The Vancouver Sun from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 110

F22 THK VANCOUVER SUN. SATURDAY. AUGUST 14. 1999 MIX Tdevison Anchors on the move at VTV Vancouver Television will introduce its newest face to local news viewers Sept 20. Ravi Baichwal, an anchor, producer and reporter with CBC-Newsworld, will be VTV News at 6's latest anchor, replacing Paul Mennier.

Mennier left VTV last month for an anchoring position with Edmonton's ITV. Baichwal, 34, will join current VTV News Late Night anchor Bridgette Anderson on the Vancouver station's supper-hour newscast Sonja Currie will replace Anderson as Late News anchor, while current supper-hour anchor Mi-Jung Lee will host VTV News at 5. While VTV has enjoyed considerable success with its late-night newscast it has lagged behind competitors BCTV, Global and even CBC in the high-profile 6 p.m.time period. Despite BCTV's substantial lead in the evening news ratings, Vancouver is considered one of the most competitive news markets in North America. VTV news director Lynne Raineault described Baichwal as a "breakthrough talent" articulate and naturally quick.

A Toronto native and graduate of the University of Western Ontario, where he majored in political science, Baichwal helped Host and ringleader Bill Maher helps Politically Incorrect navigate a minefield of celebrity egos and serious thinking. Psychological warfare Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect has increased the traffic in TV's marketplace of ideas, but is there anything on the shelf worth buying? launch Newsworld Business News from Calgary in 1997, and filled in occasionally on the anchor desk for CBC-TVs national Midday News. 1 am looking forward to becoming part of a team of journalists who have proven they know how to break news," he said. Vancouver Sun ALEX STRACHAN Sun Television Critic Soles hosts medical documentary Linden Soles, the former CKVU anchor who went on to anchor for CNN, will be the host of a TV LlXy Linden Soles tional Magazine for people with short attention spans. It's a sobering sight sad, even to see serious thinkers trade dignity for shtick, whether it's Alan Greenspan trying to explain the intricacies of international-trade finance to Paulie Shore, or Andrea Dworkin exhorting Victoria Jackson to please put a lid on the bimbo act for two minutes so Dworkin can score a point for gender equity.

What other talk show asks celebrities to check their egos at the door and put themselves on the line intellectually? The marketplace of ideas needs all the help it can get, Tad Friend wrote recently in Vogue, "even if the ideas come from Carrot Top." And not just Carrot Top. The guest matchups from PL's five years on the air (originally on the U.S.' Comedy Central, the last three years on ABC and locally on VTV, weeknights at 12:07 a.m.) ranges from the scary (Charlton Heston and Scott Thompson) to the really scary (Bo Derek and Fran Lebowitz) to the really, really scary (Reverend Al Sharpton and Mark Fuhrman). Maher fancies himself a libertarian, a left-leaning conservative who voted Republican in the last U.S. election idea of a Republican is a mean old man who'll look after my money," he's fond of saying). Maher believes in a tax break for singles.

should I have to pay for your Voting is a privilege and not a right, Maher insists, and he believes people should have to pass an exam on the issues before they are allowed to vote. Are people getting stupider? (Yes, judging by the success of the Adam Sandler film Big Daddy.) Does show business make you a jerk or do jerks go into show business? (Both.) Are song lyrics really capable of unhinging today's kids? (No. "I liked the Beatles," Maher said after the Littleton shootings, "but I didn't go to class in a walrus One gets the impression that if Maher had his way, many more people would be reading newspapers, if only to keep informed. Such an idea seems dangerous, not to mention self-defeating, coming from a TV wonk. After all, if more people read newspapers, fewer people would have time to watch TV.

