pilot can pass and move on. If they miss the question then they must use a hand device (each portal has one just in case) to open the gate which can waste valuable time. If the pilot can beat Carmen then she will be captured and the Time Pilot wins a personal computer. Escapes into time if time runs outs. However the personal boom box is not a bad constellation prize either.

This show only ran for two seasons, and Thigpen was the only pickup from the previous World version. The game play is good but the rest of it falls show still not bad.

Kidsongs is a creation of Bruce Gowers and Carol Rosenstein both of whom have experience in producing music videos and music TV specials. Rosenstein had the ideal of Kidsongs when her daughter was one year old. Gowers had a baby son and also jumped on the Kidsongs ideal as well. Originally Kidsongs was series of direct to home video program which centered on a story/theme and had 10 to 15 songs. Some of themes included animals, silly people and songs behind them, and automobiles.

In 1994 it was decided to produce a TV show featuring the songs from the video programs that Gowers and Rosenstein produced since the mid 1980's. In the TV show a group of neighborhood kids convince a couple of TV station managers to let them produce a television in which the kids would produce and star in. While the TV program made you think that kids did all the work on the set and on location, in reality it used video segments from the Kidsong video program, and they had adult camera people that were off camera. The TV show also had a question and answer segment in which the Kidsongs Kids would interview highly respected people and their also interviewed a few well known actors and music performers. That included Raven-Symone who started in "The Cosby Show" and "Hanging with Mr. Cooper" and smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz. The TV program also introduced a fantasy character called Billy Biggle, and later added a second one Ruby Biggle who was Billy's sister. The Biggles would help the Kidsongs kids during the program in anyway possible. Whether it was helping behind the scenes or leading a sing along on one of songs in the show. The Kidsongs TV Show got exposure on both cable (Disney Channel) and broadcast TV (PBS affiliates)from 1994 though 2001.

By the way at the later years of the Kidsongs music video productions, the Biggles were also featured and that included including two videos that made Billy and Ruby the main theme and bring the Kidsong Kids and the home viewers to Biggle Land were Billy and Ruby resided along with their friends. A few Kidsong Video show in their entirety got aired on public televison as well.

The TV show is gone but you can still buy all 24 videos of the Kidsong video series by going to their website at kidsongs.com. Bruce and Carol still work in creating and producing music programs for TV and video and have worked with people like Ricky Martin, Britney Spears, and 'N-Sync just to name a few. They know how to but pictures to music and Kidsongs comes out a winner.

This was the first national televised game show for PBS. Aimed at kids "Were in the World is Carmen Sandiego?" is a geography trivia game. Before the game three Gumshoes (Contestants) are given a briefing by the Chief Lynn Thigpen about an important landmark that has been stolen by one of Carmen's henchmen/women. After all their is a crime element to this game. With the information the game can began

Round 1: In this round their given clues to the crook's whereabouts in the would though short skits, songs, celebrity appearances etc. The Gumshoes are then shown three possible choices. They must pick the right answer using the cardboards in front of them. Other elements in the round including the Lighting Round in which the Gumshoes are asked toss up question about a certain place in world, and The Chase (beginning with season 2) in which rapid fire toss up question are asked about certain places on a continent of the world.

Round 2: The top scoring Gumshoes go into the field (well to a train station on the set) the last place the crook went to, and place a memory game of sorts. The Gumshoes face a board of important places and landmarks of a city somewhere in the world. The object is to find the Loot (what was stolen), the Warrant, and Crook in that respected order behind the landmarks to win the game.

Endgame: The winning Gumshoe gets the chance to capture crime boss Carmen Sandiego by playing on a big map that resemble some part of the world (North America, South America, Europe, or Asia). The object is place a marker (with a Red Light on top and a wheel on the bottom) on an area of the map that corresponds with the clue given. If correct the marker lights up, and the Gumshoe is given two chances per clue. If they get 7 right within 45 seconds they win a trip anywhere in the lower 48 states (expanded to include North America in season 2).

One of things that made this show popular was the A cappella group called Rockappella. The theme song was done by the group, and they also and did a short song for each of Carman's crooks. Expected for the first season they were no musical instruments used. Rockappella is still working doing commercials for Folgers, and Almond Joy/Mounds. Hopefully someone will do a revival for this show although it would have been nice to have Lynn Thigpen to play the chief. Sadly she passed away recently and she brought something to show as the chief/announcer/antagonist. You really respect her and loved her in the role she played. She was tough, but had a heart of gold

Lynn Thigpen may you rest in peace.

