Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 3, 1993 TAG: 9309170433
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: SCOTT WILLIAMS ASSOCIATED PRESS|
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
It is the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. Its panels stand in the background, bearing silent witness to music performances, standups by hosts Arsenio Hall and Paula Abdul or cameos from more than a dozen stars.
That special touch helps make ``In a New Light '93'' something more profound and more emotionally resonant than a well-made, well-intentioned effort by talented performers.
``In a New Light '93'' connects you with human stories about people trying to stop the spread of AIDS with creative prevention programs, true; but it also gives you music, entertainment and solid information about AIDS.
Lily Tomlin, as her snorting, horse-faced telephone operator Ernestine, dishes the comedic dirt on an AIDS hot line, dispensing advice and instructions to the ignorant or unwary callers.
Country music's Clint Black sings and picks his six-string, unplugged, and Melissa Etheridge debuts a song, and there are performances from Elton John, Barry Manilow, Pat Benatar, Patti Austin, Expose and Silk.
Despite the sugarcoating, ``In a New Light '93'' offers bitter medicine.
The issues it covers include the CDC's most recent AIDS statistics; information on how you can or cannot get infected with HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus; how to prevent HIV; and what it's like to live with it.
This is the second ``In a New Light'' for its creator, executive producer Joe Lovett, who became an independent producer in 1989 after a 10-year stint as a producer for ABC's ``20-20.''
``I've done a lot of stories about AIDS, and people would ask me, `Doesn't it upset you doing these stories?' '' Lovett said. ``And I'd say, `No. The disease - the DISEASE has me on the verge of tears, often.'
``But being able to do a story gives me a feeling that I'm doing something against the disease, doing something to combat it. If I can give other people opportunities where they can help combat this epidemic, I think that relieves the pressure on all of us, to some extent.''
There's another touch that makes this special special.
``In a New Light '93'' is being supported by the federal Centers for Disease Control, and the show encourages viewers to call the CDC's AIDS hot line (1-800-342-AIDS) to ask questions and get good answers.
``Of course, we have the classics again this year - Elizabeth Taylor, Lily Tomlin.'' Lovett said. ``But we have a dreadful epidemic of AIDS among teen-agers - the fastest-growing group. So we're trying to reach those teen-agers without alienating older viewers.
``We're walking that fine line, trying to appeal to everyone, and the segments that appeal to the kids have to keep the gatekeepers interested,'' he said.
``People in their 40s, 50s and 60s need to be watching this show because they make the decisions about what information gets to the schools, what programs get funded, and whether kids get sex education in schools,'' Lovett said.
``We want them to understand what's going on with their kids today,'' he said, noting that of 12 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases reported last year, 10 million were among people aged 15 to 29.
``Our concept in all of this has been that people are so overwhelmed by the AIDS epidemic that they're stunned into inaction,'' Lovett said. ``They don't really see what we can do about this incurable disease.
``Well, there's so much we can do, if only being to call a friend and say, `I feel bad that you're sick and I haven't called you. What can I do?'
``From that, you can get to volunteering for one of the service organizations, or giving money, or being a fund-raiser yourself, or just getting more involved. It's very important to give people that power.''
\ Elsewhere in tv ...
TIMESHIFTERS ALERT!: One of the most honest, touching movies about the black middle class ever made airs Monday on Bravo, the cable arts channel. In ``To Sleep With Anger,'' director Charles Burnett showcases Danny Glover as the two-faced, superstitious rustic Harry Mention, who disrupts the family of his old friend (Paul Butler) on a visit to Los Angeles. If you enjoyed HBO's fine miniseries ``Laurel Avenue,'' you'll probably enjoy ``To Sleep with Anger'' even more.
by CNB