And what's politically incorrect about that? Politically Incorrect is crackling with verbal thunderbolts on this night: Arianna Huffington is at her huffiest, G. Gordon Liddy is threatening to throttle Harvey Fierstein with his bare hands (and don't think he wouldn't try) and Deepak Chopra is trying to channel goodness and love and respect among his Fellow Human Beings, striving for that kernel of wisdom and insight into Deeper Meaning that will be forgotten the instant the show cuts to commercial. That moment comes soon enough: Host Bill Maher tosses off one of his typically catty commercial cues so sorry, but the network will hit me with a thunderbolt if I don't take this and by the time Politically Incorrect returns, Maher is already steering the foursome toward another issue. Maher (pronounced feigns mild interest, pretending to remain above it all, his long saturnine face, screw-you hair and arched eyebrows waiting for that precise moment to dive in and puncture somebody's balloon with a well-timed barb. know," goes one such barb, "that's so close to Politically Incorrect is a cheap brain trick, a cynical vehicle designed to pitch celebrity and instant wisdom to a video-saturated TV audience.

Maher's critics have accused his program of being chaotic, disjointed, tacky and sophomoric in the words of Los Angeles Times writer Lawrence Christon, "your classic nightmare cocktail party teetering under the guerrilla sensibilities of the boorish and egomaniacal." Well, yes, that's true. Politically Incorrect is also in the eyes of this critic at least the most entertaining if at times exasperating program on television today, an exercise in psychological warfare that even the Times' Christon admits throws "iconoclastic jabs at some of the newly ordained orthodoxies hardening the American discourse." A less high-falutin' way of describing it would be to think of Politically Incorrect as a more flamboyant version of CBC's Na documentary to be prepared during the course of the International Psychogeriatric Association congress, which opens Sunday in Vancouver. The convention, held every two years, brings together 2,000 of the world's leading scientists, doctors and health professionals who deal with Alzheimer's and other mental health issues related to the elderly. The documentary will be co-produced by corporate communications consultant Gary Bannerman and film-maker Gary Payne. The finished product will be offered to TV networks throughout the English-speaking world, especially public and educational broadcasters.

Canadian Press O'Brien sidekick jumping ship Andy Richter, sidekick to Conan O'Brien on NBC's Late Night, has a performing itch he just has to scratch, He plans to leave the show in May to pursue other TV and film roles. "I sort of need to take this step for my own peace of mind and own sense of self-worth," Richter said at the end of Wednesday night's show. "Ifs not like I went to bed as a boy dreaming of being a sidekick on a late-night television show." Richter was hired as one of the show's first writers in 1993, and was given the sidekick job when O'Brien and the show's original head writer, Robert Smigel, noticed how well the two men played off each other. There was no word on a replacement Associated Press i A fi Ch.lCbl.1 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m.

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11:00 p.m. 11:30 p.m. CD 3 Robin Hood Music Works (R) Street Cents (R) Fashion File (CC) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Century (CC) Movie: While Lies (1998, drama) Sarah Polley, Tanya Allen, Jonathan Scatfe. Saturday Report Movie (T) 10 News(CC) ABC News (CC) News (CC) Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! (CC) Funny Videos Funny Videos Movie: ntfw Amy Atow (1994, corneoy) (11:35) Baywatch S3 16 News (CC) NFL Preseason Football: Buffalo Bills at Seattle Seahawks. (live) Backroads IPensacola: Wings of Gold (R) ft News(CC) Almost Livel 3D 6 News(CC) NewstCC) Pensacola: Wings of Gold (R)(CC) ft The Pretender (R)(CC) ft America's Most Wanted world's Most Amazing Videos (CC) ft CTV News Ift (CC) NightMan ft (CC) (3D 15 NFL Preseason Football: New York Jets at Green Bay Packers.

