Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 57

THE HARTFORD COURANT: Friday, September 1 1, 1987 DS Party atmosphere prevails in Los Angeles Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' video looks like a winner in MTV awards account when the winners are chosen. And there are 900 numbers to call tonight for a Viewer's Choice among the five nominees for best video of the year. (The numbers will be flashed on the screen.) Best bet out of all of this promises to be Penn and Teller's two-hour "Pre-Game Show" at 7 p.m., which also will feature Lou Reed and Dee Snyder. Anyone who has seen Penn and Teller's guest VJ shot know that they hate most of what passes for popular MTV fare and opt for more obscure and experimental stuff. The cynical who have appeared in videos by and the Ramones, may prove the perfect antidote for what is to come.

ROGER CATLIN Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Poison and Tina Turner and non-music figures Sandra Bern-hard, Lisa Bonet, Cher, Bobcat Goldthwait, Steve Guttenberg, Robin Leach, Howie Mandel, Judy Tenuta and Vanna White. If you think the Oscars drag on, listen to MTV bigwig Lee Masters: "What started out four years ago as a black tie and 'pass-the-enve-lope-please' affair has evolved into more of a party and a concert," he says. "The idea is to have fun while at the same time honoring the creative talent responsible for this year's best in video music." In addition to 1,800 members of the video music industry, USA Today readers have been given the opportunity to chime in this year, and their votes will be taken into The MTV Video Music Awards, which has degenerated from a straight awards program to the kind of party where nobody can find anyone else, this year moves the whole kit and caboodle from New York to the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. yell, not the whole caboodle. Satellite feeds from David Bowie, Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston and Madonna will be added to the.

show's scheduled live performances from Prince, teamed up with Aerosmith, Los Lobos, the Cars, the Bangles, Bryan Adams, Crowded House, Cyndi Lauper and Whitesnake, the British metal band in its U.S. television debut. In between all this, the 18 awards will be presented by music figures Huey Lewis, Kenny Log-gins, Eddie Money, Robbie Nevil, Winner "Papa Don't Preach," Madonna. Best Group Video Crowded House's "Don't Dream It's Over" is dreamily evocative as it pokes holes in "wide-screen" video trends; Eurythmics' "Missionary Man" is almost aggressively weird, with machinery poking around Annie Lennox's face; the Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian" is contagious, old-fashioned fun of the "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" tradition. Then there is that U2 video, which is, on the other hand, no fun at all.

But finally, here are the Talking Heads, with a participatory video that is more delightful than anything nominated here or anything else in David Byrne's film "True Stories." Winner "Wild Wild Life," Talking Heads. Best New Artist in a Video An oddly worded category. If it is, as it says, for the best new artist in a video, Robert Cray or maybe Bruce Hornsby, taking a cue from his Grammy win, would be front runners. But because Cray's and Horns-by's videos were less than stellar and you must believe the quality of the videos plays a part in this category Crowded House and.Timbuk 3 have a better chance. The most enjoyable video from a new artist, however, matches the goofy straightforwardness of the song with the strongest offering for Southern rock in years.

Winner. "Keep Your Hands to Yourself," Georgia Satellites. Best Stage Performance in a Video This is the category that non-arty purists can revel in. It's also where the year's most popular rock act, Continued from Page Dl video. It exists almost without the rock and without the performer.

It's become a thing unto itself That said, let's get down to individual categories, chosen from videos released from May '86 to May '87: Best Video of the Year Tightest competition comes from Genesis' "Land of Confusion," but the marvelous puppetry from Spitting Image accompanies the band's limpest track. Paul Simon's "Boy in the Bubble" looks too much like an earlier Talking Heads video. Steve Winwood's "Higher Love," awash in fashion models, is as pleasant to watch as it is to hear, but it's no award-winner. And U2's dour black-and-white video for "With or Without You" almost detracts from its strong song. (Of course, it would be tough for anything to beat the powerful "U2 ve at Red Rocks" video; it's only beeji recently matched with the remarkable new "Where the Streets Have No Name" video.) Winner.

"Sledgehammer," Peter Gabriel. Best Male Video I bet you didn't know videos had genders. But this category, which ought to be called "Best Video by a Male features Robert Palmer's "Didn't Mean To Turn You On," a carbon copy of his "Addicted to Love," and David Bowie's violent, muddled "Day In, Day Out" in addition to the aforementioned "Higher Love" and a different, but equally indifferent Paul Simon video, "You Can Call Me Al." Winner: "Sledgehammer," Peter Gabriel. INTERSTATE EM EXIT 58 SILVER LANE EASTHABTFOHO SaHH.TELEPHONE 5BB B810 BAROAIM MATMEE OAM.V- FIRST SHOW ONLY S2.50 CONTINUOUS SHOWS SUN. ANO HOLIDAYS LATE SHOWS FRI.