In season 33 Sesame Street took a page from newer children's shows and adapted their show in way the children can understand what is being presented to them. In turn Sesame Street showed things in a series of 'segment blocks.' Most were seen everyday while other segments were seen every other day. Season 34 sticks to that format which gave Sesame Street a shot in the arm that it needed much to the dismay of those who grew up on the show in the 70's and 80's and even the early 90's. For season 34 certain elements of the program have been changed and are an improvement from last season.

The "Street Story" is shown at the beginning of the show right after the show's opening sequence rather than aproxmently 10 minutes into the show as it was done last season. As with last season the story is done in one complete segment and has a beginning, a problem, a resolution, and end.

Grover Monster gets his own segment called "Global Grover" and Grover introduces us to children around the world and a taste of their culture. It's seen from time to time.

The daily hide and seek game "Journey to Ernie" with Big Bird and Ernie returns with new rules. The Red, Blue, and Yellow Box with a Rubber Duckie on the box has been scraped and the game is done on one segment in one animated environment with no cut aways from the game as it was done last season. The animated environments range from the beach, to a land of music. Big Bird must use his listening and observations skills to find Ernie. That can range from listen to clues, or listen for certain quarks in Ernie's personality such as his laugh or Ernie squeezing his duckie.

The "Monster Time" segment has been discontinued. However "Monster Clubhouse" shows up once an awhile.

Speaking of Monster Clubhouse their are other returning segments. That would include Number of the Day with Count Von Count, Letter of the Day with Cookie Monster, Spanish Word of the Day, and last but FAR from least Elmo's World.

Those who wish for the old times of Sesame Street will still not be happy with the changes with the show. Keep in mind that the old Sesame Street is long gone and that the current audience has gotten younger. Don't forget that Sesame Street set the standard for children's TV especially at the preschool level. With shows like Blue's Clues, and Teletubbies, that standard was taken to new levels. Sesame Street had to adapt to what those shows were during. Now the concern is that children get everything done at once rather than breaking away for commercials or cut away pieces as Sesame Street did in the past. Sesame Street has evolved and adapted to the needs of it's audience and will continue to do so. Not every show can be like "Mister Rogers Neighborhood" which was able to stick to its format for the duration if it's run. Season 34 is an improvement to its block format from last season.

The Mr. Rogers you saw pay a television visit to your house was the same Mr. Rogers in real life should you ever have run into him. On the night of writing this we lost Fred Rogers who passed away at the age of 74 years of age. His show took the basics of 1950's TV production and stayed with it even since. It was all about having a conversation with his TV friend. In broadcasting you may speak to many people, but speak as only one person was talking to you.

His first show was the Children's Corner (1953-61) which featured a woman by the name of Josie Carry. Although he got hosting credit, he never appeared in front of the camera, but rather was the puppeteer. The Children's Corner developed most of his puppet characters including Daniel Stripped Tiger, Henrietta Pussycat, X the Owl, and King Friday XIII. The Children's Corner was done live at Non-Commercial TV station WQED in Pittsburgh. It was a fun show if anything, and Josie and the puppets talk about Mr. Rogers a lot.

After Children's Corner he moved to Canada and did a show simply called Mister Rogers (1962-64), and it was first time he was on camera. The show was 15 minutes but it developed something which we know now as the Neighborhood of Make-believe. This Neighborhood was the majority of this short show, but Fred Rogers would appear at the beginning and ending of the program, and he would show off a few things before he had "make-believe" with the viewers. Usually it was some kind of vehicle that takes us to the Make-believe world.

In 1966 Fred returned to WQED and all that he developed would come together and Mister Rogers Neighborhood signs on the air for the first time. Fred wrote and sang shows for the show, and he showed fun things to the audience. His trips to the Neighborhood of Make Believe incorporated storylines about how people (and puppets) no matter how hard they try they should just try to be themselves and deal with live life issues in the fantasy world. Mr. Rogers also took us around the TV neighborhood on soundstages at first but the post 1979 shows took us to actual places in the real world.

Fred Rogers never liked TV for himself, but he knew how to use it to make an impact on people, and impact he did. He did most of the writhing on the show, nobody would dare tell him what to do, not saying they would. I would have loved to meet him myself, but I will never get that chance. He didn't care about being a celebrity. Just someone who cared about people and try to a "neighbor" to them.

