What was so funny? Why was everyone at the editorial meeting laughing?
“It sounds like a tough day-staying at home, watching TV and eating bonbons,” one of them finally said. They all began to laugh again.
Time to gather up my dignity, if I still had any. “It happens to be a difficult assignment, watching Channel 13 all day, and writing about all the programs,” I said.
They were laughing again. Something about my couch-potato day. I decided to ignore them. Some people, I told myself, just didn’t understand how hard it was to research articles.
Wednesday, December 13:
I spent eight hours in front of the television set, from nine to five. I saw children’s programs, painting programs, cooking programs. Learned about math, pioneers on the Colorado frontier, and architecture. It was wonderful. I’m ready to do it again, anytime.
In these eight hours, I saw: ‧ A series that actually makes math interesting. Aimed at children from eight to 12, Square One TV(10:30 a.m. weekdays) is remarkable. It’s funny and creative, from its short segments on “Suds” (billed as TV’s only biodegradable soap opera) to mysteries solved on “Mathnet” (“the names have been changed but the problems are real”).
Then there are Tony and the Togas, the Roman Empire’s top singing group. (“I love you guys,” their shaggy-haired manager Cassius keeps insisting. “Didn’t I book you into the Coliseum?”) Crooning their soon-to-be hit song, “The Mathematics of Love ” Tony and his group learn that “IV” has nothing to do with a medical procedure and everything to do with a certain Roman numeral.
‧ An entertaining, philosophical painter. Besides showing viewers how to paint a floral display, Lowell Speers on The Art of William Alexander and Lowell Speers (11 a.m.) issues bits and pieces of advice. “It’s only when I’ve finished a painting that I’m not happy with myself,” he says sadly. “But I think we all have to learn to live with that”
‧ Rowdy animals performing “Robin Hood” On Zoobilee Zoo, one of Channel 13’s most popular children’s programs, Bravo the Fox is directing the other animals in a play, the cast cavorts and laughs at him. It reminds me of the editorial meeting.
‧Jeff Smith playing second fiddle in the kitchen. It happened the day violinist Itzhak Perlman showed up to cook with The Frugal Gourmet (2 p.m.). Preparing the chopped liver and chicken soup of his childhood, Perlman tosses in as many bon mots as spices. “Chopped liver is supposed to raise your cholesterol quickly,” Perlman says cheerfully, frying the liver in fat. “That way, you’ll have a heart attack quickly.”
A rap group talking about the number “15.” Only on Sesame. Street (9 a.m.), of course. Where els
A chef who only grudgingly touts low-fat products. Preparing fondue, Microwave Master’s (3:30 p.m.) buoyant and chatty Donovan Jon Fandre issues a few caveats. “If you find low-fat cheese, avoid it,” he says. “It taste awful
All of this -and information on the pioneering Donner party, architectural insights, cuisine rapide, acrylic painting and more. As Itzhak Perlman commented, looking at one of his culinary creations, “PBS is great. Where else can you see chicken soup like that?”
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