The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 51

TELEVISION Mm smgl tlSf I I I it If Cowboys lasso a winner. just for the record By KEVIN SADLIER ONCE upon a time, two young out-of-work Aussies went to see a certain television executive with an idea for a fast-paced program based on world records ranging from the trivial to the tremendous. "Get out of here, you're just a couple of cowboys," he told them. So the two young Aussies, who had been out of work since the demise of Simon Townsend's Wonder World, went away and formed their own production company called A Couple 'A Cowboys. Then they went calling on another TV executive, at Channel 10, who liked their idea for a record-breaking program so much that be gave them a contract to make umpteen shows and they are now contemplating world rights for the series as well.

And now Phillip Tanner and Brett Clements are laughing all the way to the bank. Little wonder then, that Brett and Phillip looked so pleased with themselves while sipping Veuve Clicquot champagne at the Channel 10 launch party for their new program, Just For The Record, this week. And, just for the record, the party unveiled a new world record when a sliding wall at the party venue, the Sebel Townhouse ballroom, revealed the world's largest champagne fountain which had been painstakingly assembled by Sydney publicist Max Markson from 13,605 traditional long stem champagne flutes (according to the Guinness Book of Records, the old world record was a mere 10,404 glasses). That 6.46 metre tower of champagne glasses will, of course, feature in a future episode of Just For The Record but, in the meantime, viewers can see the world's tallest policeman and a pair of high-diving mules in the premiere edition of the show on Channel 10 at 730 pm on Tuesday. The world's tallest policeman, Sergeant Pembrook Burrows, from Florida, was flown out to Australia by Channel 10 to join the producers and presenters at the launch party.

Just for the record, he's 2.1 metres tall. A-. By LUCY CLARK MANY Queenslanders have been glad to say good riddance, but try as he might, Gerry Connolly simply can't say goodbye to Joh. Queensland's former Premier was one big reason why the comedian left his home-town three years ago. Connolly, mildly fed up ith "doing" him every night on stage, "couldn't wait" till Joh stood down.

But Joh is undisputedly the reason why many Australians know Connolly, who is arguably the only comedian ever to have mastered Bjelke-Petersen's convoluted syntax. Hence, when Connolly launches his own, brand new television program aptly titled Gerry Connolly on the ABC next Wednesday night at 9.20, Joh will be there, albiet in a brief and no doubt hilarious-as-usual appearance. "It's not as though this is going to be a Joh show," Connolly says. "I've enjoyed shaking off the shackles of Joh to an extent. New personalities "But I can't really say goodbye to him, he's still alive and he pokes his head up and causes a furore every so often.

Connolly, also known (especially in ABC circles) for his impersonations of the Queen, will be adding new personalities to his repetoire for the program which is being produced in Melbourne. Later in the series, he says, will come characters of his own devision. "It's a bit hard to start off with those. Part GERRY CONNOLLY of the battle is that the audience know and like you for doing certain things and you can't deny them that. You have to educate them as to what you can do," he said.

In the meantime we will have Cory Aquino, the Queen, Prince Charles, Bill Collins, Bill Hunter, Joh and lo, while Mrs Thatcher will be well and truly cultivated, following some royal ad ice. "At the Queensland Day concert recently the Duke Of Kent told me I had Mrs Thatcher down to a so that's praise from those who would know, I suppose," he said. With Connolly on screen will be a team of comics Michael Carman, Mandy Saloman. Frank Thring. Damien O'Doherty, Danny Nash, and Diane Jeffries.

i I The world's tallest policeman, Pembroke Burrows, lifts a Sebel Town House waitress. Incredible tale of the boy who went to war Vqiit riPW MERICANSloveastoryof an incredible story. Calvin Graham and patriotism did Calvin lie about VL A J-V VY A. KA.J- AMERICANS love a story of left his friends and family to fight patriotism andor the old favorite his age to go to war. One suspects a fair amount of naivete may have had something to do with it.

Child star Ricky Schroder stars as Calvin who, big for his age and handy with forging his mother's signature, made it into the marine after the Pearl Harbour attack. for his country, the good ole US of during WWII. Nothing so incredible about that, except for the fact that Calvin Graham was 12 years old at the time. So as the telemovie, co-scripted by Graham, tells us, out of pure bravery formula, little person beats system. Even better when they're true.

With Too Young The Hero, a Channel 7 telemovie screening Wednesday night at 8.30, they've got the lot and gone to town. Too Young The Hero is in fact quite MEET the new Kylie Min-ogue a lovely teenager from Melbourne who is being groomed for stardom in the Network Ten series, Neighbours. Earlier this year, the blonde, blue-eyed star-to-be, Rachel Friend (pictured), was a successful HSC student contemplating an arts degree course at Melbourne University. Then she heard she was in the running for a role in Neighbours and decided to postpone her university degree. Her arrival on the set of for a new female star for the show, decided to look no further than Rachel.