Rest In Peace.

The plot line of this Power Ranger series is very good. Ninja Schools from all over the world have been destroyed by a former ninja student named Lothor who after being cast off the planet for turning to evil. Lothor has kidnapped ninja students from all over the world and has turned his former sensei literary into a Guinea Pig. The only hope that the sensei Guinea Pig and his son Cam have are three slacker students of their own ninja school. They now have now have the powers of the Wind Power Rangers and their true potential is now put to the test for they hold the fate of the world in their hands.

This series is somewhat of a take off of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I say cause of the personalities of the Wind Rangers and that their mentor who is an animal and looks cartoonish but the personality is very wise (not to mention the Rangers mistake him for a rat in the first episode). PR Ninja Storm also mirrors the original Mighty Morpin series in several ways.

First the Wind Rangers must shout out a command in order to morph. In MMPR the Rangers called out the name of their Dinosaur or prehistoric animal to change into Ranger form. Here they must shout out "Ninja Storm Ranger Form" in order to morph. Other Power Ranger series had a shout out before the Rangers morphed, but it was window dressing sort of speak. "MMPR had a mentor who was bound in a cylinder (Zordon) and a robotic helper (Alpha 5). Ninja storm has a mentor who is bound by an animal form but helped by his son who is a techno wiz so you have the same concept but done differently. Alpha 5 was skeptical at times of the Rangers but Zordon had faith. Cam is the same way but his dad believes in the Wind Rangers, and he might have expelled them from his school had this crisis not come up. So far only two episodes have aired and the rival Thunder Rangers are suppose to show up in episode 3.

With the way Power Rangers follows the Super Sentai counterpart by changing it every year, expect development of all the characters and maybe some key revelations about some of them incorporated into the storyline. Allready Grant McFarland is pulling a dual role of the voice the senei GP and Lothor. Could it be that they are related? Hopful their will be a all compsing storyline and a great climax at the end of this PR series. It shows some promice.

When Bill Cosby told the audience that they may learn something before the show was done, he really meant it. "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids" was a perfect fit with Lou Scheimer's philosophy in Children's TV. In fact it was the most successful show for Scheimer's Flimation Production company in which many of the shows they produced had educational elements to the show and most of time very cheesy story writing.

Fat Albert was down to earth. The show was based on Cosby's childhood and some of his stand-up routines about Fat Albert. In the show Albert and his friends would learn about life and how to better their lives and those around them. Their were frequency live-action cut aways in which Cosby himself would deliver some commentary about what was happening in the story. At the end of the show a song was featured that reinforced the lesson in the episode.

By the late 70's the show was retooled and ending song was replaced by Science Fiction shorts which featured a space hero called the "Brown Hornet" which was seen at the beginning of the show. The Hornet shorts featured an educational message to Fat Albert, his friends, and the real life audience. That message was reinforced in an everyday situation that Albert and his friends would deal with. Cosby continued with live-action cut aways as in the original version of the show.

Flimation may have not been the greatest production company when it comes to kids TV, but they did have a few great shows under their belt. "Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids" was one of them. In fact their were the best of Flimation's best

With a few year of commercial TV under their belt, the two movie critics make one more change of producers/distributors. They made to the move to Disney and their stayed with them ever since. Their years with Disney help their "Two Thumbs Up" trademark really stick in viewers' heads. Even if you never watched the show, you could see it in movie advertisements.

Disney also give Siskel and Ebert a classic look to their program regarding their movie theater balcony set, and the graphics that were used. The opening titles were also great in which we see Siskel and Ebert finishing up at work, and heading off to meet with each other. Along with Siskel gets thumbs up from a cab driver, and Ebert gets some thumbs up from customers at an eatery. Siskel and Ebert have fun with other when two trucks come to drop off some papers. One truck says "Read Gene Siskel" along with Siskel's picture on the truck. But Ebert bites back with a truck a picture of his own that reads "Trust Roger Ebert."

That got played on a promo for the show in which Siskel and Ebert have a day at the movies together but they try to out due each other. For instance one saves a seat a the show but the other steals it. At the end their all smiles when someone tries to take a picture of them and comes out like their were the best of friends.

Sadly this relationship would come to an end with the passing of Siskel in 1999. The show lost its magic for the most part but it still has gas with Roeper in Siskel's place (See my review on Ebert & Roeper).

You may agree or disagree with them but you have to admit, Siskel & Ebert from two rival newspapers made a great team and their contributions to movie industry will forever be remembered.

