The Vancouver Sun from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 23

Entertmnmmt F.Y.I. A farewell to Superwoman: The work vs. family dilemma C4 ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR BART JACKSON 732-2120 FAX 732-2521 MONDAY, MARCH 7,1994 4- SECTION COLUMN EXPERIMENT It was tough, but Tillicum kids survive without TV NICHOLAS READ 4 Twi'1l wr s- 7 I. hi he smiled when he said that, too. Giovanna said she had no difficulty keeping her promise not to watch because her mother and her mother's roommate didn't watch TV, either.

However, she, too, said she would "definitely" start watching it again on the weekend. "It was fun," said Elizabeth. "I was happy not to watch TV. I put a blanket on the TV and put a note on it that said 'No TV for usV She said she wouldn't watch TV again for three weeks. Ben Hoy, 9, said at a school assembly marking the end of the week: "I think TV Turn-off Week was a success because watching TV had an ugly effect on my mind." But then it wasn't really TV that he missed.

It was video games, which he played up to three hours a day. Now he's going to try to limit it to one. However, the last word is reserved for five-year-old Megan Van Den Boz, who also said it wasn't too much trouble spending a whole week without TV. It was good for her mother, too. "I cleaned up even when I wasn't asked to," Megan said.

For her mother, that must have been like Christmas. decided something probably ought to be done about that. But rather than just cut it down, she suggested everyone be really brave and cut it out for a whole week. That's whole week without Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Saved By the Bell, Ducktales and what seems to be every elementary school child's favorite program, Power Rangers. Davis wanted Tillicum's kids to learn that there are more ways to spend their free time than watching TV.

So starting last Monday, everyone at the school was encouraged to do whatever he or she wanted play with friends and families, read, make up games, listen to music, help around the house, anything as long as it didn't involve sitting passively in front of a TV screen. It wasn't always easy. "TV plays a big role in their lives," Davis says of many of the school's students. "They enjoyed the other activities they did instead of watching TV some said they had even more fun doing the other things but there was still that pull." "They did get caught up in the school challenge of it all," said ANIMANIACS ARE OUT: No TV means it's back to board that goal and feel good about themselves," said Malcolm. Even the kids agreed.

Five children interviewed all said it was a good idea, even poor Paul who had to hide in his room and play with his Lego to get away from the box when his brothers were watching it. "It's a good idea," he said, and he was smiling when he said it. However, he added that he "probably" would go back to watching TV now that he's allowed. And child care worker Sue Malcolm, "but they never stopped thinking about what they were missing." Every day, the students were asked to say what they were doing instead of watching TV. They were made to keep journals recording their activities, and this week a school questionnaire went home with them asking parents what they thought of the project.

At the school, it's earned high marks already. showed kids that they can set a goal, achieve Sun Television Critic FOR IO VAN A EHELER, 7, it was "easy," no problem at all. Elizabeth Nat-trail, 9, went so far as to say it was "fun." But for Paul Revane, 7, it was "haaaaard," even "torture." Well, it's not every day that kids are asked to stop watching TV for a whole week. In a culture in which watching the box is as commonplace as breathing, it must have felt like slow suffocation. Yet they and 200 other students in kindergarten to Grade 4 at Tillicum Elementary School in Vancouver did just that.

Honestly. No TV for a wlwle week. Last week, from Monday morning to Friday afternoon, was TV Turn-off Week at Tillicum. The whole school, including teachers and the students' families, were asked to survive a whole week without watching television or videos or playing video games. Not once for a whole week.

The idea was learning assistance teacher Cary Davis's. She knew of children attending the school who were watching television up to 10 hours a day, and GEMINI AWARDS Mini-series had been banned in Ontario mm 'bw 'hi MI games 1 t- HEW controversial story of courts to intervene in broadcasting and the role of film-makers in In other awards Saturday, The Kids in the Hall, now in its last season, was named best comedy series. CODCO, the comedy team whose member Tommy Sexton died of AIDS last year, nabbed the Gemini for; best comedy writing. OLE PICKED UP two Geminis for her musical special TJie Holly Cole Trio My Foolish Heart. The show was named best music program and Cole picked up a performance award.

