THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 25, 1996 TAG: 9603230055
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
KIDS WATCH too much television. They should read more. That's what I think.
So, why am I here today suggesting your youngsters spend another 30 minutes before the tube?
Because the TV show I recommend will encourage children to read, learn, educate themselves and not go out into the cold, cruel world unprepared.
The series is ``Wishbone'' on PBS. WHRO airs it weekdays at 4:30 p.m.
It's about a dog who introduces children to great books. What they do is dress up the dog in costumes, including a suit of armor, and plunk him down in scenes from some of the world's best-known books and stories told by Native Americans.
Wishbone hangs around the library in a town called Oakdale. The books there fire up his imagination. One day, he was Sancho Panza in ``Don Quixote.'' He was a hoot in a ``Phantom of the Opera'' bit. You can catch him as Tom Sawyer this afternoon.
``Wishbone serves as a bridge between life and literature,'' executive producer Rick Duffield said not long ago when he introduced Wishbone the wonder dog to TV writers in Los Angeles.
Perhaps you and your children have already discovered ``Wishbone,'' which is in its second season on PBS. You might like to know more about the dog with the enormous brown eyes who may be the best actor with four legs on television.
Wishbone's real name is Soccer.
He is trained by Jackie Kaptan. Larry Brantley does his voice, including dialects as when Wishbone played Sherlock Holmes. Kaptan once worked for Frank Inn, the man who trained Benji.
There are three Wishbones on ``Wishbone.'' There is Soccer, a Jack Russell terrier, and his two stunt doubles.
``Soccer is not particularly fond of water,'' said Duffield. ``His stunt double does all our water shots.''
And they do put makeup on Soccer.
``Makeup that's been tested safe for animals,'' said Kaptan. There is a representative from an animal humane organization on the set at all times to see that no harm comes to the dogs.
Some animal lovers may find that dressing up a dog in costumes and having him work long hours on a TV set destroys his dignity and takes away his freedom.
To such criticism, Kaptan answers, ``We would do nothing to jeopardize this dog mentally or physically. He's our best friend.''
And he has quite a wardrobe.
He's been dressed from head to tail for ``Romeo and Juliet,'' ``Oliver Twist,'' Homer's ``Odysseus'' and ``The Inspector General.'' Soccer isn't just another pretty face.
They've had him firing a musket, using a bow and arrow, sailing on a raft, riding horseback and flying through the air, plus doing really easy stuff for such a bright pooch - picking flowers and climbing a ladder.
``He's very agile and has a good memory,'' said his trainer. Soccer's reward is snacks. Beef and chicken. Ginger snaps.
``Wishbone'' is a cute idea and fun to watch although it's slow going at times for kids like me with a short attention span. But is it working?
``Our research with children 5 to 13 tells us that 90 percent can remember the title of the book, its author, the main character and basic story after watching our show,'' said Duffield.
``Our purpose is to motivate children to pick up a book, to familiarize themselves with books, to make it so a book is not a strange object.''
Are the kids of Hampton Roads getting the message?'' Said WHRO promotion manager Rosalyn Teichroew, ``While he isn't Barney, Wishbone's popularity has been growing.''
If your kids are watching TV at 4:30 this afternoon, tell them to forget ``Alvin and the Chipmunks'' or ``The Brady Bunch'' and catch ``Wishbone.'' One day, they might thank you for helping them appreciate books. by CNB