Tin a bit overwhelmed by it all but I think I'm going to like working on Rachel, 1H, told The Sun-Herald this week. Rachel makes her debut in Neighbours early in August. She plajs a country girl, Bronwyn Davis, who arrives in the big city looking for work as a nanny and ends up becoming a permanent minder for Des C'larkS baby son, Jamie. urn New ROSE MARIE (G): Jeanette MacDonald. Nelson Eddy.

(CEL) 1 1 0 mins. 1 935. Videos EN in doubt, go back to the classics. This ROBLOWING one is a gem, guaranteed to appeal to any lover of romantic musicals. Lots of spirited the top-rating series coincided with the departure of Kylie Minogue.

And the show's producers, about to begin a nation-wide search from Kaye as the another terrific performance understanding husband). Judy Garland. Mary MEET ME IN ST LOUIS (G): Astor. Leon Ames. (CEL) 1944.

1 1 5 mins. NO SMOKING ON BUSES warbling, including the uplifting title song, make this 1935 version of the famous operetta and a remake of the 1928 silent film with Joan Crawford wonderful entertainment. Watch out for a very young James Stewart in only his second movie role. AMERICAN GOTHIC (M): Yvonne De Carlo, Rod Steiger. Mark Chapman.

(VIRGIN) 110 mins. AN extremely well-made horror flick which is to make you sick with tension, that is. Veterans Carlo and Steiger make a welcome return to the big screen as the seemingly quaint old couple who welcome a group of young lost travellers into their isolated home. Any good horror buff knows what comes next. However, the pleasant surprise here is the standard of acting and directing.

Although Gothic does resort to splatter at times, the script is clever with interesting story ideas. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (M): John Clayton. Michelle Fawdon. Norman Kaye. (CBS FOX) 90 mins.

MAESTRO director Vicent Minelli delivers a i charming family drama with an equally appealling cast, not the least of whom is wife Judy Garland. She plays the romantically-minded daughter of a wealthy family living you-know-where at the turn of the century. It's all just a good excuse for a little humour, drama and song with Ames playing dad arid Astor as mum. There's a string of bright and bouncy numbers including Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, The Boy Next Door and The Trolley Song. ShcSun-rn! SUMMER SCHOOL iir Video Giveaway g)p Smoking is already banned in most buses in New South Wales.

From 1 July smoking will not be allowed in any bus. This long distance buses chartered buses tour buses local services Name I Address I Pcode I I I A SENSITIVE sophisicated story from renowned Aussie scriptwriterdirector Bob Warm Night On A Slow Moving Train) Ellis. Clayton and Fawdon make the perfect team as old friends who meet by chance and renew their affair. However, it's an affair with purpose. Maureen's older husband can't provide her with a baby so she turns to Geoff for help and surrogate fatherhood.

This is a bitter-sweet atmospheric drama which neatly utilises the quiet comic talent of the two leads (as well as Td. No The first three winners drawn will each receive a VHS copy of the video SbMMfcR SCHOOL, a Piping Hot Boogie Board, Mdlibu Board Shorn and T-shirt plus a Vido Ey Sap Card (50 tree video rentals) Net (0 runners up will each receive VHS copy of Summer School, fcntrtc dote July 4. inner notified by miil Send your entrtes to: Line Sua-Herald Summer School Video Giveaway Box 7UJI, ti.P.O. Svdoey, 2UOI TC. EH 16U Other prizes and more details on P88.

ADIO Department of Motor Transport 52 Rothschild Avenue, Rosebery 2018 Telephone (02)662 5555 IAN HORNER WITH the close of survey No 2 (results on Friday) it's time again for musical chairs but this week several end-of-survey changes will be permanent, most notab.e the Rev Roger Bush's retirement after 30 years in radio and the arrival of Perth ratings champion. Bob Also, Bruce Stalder takes over1 Triple De Generation (10pm- has been flicked in favour of The Triple Album Showip, hosted by Holmes. John Laws is holidaying in France while Tony Barber fills in at 2UE from tomorrow morning (9am-noon) and ex-Arts Minister, Barry Cohen, replaces Frank Crook at 2BL this week from tomorrow afternoon (4-6pm). lam), replacing Paul Holmes who's off to 3EON, Melbourne, and he also replaces Jonathan Coleman who's Cover to Cover on Sunday nights (lOpm-midnight) 51 THE SUN-HLRALD, June 26, IvKX.