The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 60

6 Green Guide The Age Foul play, cries TV veteran The ABC's push for a more lively Play School may sound its death knell, writes Denise Gadd VETERAN presenter on After meeting the executive proA the the Play ABC's School Australian efforts programs and to British says "zip on guest ducer the he show presenter was when and offered it was folded a still spot 16 working as years a up" the show may end in its demise. later. Don Spencer, who started as a "I have nothing against shows like presenter on Australian Play School Hi-5 (a high-rating children's show in 1968, believes the show may on Channel 9), but Play School has suffer the same fate as its English really proved itself. It's an institution counterpart, which folded in 1988 because it works. after the BBC tried to make it more "There is room for both types of lively.

shows but Play School really conThe ABC's recent decision to axe nects with kids. It's a beautifully the executive producer and three pared show that allows time for senior presenters and film the show genuine communication between in segments rather than a single the presenter and the child. Also, it half-hour has the same ring to it, stimulates kids and doesn't demand Spencer says. that they put their hands in their "The format was so successful in England and so is the one here. I'm Warm from three not sure why they're messing with it.

recognition genwell go the same way as the erations of viewers is gratifying and It could English show, which ended los- a constant reminder of the positive up aspect of Play School, he ing its says. Four years after his debut on "It's nice and warm and gentle. Australian Play School, Spencer There are far too many negative went to England and asked the BBC things out there for children, which if he could watch the English version is pretty scary." being recorded in color. Spencer has many strings to his Nu, no need upgrade for a few years www.sunix.com.au SUNIX-11 533.v^ $1995 Celeron 466MHz $1295 Intel MHz MMX Processor Pentium-1Il 550MHz $1595 133MHz Front Side Bus, 512K Cache Mainboard 180-9002 Certified Pentium-1l ISO-9002 Certified Mainboard to 800MHz Above Upgradble to Pentium-IlI 800MHz Upgradeble 128M 168Pins PC-133MHZ SDRAM Ports 4xPCI, 1xAGP Upgradeble to 1.5G SDRAM 64M PC-100M 168Pins SDRAM 13G Ultra 7200rpm HDD 8.4G WD Ultra 66 HD, 1.44M Panasonic FDD Panasonic 1.44M FDD 8M S3 Trio3D 128Bit AGPx2 Video Card 32M RIVA TNT 3D DVD Palyback Card 15" Digital XGA Monitor 17" Digital XGA Monitor ATX 250W SUNIX Power MidiTower, Sunix ATX 250W Power CE-Certified Miditower Mitsubishi Diamond Keyboard, Mouse Microsoft Internet Engonomic Keyboard 40 xCD-ROM Mitsubishi Class 1 Microsoft Mouse Mouse Pad 40xCD-ROM Mitsubishi calss 1 Windows 3D Digital Sound, Creative SoundBlaster 128 Sound Card 160W Power Speakers with AC Adaptor 160W Power HI-Fi Speaker with AC Adaptor Free: Microsoft Windows 98 CD Version FREE: Netcomm 56K V90 PCI Voice Modem 56K V90 Netcomm Voice 401 St Kilda Rd. Melb 3004 121 Wattletree Road, Malvern 3288 5883 3 ModTech Ph: 9576 0862 Fax: 9576 0924 New Store Grand Opening $2385 $2395 $2495 $2650 $2875 $2950 1178 Glen Huntly Rd.

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Conditions Apply Greensborough: 76 Victoria St PC WORLD PTY. LTD 77 Grimshaw St Tel: (03) 9663 8222 Tel: (03) 1699 Fax (03) 9663 8228 Fax: (03) 9432 1063 www.ocworld.com.au are based on Chq paymont New kid on the box HERE'S a new kid on the morning block in children's Saturday programs. The Cool Room, on Channel Nine at 9am, represents the network's latest attempt to capture the fickle six to 18 audience. Executive producer, Lyndal Marks, says it has been designed to be fast, colorful and loud to capture the Internet generation. lot of kids don't just want video hits, they want something more and different.

E-mails, for instance, are an important part of our she says. Despite claims to modernity, The Cool Room is more like a new spin on an old formula: two young and funky presenters (former models Francene Vedelago, 22, and Dan Levitus, 19) introduce: a mixture of cartoons and segments including bands, vox pops, latest fads and gross-out, stuff. "Francene's three years older than me, so we're really trying to get across this sibling says Levitus. LARISSA DUBECKI If it ain't broke: Don Spencer during his time on Play School. bow, including touring the UK with the Rolling Stones, the Hollies, the Four Seasons, the Animals and Chuck Berry.

He was amazed when his song Fireball XL5 became a smash hit in the UK and the US in the 1960s. "I was fitted out with a mohair suit and was on stage with the Rolling Stones." Other tours with famous groups followed and he wrote songs for Cilla Black, Rolf Harris and Liverpool pop group Freddie and the Dreamers, to name a few. Back in Australia, Spencer compered a tonight show in Perth, shows and Play School. Writing children's songs with an emphasis on Australian culture and traditions has also earned him multiple platinum and gold records. His songs are taught in schools throughout Australia and his Thumbs Up is played daily at one school assembly in New York to motivate the students.

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