Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 36

PAGE 36 PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS 1 8, 1998 5ff UPFRONT yi CD Why do we still watch that I pageant anyway? A polished Meredith Vieira -r2 teams up with Boomer Esaison to host Miss America -i t-J-4- II Til 40 45 MOVIES Norristown's Maria Bello leaves "EFT for "Permanent Midnight" "Rush Hour" is a farewell blast to summer's mindless flicks MUSIC International Music series has culture 50 pr Philly's got the "Blues" This Cat's got the power 62 DINING Philiy Orchestra's Mary Loiselle says Girasole is noteworthy Can you name the No. 1 imported beer in the United States? I i I WW" i iWfiMiiiT 1 11 r-rr -Tir'-lhnr Ti--tf-rrrif nrrt-i--- I1 i by Renee Lucas Wayne i fe '3 Daily News Staff Writer Although "One World" NBC's neivest half-hour comedy in Oie Saturday morning Teen NBC lineup explores the challenges of belonging to a big family, it's not your average Brady Bunch rmmdup. Tluyse who populate tlie fictional Blake household at 11:00 a.m., are a multicultural passe of sir foster teens firm rough circumstances who, together, learn the meaning of family and a place called "liome." As a streetwise kid named Neal, West Philiy native Harvey Silver not only plays the role but lived it. Placed in faster care at the age of 4 he's lived at tlie Carson Valley School in Flourtown and at Southern Home Sen ices in South Philiy the 22-year-old actor brings to the character not just talent, but experience. Silver was hangin' at the mall when he returned our call Your character's a brainiac, but you don't play him like another "Urkel." Did you bring that, or was he written that way? I brought that to the character.

Other people who were up for the role were like, prep, but I went in from Day One giving it more "street." I'd already played preppy roles and I'd decided I wanted to do something different. I thought, "He's smart, but maybe he doesn't have to be Urkel," you know? How are you developing in the character? The first episode was not a good one for me. I think I went a little too "big" with it. I didn't find my character until the y. Big Fat Friday wants to hear from you.

Call us with story ideas, suggestions or comments. FAX us at 215-854-5852. Deputy Features Editor, Big Fat Friday Jill Williams 215-854-2366 Features Editor Debi Licklider. 215-854-5879 Tattle Francesca Chapman 215-854-2226 Television Ellen Gray 215-854-5950 Jazz Al Hunter Jr. 21854-5855 Hip-Hop, Rap Music Tonya Pendleton 215-854-5887 Pop Music Jonathan Takiff 215-854-5960 Movie Critic Gary Thompson 215-854-5992 Family Television Renee Lucas Wayne 215-854-4172 Listings Joan Pulcinella 215-854-5869 To get listed, send information about your event three weeks in advance to Big Fat List, Box 7788, Philadelphia, 19101 Why were you in foster care? Were those years really difficult for you? Philly's Harvey Silver.

Chillin' on the small screen To tell you the truth, I don even know why. I was young, so I don't remember the circumstances It wasn't difficult, but it wasn't the best, either. None of ray other siblings were there. It was just me, maintaining and having to deal with what I had. How long have yon been on the West Coast? I graduated from U-City University City High School in 1994.

I've been out in California since 1995. 1 did some stuff in New York before that I've been acting full time since I was 18. "One World" has a little more of an edge than NBC's other teen comedies. What do you think will attract viewers? Just the reality of it. We're hoping to get people in their early 20s, late teens.

I hope they will see the show as a real experience. fourth episode, which was all about Neal. It was so good, we changed the order of the shows so that one could run second this Saturday. There's a big difference. Are you a lot like Neal? I think I'm a lot like him, maybe 75, 80, percent.

I'm as streetwise as Neal, but not as smart as he is. He laughs. He has an IQ of 170, so as far as that goes, we're not alike. Anybody you want to kick a shout-out to, before you hang up? Yeah I wanna give a shout-out to my dad, Harvey Silver Sr. He's in Graterford, and he's been down since I was bom.

And I want to give a shout-out to all my siblings and my mom and my grandmom rest in peace..