The loss of Gene Siskel put to end one of greatest TV relationships. That being Siskel along with Roger Ebert. These two movie critics who worked for rival newspapers in Chicago (Siskel worked at the Tribune, and Ebert work for the Sun-Times) were put together to see if they could work together. Indeed they worked very well. So well they had to switch producers/distributors TWICE, and by the time they did they show for Disney their "Two Thumbs Up" became the standard in movie industry.

Now Richard Roeper has taken on Gene Siskel role, with the power of the "Thumb" along with it. Roeper is not Siskel and nor should he be. Unlike Siskel, Roeper also works at the Sun-Times along with Ebert, and because of this someone might ask can Roeper think for himself? Indeed Roeper can and quite frequently these two critics can give a split vote on movies. Roeper also gives the audience that is someone younger to interact with an elder critic. Roeper was in his teens when Siskel and Ebert started their TV friendship

The show itself is done at a faster pace and their Thumb up/down is shown during the review as well as at recap of the show. The set is now a hybrid of an average TV Set and a Movie theater balcony. Who would put video monitors in the back of a movie theater anyway LOL.

Ebert and Roeper will never be a `Siskel & Ebert' but it does show the movie review program still has some gas in the tank left. How much? I don't know, just enjoy the ride. Even I think their are both nuts at times. Most movie critics are.

With Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert becoming house hold names their popularity forced the duo to move from public TV and commercial TV. Tribune who Ebert worked for was ready willing and able to bring not only Ebert but his TV partner Siskel as well, along with their weekly discussions about current movies playing. The show was titled "At the Movies" which was taken from their closing while they were working for WTTW-TV, their local PBS outlet who got them started.

"At The Movies" was the show that introduced the viewers to their "Thumbs Up/Down" trademark, but it not become popular during the years at Tribune but rather when Siskel & Ebert made to move to Disney which they eventually did. They took the Thumbs but could not take the "At the Movies" phase in tow.

Tribune replaced them with Rex Reed and Bill Harris. The later would be replaced by female movie critic named Dixie Whatley. At the Movies however ran out of gas quickly than Sneak Previews did. The programming was really more of a stepping stone for Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert and their rise to fame.

You have to give the show credit for putting Siskel and Ebert in the original opening of the program, in which both wait in line with other people to go to a show. Best part is when one has a briefcase with refreshments inside. The other goes for notes from a vending machine. Then both quietly go up to the balcony (It's closed), and then take their usual places in begin their show.

In the mid 1970's, public television station WTTW/Chicago wanted to do a movie review program which was unheard of at the time. This show was called "Coming Soon to a Theater near You" and it paired two movie critics from two rival newspapers in Chicago. Gene Siskel from the Tribune and Roger Ebert of the Sun-Times.

Coming Soon... started out as a local show for WTTW, but the show's popularity caught the attention of PBS, who wanted to distribute the show nationally. Coming Soon... changed its name to "Sneak Previews" and the rest is history.

Siskel and Ebert would discuss the current movies that were playing and one of the best parts of their show is where they disagree on film in which one liked and the other lumped it. Keep in mind however that their trademark "Thumbs Up/Down" was not used here. Rather they used a basic Yes/No regarding their take on the movies. For example when recapping the movies you would see a Yes or No on screen and who said. Something like, Ebert: Yes, Siskel: Yes. Not as great as "Two Thumbs Up" but you get the drift.

Siskel and Ebert had a very strong following. A little too strong however and the two had to grow and to do that they had to move to commercial TV. WTTW remained committed to the show and brought in Neal Gabler and Jeffery Lyons to review the movies. In 1985 Gabler was replaced by Michael Medved who brought a conservative slant on the movies.

Sneak Previews had difficulties trying to reclaim its popularity without Siskel & Ebert. It switched to cable and back to PBS in mid 80's. In the late 80's/early 90's Sneak Previews switched its focus on movies on home video rather than at the theater, and then going back to the original format more/less before Sneak Previews ended its run for good in 1996.

Lyons and Medved were critics in their own right, and conservative thinking people that wanted a different slant on the movies had Medved on their side. However that was not enough to keep the show going.

If anything Sneak Previews brought the ideal of movie review shows to the little screen. Without Sneak Previews their would not be a "Siskel & Ebert."

Sesame Street really got a makeover for its 33rd season, mainly because of the competitive environment of Pre-School TV, and how they learn things in this day in age. The show is now blocked into these segments in order.