Lamb Chop's Play Along was named best children's series. The teen consumer show Street Cents captured a Gemini for best youth series. Actor Graham Greene won for his performance in the kids' series The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon. Ron Maclean was named best sports broadcaster for his work with Hockey Night in Canada. The Earl Grey award for acting went to long-time children's performer Ernie Coombs for his work in Mr.

Dressup. TO HONOR 74-year-old artistic legend Bill Reld, local business loaders Herb Auerbach and David Lemon are combining forces to raise money for a scholarship fund in Reid's name. Administered through the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, the Bill Reid Endowment Fund will make an annual award, beginning in September 1995. Aiming to raise $100,000 for that endowment fund, with matching dollars promised from the provincial government, Lemon and Auerbach have designed a series of private entertainments to be held at the University of B.C.'s Haida House, between now and the end of June. Featuring artists such as pianist Bella Davi-dovich and violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky, singer songwriter Ian Tyson, pianist Jane Coop and cellist Shauna Rolston, and Haida performer Guu-jaaw, the Haida House concerts are a way of saying thanks for contributions of $1 ,000 or more to the scholarship fund.

The concerts are a tribute to Bill Reid," Lemon explains. "The artists are contributing their services, and we are opening them to people who have made a tangible, that is to say, a substantial contribution to the endowment fund." The first concert was Friday. The next, featuring Leon Bibb and contralto Maureen Forrester, is scheduled for April 7. It's not too late to make a contribution to the Bill Reid Endowment Fund. For more information contact Barbara Clausen at 875-8364.

Michael Scott COBAIN UPDATE Kurt Cobain, lead singer of the rock group Nirvana, continued recovering in a Rome hospital Sunday after emerging from a coma caused by an overdose of sedatives and alcohol. Dr. Osvaldo Galletta said Cobain was alert and had held his baby daughter and might leave the American Hospital today. Cobain, 27, emerged from a coma Saturday after collapsing at his hotel early Friday. Associated Press HELLO, OSCAR? Steven Spielberg added the Directors Guild of America Award on Saturday night to the growing array of accolades given to him for his epic motion picture Schindler's List.

The directors' honor suggests that Spielberg and the movie may take home Oscars when they are awarded March 21 Only three times since the guild began giving awards in 1949 has the winner of the guild's prize failed to also win the Oscar for direction. The last time there was an exception was 1985 and it involved Spielberg. The guild prize went to him for directing The Color Purple, but the Oscar went to Sydney Pollack for Out of Africa. Los Angeles Times YOURS FOR A SONG The auction items are rolling in for Yours for a Song, the Arts Club's 30th Anniversary gala March 12 at the Waterfront Centre Hotel. Items up for bid include an Eastern show tour, with tickets to the Toronto production of Showboat and productions at Shaw and Stratford; five days at Radium Hot Springs; a week at Audrey Skalbania house in Puerto Vallarta and a weekend at the Woodwards Ranch in Douglas Lake.

The Waterfront is getting into the gala spirit, offering hotel rooms for only $30 for 100 couples attending the gala. Tony Award-winning performer Brent Carver, stage dynamo Janet Wright and singer Ann Mor-tifee will entertain the guests. Tickets are $156 including GST ($60 tax receipt issued), available at the theatre, 687-5315. Barbara Crook TOP TEN Here is the weekly Top 1 0 album list from the national trade publication, The Record. Ratings are based on radio play.

Numbers in brackets refer to last week's chart position. Top Ten Albums 1 Celine Dion The Colour Of Love (1 2. Enigma Cross Of Changes (2) 3. Counting Crows August And Everything After (7) 4. Ace Of Base The Sign (3) 5.