ANO SAT: VU 111 A ilHIM Id Peter Gabriel's video "Sledgehammer" should reap the top MTV Video Music Awards tonight It was produced by Stephen Johnson, who also directed "Pee-wee's Playhouse" last season. Best Female Video A much closer field, all pretty good. Yet the quirky wardrobe for Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" seemed forced. Kate Bush's years of creativity are finally noted with her nomination for "Big Sky," but it is too obscure to win. Janet Jackson, one of the few black performers in any category, brings back the halcyon days of brother Michael's "Beat videos with the ensemble dancing of "Nasty," and Madonna dazzles in her breathtaking, gold-tipped costume in the weird "Open Your Heart." But she can't beat another of her videos that was nominated a catchy morality tale that probably stands as her best video work.

Bon Jovi, shows up in two entries. is also included, for "Walk This Way." But out of respect for integrity, and in anticipation of his new material, the award probably will go to either "Born To Run" or "War," two Boss offerings from his five-record live LP, soon to be available at rock-bottom prices. Winner: "War," Bruce Springsteen. Best Overall Performance in a Video I'm not sure how this category is different from best video or best performance video. Maybe it's the best performance while wearing overalls.

Anyway, its nominees include Janet Jackson for "Nasty," Madonna for "Papa Don't Preach," for "Walk This Way" and U2 for "With or Without You." But this is the year of the sweep, as I've been telling you. Winner: "Sledgehammer," Peter Gabriel. liMl mi i I mmMssm smmemm- Tried-and-true tips for stain removal Sexy, romantic and thrilling. A can't-miss crowd pleaser that has absolutely everything." SNEAK PREVIEWS, Michael Medved "A SMASH! Burn marks on Formica: Make a paste of baking soda and water. Rub with a nonmetallic scrubber until faded, repeating as necessary.

Bleach stains on rugs: Try using a permanent marker the same color as the carpet. Crayon marks on walls: Use lighter fluid or a prewash laundry stein remover. Grease stains on rugs: If the spill has not dried, sprinkle with baby powder or baking soda. Rub it in, let it sit until it dries and then vaccuum. Associated Press "The old hand-me-down rules for removing stains were right for their time and they still apply," Mary Ellen Pinkham says.

Here are some Pinkham tips from Family Circle magazine. Stains on porcelain fixtures: Mineral and lime deposits can be removed by soaking paper towels with bleach and leaving them on the appliance for a while. Remove, then rinse. TODAY: j.jq 9.45 55XARTS TODAY -USA TOOV. Jack Curry 'Robocop' is an amazing pop movie it'll blow you away." Dennis Cunningham, CBS-TV VWHRTH I 1 I J' 'i 'f TOD4Y: 7.30 9:40 11 :50 An IWTTrf.MrMjUijl'.N LL A Comedy Bordering On Insanity.

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SHOWN FRIDAY AT 1:20 7:00 9:40 SATURDAY SUNDAY AT 1:20 4:00 7:00 9:20 BRISTOL 8 jsgn ,2:45 3:05 5:15 7:40 9:55 TOD4V: 95 n.35 gSiVy THE nn Jit ni PROTOCOL HO SiintiiKi'fiiii On iTirj Ma jSnouf Tifiite and the Seven (Dwarfs FRI. Sat Sun. lrr TtT MICKEY KOURKE IN A PRAYER FOR THE DYING Shown At 1 :00 6:40 9:20 Vsnown loaay ai 7M TODAY: 1.30 7:15 9:50 12:10 ID THERE HUE BEE.Y IITIIf', MOVIES ABOUT VIET.VUL BIT 0T LIKE THIS O.fli mm km 03Sm GPCHACKMAN i SNEAK PREVIEW AT PM NO WAY OUT THE PRINCIPAL BEVERLY HILLS COPS It 9:30 HILL DIRTY DANCING KVMCOsne sxmm no way our stmmm wuipkttd msmmm THE BIG EASY WJ: BY MAUSSCE JABfff OlitfCTOfi Of PHOTOGRAPHY XIWi ALCOTT BSC EXECLfTTVE PBCffJCEP HACE WEUfELO PG-13 6:50 9:10 7:00 TODAf: 9,45 Ii rmm i FULL METAL JACKET STAKEOUT 6:40 9:20 1 NO WAT OUT STAKEOUT SI 1:40 7 35 10:00 12:10 act 1: 7:35 10 00 1110 TODAY: 1 15 10:00 17:05 TODAY: IJ5U 9:912:11 rl IV1NH DAYLIGHTS CAN'T BUY ME LOVE rv. I PCI 3 CINElViAS SAWCAWMATIHEtDAAJflBJTSWOIIItlJO COWT, SHOWS a. SUM.

HOL. SHOWS tm. 4 SOT. CAWT tut IOVI 7: ju TODAY: 1:20 7:10 9:30 11:45 TODAY: 1:25 7:30 BRISTOL 8 1 2:50 3:05 5:20 7:35 9:50.