Greeting of the day: Big Bird and the Sesame Street neighbors' great the viewers and either tell jokes play a game and/or sing a song.

Monster Time: In this segment either shorts with the classic Sesame Street monsters are shown (Grover, Elmo, Rosita etc.) or a new feature called "Monster Clubhouse" in which four new monsters give preschoolers a crash course in what goes on in a typical preschool day.

Number of the Day: The Count hosts this segment (who else could do it better on Sesame Street) in which he uses a special counting organ to find what the number of the day is. The segment is followed up with live-action and animated sketches which help the viewers give a better understanding of the numbers.

Street Story: The story of the day is now done in one complete segment rather than scatted throughout the whole show as it was done in the past. It seems that preschoolers don't like things interrupted but other things and messages (commercials or not). The stories teach everything from cooperation, friendship, feelings, problem solving etc.

Journey to Ernie: Big Bird and the viewers play a virural reality game in trying to find Ernie who hides in a box that resembles his red, yellow, and blue striped shirt with his rubber duckie in front of it. The catch is it may not be the first or second boxes that contain Ernie. The game begins a park and when BB is transported to other virtual environments and perform certain skills in order to find the box (memory recall, singing a song, doing a certain skill etc.). If a box is found and does not have Ernie inside then a clip or segment is featured ranging from a special song or a kid that does something special, after which the game continues. When Ernie is finally found then a sketch and/or song with Ernie is featured (sometimes with partner Bert).

Hero Guy: If Monster Clubhouse was not done in the Monstertime segment, then we see a sketch with Baby Bear and his imagery creation Hero Guy, in which they both learn about art, imagination, and problem solving. Don't expect this to turn into a 'Big Bird's imaginary friend' running gag. For those who complain about outing Snuffy this segement gives a fantasy friend to Baby Bear, and he is not going to try to prove that Hero Guy is real.

Letter of the Day: Cookie Monster is given the honor of hosting this segment by showing cookies that have a letter on them. The problem is Cookie eventually gives in to his instincts and eats the cookie. The clips after Cookie Monster's attempt to teach letters will help viewers learn the sounds and recognition of the letters themselves.

Spanish Word of the Day: Rosita along with Grover, Big Bird, and others on the street teach a Spanish word in a way that can be understood.

Elmo's World: This guy should get his very own show and I am not joking. In the meantime Elmo encourages to learn about all kinds of things like Mail, Music, computers etc. Elmo focuses on one subject to help kids understand what Elmo is inquisitive about on the day's segment.

Some complain that Sesame Street is not what it used to be, but keep in mind its own show anymore. It's now for OUR kids, and Sesame Street is forever programming to 2 to 5 year olds. With some many shows for preschooler out their Sesame Street is one of the few survivors today and don't be surprised if it's still on for another 33 years teaching the basics of numbers, letters etc.

Based on the Nintendo video game this show takes place on a far away planet called Popstar. Popstar is constantly bombarded by monsters that are ordered by Popstar's ruler King Dedede (pronounced De-De-De).

The monsters are part of an evil corporation called Night Mare Enterprises headed by a figure called NME who is determined to enslave the universe. Popstar's only hope is a Star Warrior who goes by the name of Kirby.

Kirby does come to Popstar but at the wrong time. Kirby is a baby and does not have the fighting experience. To make matter worse Dedede is not found of Kirby and is determined to take out Kirby for good with NME's help. Followers of the Kirby games know that Dedede is the main villian.

However a girl named Tiff who is very strong willed does her best to protect Kirby. She is helped by her brother Tuff (most of the time), and by Meta Knight who is a Star Warrior himself and one of few warriors left after losing to Night Mare Enterprises. Together they help Kirby in perfecting his skills and to be the light of hope to defeat NME.

Kirby for the most part is played of laughs since this show is produced by Nintendo and 4Kids (who also produce Pokemon), but it still good fun. If your fan of the Kirby video game series you might enjoy this fun cartoon show.

After creating the Avengers (which would hit prime time with Diana Rigg during the mid 1960's), Sydney Newman created a Science Fiction TV series for BBC which was indented for the kiddy set but was destiny to be a Science Fiction legend that would run for 22 years on British TV.