(Live) (CC) Movie: Terminator 2: Judgment Pay (1991, science fiction) Arnold Schwarzenegger. Hard Copy (CC) News(CC) NYPDBIuo Op 11 Travel Travel (CC) Golf the World INews(CC) Kids SayThings Candid Camera Mysterious Island My Life as a Dog America's Most Wanted INiklta (CC) ft CTV News ft (CC) NewsSport Centre 13 Guinness World Records (CC) ft News(CC) New Add. Family Mysterious Island Great Adventures of the 20th Century PsT Factor: Paranormal Tne Outer Limits (CC) ft Red Green Show Red Green Show QT) "14 (4:00) Movie: Madame (drama) EXTRA (CC) ft Home Improve. Seinfeld ft (CC) Movie: TheWayWeWere (1973, romance) Baron Streisand, Robert Redford, Bradford Dillman. Cheers ft (CC) StarTrek: Voyager (R)(CC) ft fj2) 12 Viper (R)(CC) ft First Wave (CC) ft Touched by an Angel (CC) ft Movie: Red Earth, White Earth (1968, drama) Genevieve Bujold.

Taxi (CC) Roseanne ft (CC) Cheers ft (CC) Paid Programming QU ER (Part 1 of 2) (CC) ft stargate SG-1 (R) (CC) ft StarTrek: Deep Space Nine (R) (CC) ft Cops (R) ft (CC) Cops(R) ft (CC) I America's Most Wanted News Friends ft (CC) MADTV(R)(CC) ft fj)" 7j Baseball de la llgue majeure: Les Expos de Montreal rencontrent les Rockies au Colorado. (Live) Telejournal (CC) Nouvelles du sport (8:55) Movie: Sommersoy (1993, drama) Richard Gere, Jodie Foster, Bill Pullman. A communiquer I (32) 9 Horse Haven (CC) Now (CC) News(CC) First Story (CC) Earth: Final Conflict (CC) ft Cold Squad (CC) ft FXiThe Series (CC) ft IFashionTeievision Ooh, La, La (CC) Forever Knight (CC) ft 43 (4:00) Riverdance Live From NYC ft A Night With Secret Garden ft (CC) (7:45) Earth, Wind 4 Fire in Concert ft (CC) Riverdance Live From New York City (R) ft Earth, Wind Fire Concert (R) ft (CC) (jjl) 31 Biography: Ida Movie: Midsomer Murders: Stranglefs Rtood (1997, mystery) John Nettie. Monty Python's Flying Circus (CC) Movie: Midsomer Murders: Stmgler's Wood mi, mystery) John NerBel Ml 58 Chris Rock Jennifer Lopez Sparksft(CC) Good News Comicview mt List Rap CityTop 10 SD I "40" Paul Winter: Earth Alt-Star Comedy Special Ed SulllvMftlCC) Sex and the City Dams Ednal iBrtvolNews Movie 7 66 (5:10) K-100 PeachBoy Chinese International New Talent Singing Championship News Cyber Generation A Matter of Taste Barren Zone Sex Education Enjoy Yourself Tonht News (BE) 56 Ushuaia Rivera Live TlmRustert Hardball With Chris Matthews Rivera Live Hardball With Chris Matthews Squawk Box Paid Programmtng (ED 33 CNN Saturday Moneyweek (CC) Larry King Weekend (CC) CNN Saturday The Capital Gang" Sports Tonight (CC) World Beat Moneyweek Larry King Weekend (CC) Sports Tonight Your Money 57 (4:30) Saturday Night Live (CC) ft I'm Alan Partridge Russ Abbot Just for Laughs Just for Laughs improv H'n, HeM Dr. Katz Therapist Shang Forbes In Living Color Dennis Milter Live" Butch Patterson Comedy Shorts 42 Monkey Business Zoo's Company Animal Tracks Amazing Tails Vets in Practice Arthur C.

