THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 24, 1994 TAG: 9412220045
SECTION: TELEVISION WEEK PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY BONKO, TELEVISION COLUMNIST
LENGTH: Long : 109 lines
INDEPENDENT STATION WGNT in Portsmouth, which will make a giant scheduling leap when it joins the United Paramount Network Jan. 16, begins taking baby steps in local programming this weekend when ``On Cue'' hits the road for two holiday shows.
Channel 27 is probably light years away from establishing a local newscast but that hasn't stopped promotions/community relations director Jeanne Pennington and her colleague, Gerald Walsh, from starting up a half hour with a newsy look to it. ``On Cue,'' hosted by Walsh, 23, started off with a dreadful 6 a.m. time slot on Sundays but moves Jan. 22 to 11 a.m.
``On Cue'' tonight at 7 gets its best exposure ever right after ``Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' with a show that has Walsh reporting from Chrysler Hall. He'll talk about a shopper's 12 days of Christmas, among other subjects.
Following at 7:30, WGNT will carry a Chrysler Hall holiday concert by the Air Combat Command Heritage of America Band.
On Christmas Day at 2 p.m., ``On Cue'' takes its cameras to Colonial Williamsburg for a program that includes sports and a preview of the New Year's Eve social scene in Hampton Roads. At 2:30, the Air Force band will again be seen on Channel 27, this time in concert from the Colonial capital.
Would you call ``On Cue'' a magazine show? Not quite, said Pennington. ``We consider it to be local infotainment.''
Other local programming worth noting: WVEC dispatched a crew including reporter Joe Flanagan to the Middle East recently to visit crewmen aboard ships of the carrier Eisenhower's battle group. The Navy Christmas special airs tonight at 7 and again Christmas Day at 9 a.m.
What would Christmas be without Channel 13 delivering greetings from afar to Navy and Marine Corps dependents in Hampton Roads? It's been a tradition for over a decade.
And what would Christmas be on TV without a showing of ``Santa Claus Conquers the Martians''? The Sci-Fi Channel has it scheduled for today at 2 p.m. and again at 3 a.m.
Shouldn't Christmas always be as Norman Rockwell painted it? That would be so nice. Just in case you've forgotten what a traditional, snowy Yule is all about, catch ``A Norman Rockwell Christmas'' on The Discovery Channel tonight at 8. There'll be a 170-voice choir on hand to make it sound real seasonal.
You want more Christmas programming? You got it.
Tonight at 9, PBS and WHRO air ``Christmas: The Movies'' with Gene Kelly showing you what a wonderful life it's been in Hollywood around the holidays. On Sunday at 4 p.m., PBS has scheduled a Christmas special with Luciano Pavarotti. Also on Christmas Day, PBS revives ``A Christmas Carol'' for a 1990s' audience at 8 with ``Bah Humbug!'' hosted by Robert MacNeil. Get reacquainted with Charles Dickens and the era in which he lived.
Bravo will present ``The Nutcracker'' Christmas Day at 11:05 p.m. and repeat it Thursday at 9 p.m. . . . AMC, the commercial-free movie channel, observes the holdays with a Bing Crosby marathon. At 2:15 today, see the flick that named a hotel chain, ``Holiday Inn.'' . . . VH-1 and MTV signed up Mariah Carey for holiday specials. She appears in ``Mariah's Christmas'' on VH-1 tonight at 8 and 11 and again Christmas Day at 10 a.m. MTV runs ``Christmas with Mariah Carey'' Christmas Day at 11 a.m. That's a lot of Mariah . . . The Disney Channel begins two days of holiday shows and specials today at 3:30 p.m. with ``Holiday Time at Disneyland.''
When Christmas is over, what then? What does the couch potato do with all that vacation time between Christmas and New Year's Day?
On Wednesday at 8 p.m., NBC brings back one of the coolest shows of 1994, ``TV Nation,'' hosted by the funny and irreverent Michael Moore. NBC must find space for this series on its weekly schedule. It's deliciously offbeat.
In this special, Moore goes to Washington, D.C., looking for a list of countries that need invading by friendly U.S. troops. He also considers the problems of keeping the president safe and secure in the White House and pokes fun at corporate America, which is how Moore made his reputation.
Welcome back, Michael.
Major League Baseball in the 1990s is becoming a fast-fading memory. So what better time than now to get nostaligic? ESPN on Christmas Day has a corker of a special for baseball fans, ``Voices of the Game,'' a 90-minute visit with the great play-by-play broadcasters. It's on at noon.
You bet you'll hear Russ Hodges' broadcast of the moment in 1951 when the New York Giants came from way behind in the standings and won the pennant, won the pennant, won the pennant! Mel Allen, Harry Caray and Vince Scully appear.
I doubt if there is a better documentary series on network TV than ``World of Discovery'' on ABC. Come to think of it, is there any other regularly scheduled documentary series on network TV? ``Discovery'' is back Thursday at 9 p.m. with ``Lion: Africa's King of Beasts.''
James Brolin hosts the show about the hunting and family ways of the big cats which prowl in Tanaznia. See the lions' courtship up close.
Wednesday at 9 p.m. on CBS, a group of distinguished Americans, including actor Kirk Douglas, singer Aretha Franklin and Broadway producer Hal Prince, take their bows for a lifetime of achievement on ``The Kennedy Center Honors: A GM Mark of Excellence Presentation.'' Douglas says the nicest thing about this honor is that you don't have to make a speech.
``You just sit in the president's box trying to look worthy and enjoy the show,'' he said. Douglas has appeared in 80 films in a 50-year career.
And starting today at 9 a.m., Casey Kasem brings his countdown of the hits to E! Entertainment Television when a new series, ``Casey's Top Ten,'' premieres. You've heard him counting down to the Top 10 songs on radio. Now see ol' Case do it on cable.
The best gift that viewers will be receiving from Santa this holiday season is the return of ``TV Nation'' on NBC. ILLUSTRATION: Curtis Archives color drawing
"A Norman Rockwell Christmas" brings holiday scenes from America's
beloved artist to loife, with the help of ;the 170-voice Pacific
Chorale, at 8 p.m. Saturday on DSC.
Photo
Joe Flanagan brings greetings from the Eisenhower battle group.
by CNB