The show was about a time traveler who is known as the Doctor. Traveling though time and space on what looks like a police box on the outside but a much bigger ship on the inside. As he traveled he also gets involved in many of the affairs of other planets fighting evil where ever it can be found. What helped in the shows long run was the Daleks even though they did not plan on having any monsters on Doctor Who and giving the main character the ability to change his appearance or regeneration with an appearance, the unique way for changing the actors in the lead role. Unlike the James Bond movies, the "Best Doctor" went to the fourth actor to play the role by the name of Tom Baker. Baker's Doctor had a love for dressing in long scarf's and coats, along with a brimmed hat. When Doctor Who first aired in the United States they began with the Tom Baker shows. The original Doctor played by William Hartnell was more a grandfatherly Doctor that can get easily angered if offended.

By the 1980's Doctor Who is getting out of vogue but it hung it until 1989 and then its 22 year run came to an end. Although Doctor Who was not known for great special effects, it was very well written and that really made Doctor Who what it was and what it will be. Doctor Who is to the U.K. what Star Trek is to the U.S. A great show for any Whovian (Doctor Who fan) on both sides of the world and then some.

This latest cartoon show for PBS takes place in cyberspace in which is full of societies in their own right. Cyberspace is governed by a program called Motherboard, and Dr. Marbles makes sure she is able to function. However one of Dr. Marbles own creations called The Hacker is determined to destroy Motherboard and become ruler of Cyberspace. To do this he creates three henchmen, Buzz, Delete, and Digit. The latter of the three betrays his evil creator and sides with Motherboard.

However Motherboard's encrypted chip becomes missing after and she is at risk of being completely deleted. To that end Motherboard recruits three kids from our reality. The kids along with Digit use math and solve puzzle skills in their quest to find the chip and to defeat The Hacker.

Cyberchase is one of the first PBS Kids shows to try to play on the good vs. evil cartoon/kids shows but at the same time try to inject educational information. Cyberchase is more than just the basic and higher math; it also makes uses of common math and puzzles in everyday life.

Their is also a 'Cyberchase for Real' segment in which everyday young people deal with mathematical puzzles and problems and everyday life. Like finding out how far it would take to get to someone's house by bike, rather than a

car.

Cyberchase is a fun way to present math, and shows some of very basics of math. It may not help those who have troubles with it, but it is still a fun show to watch.

Beginning with this Power Ranger series. It adapts the Super Sentai completely. Even though PR In Space did a good job of bringing in. After the first show you no longer see Bulk and Skull which has been the comic relief on PR for too long. It has also let go of past villains which got resolved in PR In Space. It also shows some real development with the characters both heroes and villains. It also delivers an overall storyline to the series just as PR In Space did. Even though the Japanese show Gingaman (which Lost Galaxy was based on) took place on Earth while LG took place on a Space Station that looked like a metropolis from inside it still showed that Power Rangers has finally grew up. Yes they are cheesy monsters but Sentai had those for years. But now Lost Galaxy shows that the characters do deal with trauma and personal struggles like the loss of a brother (one of the storylines that matched with Gingaman), and even the heroes don't quite make it. One example was Pink Galaxy Ranger Kendrix Morgan who gave her life to save Pink Space Ranger Cassie in the crossover episode. It also shows how some of villains can really be bad especially during Lost Galaxy's climax. You may say this does not belong in kiddy TV, but this was done in Japan for many years.

PR Lost Galaxy does give PR what it needs to run for many years, and give Super Sentai fans what they really want. A beginning, a middle, a great ending and great wrap-up, and then a new set of power rangers and villians to do it all over again.

This Power Ranger series was weaker compared to Zeo. Although the footage from Carranger was used Turbo had a different storyline. This show picks up were the American movie Turbo left off. A space pirate named Divatox plots revenge against the Turbo Rangers for defeating Maligore, A demon who she planned to marry. Basically Divatox not only sends out monsters she also likes to use explosive on a constant basis.

This PR series had a lack of plot with the exception of some good stories but Carrangers had the overall better storyline. Also while Carrangers had to great climax, this one had a cliffhanger which would go into the next PR series, 'Power Rangers In Space.' At least PR In Space would finally get into the kind of stories that Sentai done for years.

Being with Power Rangers Zeo Saban joins Japanese counterpart Toei in tradition of changing the Power Rangers every year. Zeo more/less follow its counter part 'Super Task Force' regarding the shows villains The 'Machine Empire' and plot to have machines take over Earth. However it still does not quite follow the show and still is in a MMPR mode. However adapting to the Senati tradition beginning with Zeo is a great start. A few bumps in the road but Power Rangers is getting their.