Clarke Discovery Lost Animals Monkey Business Zoo's Company Animal Tracks Amazing Tails Vets In Practice Arthur C. Clarke 51 Franklin (CC) pile Lulu ft (CCT Clarissa Explains It Believe or Notl Movie: BrinW (1996, drama) Erik Vbn Detten. (8:35) Movie: The Thfrteenffi Year (1999, drama) Movie: Suspfcwn (1941, suspense) Cary Grant Mouse Tracks JH) 52 Emeril Live Good Eats Extreme Cuisine Iron Chef EmerilLlve I Good Eats Extreme Cuisine Iron Chef I Ready Set Cook! Taste Test iff) 53" (4i30) Golf Central Viewer's Forum Profiles of i Pro PGA Championship Press Conference Golf Central (R) Viewer's Forum (R) Go Hawaii Golf Central (R) Best of Jamaican Design One House Lofty Ideas savolrFaire Awesome Interiors Tnese Walls Could Kitchens Baths Best of Jamaican Design 0ne House Lony Ideas Savoif Fairs Awesome Interiors dD 44 Liners Movie: BattfeoBrtow(19, war) Lsur Movie: Sartfe of Britain (1969, war) Laurence Olivky, Michael Christcj)her Phiinrner. 27 Great Food (R) ft Jacques Pepin Lawrence Welk (R) Nature (R) (CC) ft Benny Goodman's Gieatest Hits ft Glenn Miller America's Musical Hero ft Are You Served? Are You Served? Movie: Amateur (comedy-drama) (H 5 Entree to Asia Two Fat Ladies Teteluobies Dudley Dragon Magic School Bus Krafts' Heartbeat Ruth RendeH Mysteries (Part 1 of 3) Movie: Mirch Msula (1966, drama) Naseewddin Shah, Smita Patll. US 61 Earth: Final Conflict (R) (CC) ft Fresh Prince Cheers ft (CC) Friends ft (CC) Seinfeld ft (CC) Movie: lov at Large (1990, romance-comedy) Tom Berenger.

News (CC) ft Friends ft (CC) I Warrior Princess "41 Pet Project Pet Friends The Tourist nmeless Placet- Cottage Ufa TV Inferno Eros Horse Tales JackHanna Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Pet Project Gentle Doctor 18 29 Pop-Up Video ft Faxft(CC) Intimate Interactive (CC) ft Chili Peppers UveBeavisaButt-hedLoud ft Intimate Interactive (CC) ft Chili Peppers Live DaMix ft Faxft(CC) WM 35 Much VideoFlow Pop-Up Video ft Motown Live (CC) ft MuchMoreMuslc Countdown ft Pop4Jp Video ft Motown Live (CC) ft MuchMoreMusic Countdown ft iMuchVldeoFlow I SMS 63 (3:30) Movie: From the Terrace Movie: Top Gun (1986, adventure) Tom Cruise, Kelly McGlllis. Movie: Tomorrow Heier Comes (1978, crime drama) Oliver Reed. Movie: Corvette Summer (1978, comedy-drama) Mark Hamill, Annie Potts. Ml "22 Running Zone Personal Water. Game On SportsCentral Motorcycle Racing Ice Time Wmrbbi Wilkes WWFUvewire SportsCentral Game On Motorcycle Rider tS 26 Antiques Roadshow (CC) Saturday Report Venture (CC) Rough Cuts (CC) Fashion File (CC) IHotType (CC) Saturday Report Big Life Pacific Rim ReportlThe Money Show Fashion File (CC) Culture Shock Wm 8 (ftlSjNews (CC) (5:45) News (CC) (6:15) Newt (CC) (6:45) News (CC) (7V1 5) News (CC) (7:45) News (CC) (8:15) News (CC) (8:45) Newt (CC) (9:15) News (CC) (ToTt5yNews (CC) (10:45) News (CC) (11:15) News (CC) (11:45) News (CCT fiD 49 Safari Horsing Around Spruce Meadows Undersea Explorer Triathlon: ITU World Champions.