Various Artists Philadelphia: soundtrack (4) 6. Alice In Chains Jar Of Flies (8) 7. Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Greatest Hits (6) 8. Marian Carey Music Box (9) 9. Bryan Adams So Far So Good (5) 10.

Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream (13) Top 10 Singles 1 Celine Dion The Power Of Love (2) 2. Michael Bolton Said I Loved You But I Lied (1) 3. Salt N' Pepa Whatta Man (3) 4. Domino Ghetto Jam (4) 5. Mariah Carey Without You (5) 6.

Xscape Just Kickin' It (6) 7. Def Leppard Miss You In A Heartbeat (7) 8. Cypress Hill Insane In The Brain (8) 9. Zhane Groove Thang (9) 10. Shabba Ranks Family Affair (last week 12) Top 10 Country Songs 1 Vince Gill Trying To Get Over You (3) 2.

John Anderson I've Got It Made (4) 3. Mark Chesnutt-1 Just Wanted You To Know (1) 4. Brooks and Dunn Rock My World (2) 5. Alabama -TLC ASAP (7) 6. Mary Chapin Carpenter He Thinks He'll Keep Her 10) 7.

Garth Brooks Standing Outside The Fire 12) 8. Charlie Major Nobody Gets Too Much Love (8) 9. Reba McEntire They Asked About You (9) 10. Suzy Bogguss Hey Cinderella (5) THE BOYS OF ST. VINCENT: Henry Czerny (left) named top male actor for his role in St.

Vincent story sweeps Geminis novel by Margaret Laurence, was named best TV movie. While James Purcell was named best male actor in a continuing leading dramatic role for his role in Counterstrike, veteran actor Jackie Burroughs captured the equivalent prize in the female category for her work in Road to Avonka. Canada's most recognized TV performers took to the stage Sunday night as winners and presenters. Appearances came from Cynthia Dale, Alan Thicke, Sara Bots-ford, Graham Greene, Mary Walsh, Lloyd Robertson and Ralph Benmergui. Street Legal's Albert Schultz and Canada AM anchor Valerie Pringle hosted the broadcast.

A highlight was the performance by contemporary Canadian jazz singer Holly Cole. J. RE-AWARDS HELD Thursday and Saturday gave the first indication that The Boys of St. Vincent would sweep the 1994 Geminis. With two technical awards Thursday, Saturday's award for Smith's writing and anoth er for supporting female actor, the film had already netted four Geminis before the broadcast gala Sunday night.

It's a pleasing turn for Smith who had to wait a year to see the fictional TV movie make its national TV debut after an Ontario judge banned its broadcast in some parts of Canada. The judge ruled a blackout in Ontario and parts of Quebec would protect the right to a fair trial of some Christian Brothers accused of similar acts of child abuse. ERTAINLY THERE was some terrible times when one wondered if it ever would get its full and proper airing," said Smith, who is in Hollywood directing Michelle Pfeiffer in a Disney feature film tentatively titled My Posse Don't Do Homework. "It was a tremendous relief to have it finally aired on the full network." Broadcast over two nights last December, Tlie Boys of St. Vincent drew record audiences of 2.1 and 2.6 million viewers respectively.

It touched off debate over the right Canadian Press TORONTO AS EXPECTED, The Boys of St. Vincent, the CBC's shocking court-banned mini-series about child sex abuse by priests, swept the Canadian Gemini awards on the weekend. The TV awards including best dramatic mini-series, best leading male actor in a dramatic role, best direction in a drama or mini-series, best supporting female actor and best writer in a drama or mini-series make the controversial film the most celebrated TV production of the year. "Awards are something completely separate from the trouble we had getting it on the air," John N. Smith, who wrote and directed the film, said Saturday night from Los Angeles.

