The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 90

Preview Bewitched than a small-town Donna Reed, Syd struggles to keep the family together. Tonight, romance is in the air. While an attractive widow "with turtle trouble" tries to lure Drjim out of social hibernation, Syd's ex-boyfriend wants to woo her back to LA. But in Providence, of all places, destiny takes its course. Barbara Hooks From page 35 1976.

In this episode Eric (Topher Grace) is about to celebrate his 17th birthday: although it is not so much fun when your know your mother (Debra Jo Rupp) is planning the usual "surprise" party. Eric's older sister, Laurie, is in town, prompting the usual hormone jokes from Eric's mates. Mila (Jackie Burkhardt), meanwhile, sees the party as a chance to get closer to Eric. In other words, there's not much happening. But the impressive cast of rrjgjnly newcomers, backed by plenty of silly clothes and funny pop culture references, means this summer filler might be a stayer.

Darrin Farrant poignant excerpts from diaries and letters, the footage sometimes seems ordinary. But nothing was ordinary then, even volunteer pilots speaking fluent banter over a cuppa before taking off in their Lancasters to bomb the bejesus out of Hamburg. And it's worth noting that it was the color footage of the resulting firestorm that the British Barbara Hooks The Big Picture: Wernher von Braun From Nazi to NASA Thursday, ABC, 1 0.1 0pm When Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in July 1 969, it was the finest hour of scientist Wernher von Braun's long and glittering career. It was also the start of his downfall, the beginning of a slide in his reputation that he was never able to recover. The so-called father of the American rocket program attracted so much media attention after the lunar landing that observers looked at his life more closely, and were appalled by what they found.

Von Braun had not only worked as a rocket scientist under the Nazi regime; he had been a more than willing servant, a member of the SS. This interesting British documentary, narrated byjancis Robinson, charts the two halves of von Braun's career and then tries to reconcile them. Born into an aristocratic family, von Braun's scientific brilliance as a young man brought him and his band of colleagues to the attention of the Nazi party. While the others demurred, von Braun was more than happy to work for the regime, lapping up the status and the sudden infusion of state funds. After World War II his services were snapped up by the Americans, happy to turn a employees, Ross Noble and Dave Carter, who've set up in a rival business.

When he drives his Jaguar around to their shed to repossess some equipment, you can see them visibly shrink. Fair enough, too. Faced with choice of a rampaging Dave or a strong current and a tangled line 35 metres below, you'd stick to the wet stuff every time. This may have started off as a slice-of-life series about the rigors of learning to be a professional deep-sea diver, but director Julia Redwood has a nose for drama and has picked up that the most threatening shark is circling above the surface. Diving School isn't too deep, but if you enjoy a bit of tawdry argy bargy it will be a welcome respite from those endless episodes of Judge Judy.

Misha Ketchell Providence Wednesday, Channel 7, 9.30pm Let's all move to Providence. In this East Coast idyll, three cars at the traffic lights constitutes peak hour. But you can still order a double decaf latte with a twist, the shopping looks dandy and the town roughly the size of Melbourne even runs a limousine service. In fact, it is the American version of A Country Practice, but bigger, slicker and with less dung. While Dr Jim the vet patches paws In his basement surgery, daughter Sydney, the prodigal plastic surgeon, patches people at the local clinic.

But she is late of Los Angeles and a city slicker, so there is a clause in Syd's contract that says she has to get patients offside before regaining their trust, diagnosing an incredibly obscure condition and devising a miracle cure. Coached by the ghost of her late mom, Linda, who is more like an acid-tongued, chain-smoking Endora from Ricky Martin: Ambassador for youth. blind eye to his past if they could gain an edge over the Soviets. But, as workers in the slave labor camps that helped build von Braun's rocket technology show, not everyone can be so conveniently forgetful. Darrin Farrant Ricky Martin: One Night Only Wednesday, Channel 7, 7.30pm Ricky Martin is the kind of boy you could take home to mother, although the Latin rock star might set mother's heart palpitating, too.