(R) Safari Horsing Around Spruce Meadows Undersea Explorer Docstar: Game Park Water Skiing Windsurfing BP "48 Distant Roads (R) Canadian Travel Big Valley (R) Black Sheep Squadron (R) Movie: Some Like It Hot (1959, c()medy)Torry Curtis, Jack Lemmoii, $03) 4 Earthquake Zone Inside Track Art Jones and Co. Contact Minor-League Baseball: Tucson Sidewinders at Vancouver Canadians. (Live) Global Justice FaceloFace 64 Movie: Possess Viper (R) (CC) ft IMovie: Brilliant Lies (1996, comedy-drama) Gla Carldea, Anthony LaPaglla.Pald Programming Paid Programming! SO 62 (3:30) Movie: Godzilla Movie: Dr. Dolittle (1998, comedy) Eddie Murphy. Reel Entenlnment Movie: Air Bid: Golden Receiver (1998, comedy-drama) Movle: Con Air (1997, action) Nicolas Cage, John Cusack, John Malkovich.

Movie PS 39 Pie In the Sky A Friday the 13th (CC) ft Movie: Flag (1987, crime drama) Rich ird Bohringer, Pierre Ardttl. OnctiTTilef (CC)ft Prime Suspect ft (11:05) Uwk: Natural Bom KMen (M) 45 i The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (CC) ft Movie: Electric Dreams (1 964, fantasy) Lenny fon Dohlen, Virginia Madsen. I Movie: OownoYaff (1 996, tuspensa) Vincent Spano, Kate Vemon, Paul Koslo. Perverelona Invasion America Crusade 55 Auto Racing (Tape) Kyle Petty's Charity Ride Tne History of Audi Racing Movie: firsoafl 500 (1966, adtonTFrankle Avalon, Annette Funicello, Fabian. LegendsStock CarAm.

Muscle Car Auto RKlng (R) 47 (5:05) Movie: Vegas Vacation (1997, comedy) Chevy Chase. (7:05) Baseball: Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers. (Live) (CC) (10:05) Movie: The Bad and the Ugly (1967, western) 34 Navy SEAU: Untold Stories Navy SEALs: Untold Stories Navy SEALs: Untold Stories Navy SEAUUntoM Stories Navy SEALs: Untold Stones Navy SEALs: Untold Stories Extreme Machines Ar 32 WSL Rollerjam (CC) WSL Rollerjam (CC) This Week In Country Music (CC) ft Opry Backstage Grand Ole Opry Auto Racing: World of Outlaws Amoco Knoxville Nationals. (CC) Opry Backstage Grand Ote Opry Ml J50 Yogi Bear Sylvester tTweetywacky Races Vottron Pippl Longstocklngl Young RobkiHood NetftNewt Bad Dog The Simpsons Splati(CC), Blake, Mortimer Duckman ft (CCf The Simpsons Captain SlartCXjl (51 30 Baseball: Montreal Expos at Colorado Rockies. (Live) (CC) SportsDesk (CC) Boxing: Angel Manfredy vs.

Stevle Johnston, Super Flyweights. (Tape) SportsDesk (CC) 24 LightAll Nations Des-Pardes windows of Hope Primary Focus Jack Van Imps Moral DMds Mandela iHandandEye Primary Focus Henry Hinn jstbte Lesson Peter YoungrtrT7 efGf 60 (4:00) Baseball: Texas Rangers at Chicago White Sox. (Live) News ICC) ft Coach ft (CC) Movie: we Body y(1990, action) Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young. NightMan (R) (CC) in warrior Princess" M) 65" Xena: Warrior (Conclusion) (R) (CC) ft Hercules: Journeys (R) (CC) ft Newt(CC) Seinfeld ft (CC) Friends ft (CC) Movie: Hs Pat (1994, comedy) Julia Sweeney, David Foley, Charles Rocket NightMan (R) ft "TT" SI 19 Movie: Shameless Shorts' Unehan (CC) She's So Funny Mother Love (Part 1 of 4) (CC) Movie: Brazen Hussies (1996, comedy-drama) Julie Walters, Robert Lindsay "25 Radio Active (CC) Worst Witch (CC) Freak Stories New Add. Famity Buffylha Vampire Slayer (CC) ft U-Gooeebumps ufr Ccoeebumps Afraid of the Black IBreaksr High Hipper (CC) Warp(CC).