"Awards are really the judgment of one's fellow workers in the industry. It's a tremendous honor to be recognized." The CTV series E.N.G., which has been cancelled, was honored as best dramatic series, while The Diviners, based on the The envelope, please ham Greene, The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon. BEST PERFORMANCE IN A PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM OR SERIES: Holly Cole; The Holly Cole Trio My Foolish Heart. BEST PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY PROGRAM OR SERIES: Jinny Jacinto, Laurence Racine Choiniere, Nadine Louis-Binette, Isabelle Chasse 1993 YTV Achievement Awards. BEST HOST IN A LIFESTYLE INFORMATION, VARIETY OR PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM: Rob Buckman Magic or Medicine? BEST DIRECTION IN A DRAMA OR COMEDY: Gerard Ciccoritti Catwalk.

BEST DIRECTION IN A VARIETY OR PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM OR SERIES: Ron Meraska Michael Burgess at Massey Hall. BEST WRITING IN A COMEDY OR VARIETY PROGRAM OR SERIES: Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones, Tommy Sexton, Greg Malone CODCO. BEST WRITING IN A DRAM A OR MINI-SERIES: Des Walsh, John N. Smith, Sam Grana The Boys of St. Vincent.

BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE FOR A SERIES: Fred Mollin, Beyond Reality. BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE FOR A PROGRAM OR MINI-SERIES: John Welsman, The Bellringer. JOHN DRAINIE AWARD FOR BROADCASTING: Max Ferguson. MARGARET COLUER AWARD FOR TV WRITING: Alex Barns. Canadian Press BEST FEMALE ACTOR IN A CONTINUING LEADING DRAMATIC ROLE: Jackie Burroughs, Road to Avonlea.

BEST MALE ACTOR IN A CONTINUING LEADING DRAMATIC ROLE: James Purcell, Counterstrike. BEST TV MOVIE: The Diviners. BEST DRAMATIC SERIES: E.N.G. BEST SPORTS BROADCASTER: Ron Maclean, Hockey Night in Canada. DONALD BRITTAIN AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY: Donald Brit-tain Film-maker.

BEST ANCHOR OR INTERVIEWER: Lloyd Robertson, CTV News. BEST VARIETY PROGRAM OR SERIES: The Trial of Red Riding Hood. CANADA AWARD FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY: Speak It! From the Heart of Black Nova Scotia. BEST PERFORMANCE IN A COMEDY SERIES: Mary Walsh, Cathy Jones, Tommy Sexton, Greg Malone, CODCO. BEST DRAMATIC MINI-SERIES: The Boys of St.

Vincent. EARLE GREY AWARD FOR ACTING: Ernie Coombs, Mr Dressup-BEST LEADING FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMATIC ROLE: Kelly Rowan, AdnfL BEST LEADING MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMATIC ROLE: Henry Czemy, The Boys of St. Vincent. BEST INFORMATION SERIES: Marketplace. CBC.

BEST WRITING IN A DRAMATIC SERIES: Rebecca Schecter, North of 60. BEST DIRECTION IN A DRAMA OR MINI-SERIES: John N. Smith, The Boys of St. Vincent. BEST COMEDY SERIES: The Kids in the Hall.

BEST MUSIC PROGRAM: The Holly Cole Trio My Foolish Heart. BEST YOUTH PROGRAM OR SERIES: Street Cents. BEST CHILDREN'S PROGRAM OR SERIES: Lamb Chop's Play-Along. BEST ANIMATED PROGRAM OR SERIES: Jim Hensons Dog City. BEST SPORTS PROGRAM OR SERIES: The Spirit of the Game.

BEST SHORT DRAMA: Letter From Francis. BEST PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM: My War Years; Arnold Schoen-berg. BEST SUPPORTING MALE ACTOR: Wayne Robson. The Diviners. BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE ACTOR: Use Roy, The Boys of St.

Vincent. BEST GUEST PERFORMANCE IN A SERIES: Philip Granger, Neon Rider. BEST PERFORMANCE IN A CHILDREN'S OR YOUTH PROGRAM: Gra nn.