Martin's first TV special is set against the New York skyline, a fittingly phallic back-drop for the pelvic gyrations that are so clearly a hit with the girls in his audience. And sure, he has a great bod to go with the great voice. But unlike stumbling, mumbling Anglo-Saxon rock stars, Martin can dance and part of his appeal to women is his unselfconscious love of movement Kicking off the concert with a rousing rendition of Livin' La Vida Loca, Martin combines an easy mix of music and chat, throwing to clips of himself on the road and with family in Puerto Rico. Later, he bridges the generation gap by joining forces with fellow Latinos Carlos Santana and Jose Feliciano for a spirited version of the Doors' classic light My Fire. Other songs include The Cup of Life, She's all I Ever Had, Spanish Eyes, Shake Your Bon-Bon and Maria.

A great ambassador for youth and for Latin America, Ricky Martin is also impossibly cute. I won't wash my TV set for at least a week. Barbara Hooks Diving School Colour of War: Total War Sunday, Channel 9, 7.30pm We see World War II as a black and white newsreel war, just as we saw Vietnam as the first TV war. Hitler looks different in color. Evil looks different in color.

Mabe it's the shock of the real, as opposed to the newsreel. And after all, this is the way our parents and grandparents saw this war their war iitcolor. In the second of the series, narrator John Thaw roams far and wide, starting with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the detention of Japanese Americans whose fear as they waited for the FBI to knock at the door must have mirrored the Jews' fear of being taken away to an unknown fate. Total War also features footage of the Atlantic Ocean convoys under constant threat from German U-boats, the obscenity of the Warsaw Ghetto, the bloody Battle of Stalingrad and war in the Pacific. Accompanied by Tuesday, ABC, 8pm Plumbing the murky depths comes naturally to diving school owner Dave Welsh.

It's in his blood. Dave, you see, is a man to be reckoned with, a gold-chain-wearing shyster who likes to sic the lads on to anyone who stands in his way. While his hapless deep-sea diving students are getting themselves tangled in their lines 35 metres under, Dave is busy turning up the heat on a couple of former Music Expo 1 1 a mm m- stBSSEB'lIiBH4fl 3BQ8i 1 fslHJIfl iWBHiligfe UMiT: uTtQUI' fflsHSSi '-US' Head of Radio $64,812 $73,500 pa base salary The AFTRS is the national centre for professional training in film and broadcasting. We are seeking a Head of Radio to take responsibility for the development of radio training and to manage the Radio Department. The Head of Radio is responsible for the management of the Radio Department, including design and implementation of full-time and short courses across all sections of the radio industry, ensuring chat the AFTRSs educational standards and objectives are met.

The successful applicant will have professional radio experience, including commercial radio, with a sound knowledge of all sections of the radio industry. A demonstrated network of radio industry contacts and sound organisational and administrative skills are essential as are teaching experience. Terms: This position is available on a contract basis of up to four years (with the possibility of access to a further two years). Please note that the position can only be offered to an applicant with Australian citizenship or with permanent residency status. Enquiries: It is in the applicant's interest to contact Human Resources on (02) 9805 6616 or 1300 366 464 (toll free) to obtain an application package prior to drafting an application.

Information can also be obtained from the AFTRS web site www.aftrs.edu.au. If you have further questions after reading this information you may contact Annabelle Sheehan, Head of Teaching, on (02) 9805 6402. Applications: Written applications giving full details of experience and qualifications should be sent to: The Human Resources Manager Australian Film, Television and Radio School PO Box 1 26 NORTH RYDE NSW 1670 Closing date: Monday 10 January 2000. The Australian Fim, Television and Radio School is on Equal Opportunity Employer. 9H)ffiti mum 5Bmm iHWSgBH3 MtH5i itltlHirn iz 'WiHiTifiirrsTi RBK flltiHSi ilji ifinUB SHlHfl3Iil' Oili iiW- nnt)i 18ll3lfIiJ HIT 1 1.

JfiHi' 'BJH 'flSliislmilil 'Bl-lif: It P4 mm nit III' 'mil PHOTO SALES Exclusive photographs taken by 77w Age photographers are available for sale from The Age Photosales Department. The Age Photosales Department has on extensive photographic library of colour and black white Images that can be reproduced for individuals or businesses in many formats. To Older contact: Photosales at me Age, 290 Spencer Srreet.Melboume, Vienna 3000 A Phone: (03) 9001 2270 Fox: (03) 902 1099 E-mail at ptioto.Mlesetneage.folifax.com.ou or vtolt your nearest Rabbit photo outlet..