The Fresno Bee from Fresno, California • 31

THE FRESNO BEE THURSDAY JANUARY 6 2000 E3 TUBE NEWS A DIGEST OF THE LATEST IN TELEVISION RADIO A Quick Study Mora mess A new version of Nickelodeon's obstacle-course game show "Double Dare launches on the cable -channel at 9:30 pm Jan 22 It begins Its regular 5 pm weekday slot on Jan 24 Jason Harris formerly seen on Nickelodeon's "Big Help on the hosts Ex-host Marc Summers serves as a consultant around when he crossed the river And we attacked it that way was similar as it was the three or four days around the battle and what hie says The easiest part of this portrayal of Washington for Daniels was hu appearance For most films he tuts the struck by how alone Washington was "The Continental Congress Patrick Henry Ben Franklin John Adams all those guys were just rah-rah-rah When it came down to this point the crossing they were Daniels says Washington came dose to being absolutely alone as his troops had dwindled from 10000 to 2000 Those left were cold and hungry Fast explains that it was "incredible that touched the men under hu command and kept them fighting studies to familiarize himself with Washington and the Revolutionary War were similar to his work before Daniels spent weeks researching the Civil War for that made-for-cable movie a similar kind of shoot what happened on the days around the events how we tackled The What book 1 and the screenplay does is look at the four or five days Jeff Daniels gets smarter for his George Washington role By Rick Bentley THE FRESNO BEE Jeff Daniels is average looking not meant to be any kind of physical assessment of the actor It is just a trait for him that is as important as Arnold Schwarzenegger's muscles or Robin Williams' elastic face If Daniels was not such an average-looking actor he would never have been able to star in films as widely diverse as "The Purple Rose of and "Dumb and Dumber He can play the guy down the street a buddy a friendly clerk as in "My Favorite and The Georgia native's career is a montage of characters all connected by a sense of good why his latest role fits so nicely on his resume It can be seen at 9 pm Monday in on the cable channel He plays George Washington in this story of the dramatic crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Eve in 1776 that became a turning point in the Revolutionary War "The chance to play someone like that was a great Daniels says of his portrayal of Washington "Some of the movies done have been less than challenging Ibis was really a chance to go right if you think you are an actor see if you can pull this Daniels has racked up a lengthy career but his history studies must have been limited He admits his knowledge of the first president was limited to the dollar bill To prepare for the role first move was to read the book on Washington written by historian Howard Fast Fast wrote the script based upon his book Daniels Slains his impression of Washington en from the image on the dollar bill was flint of a very stoic figure He found out Washington had a temper had mood swings and was very ambitious The actor was Drop the Titanic A true hero has trolled away Clayton death last week was a reminder of how we have so few heroes like "The Lone on television these days This is the era of the anti-hero on television Good guys have to be flawed If they wear a white hat it is simply a fashion statement It always that way Like bo many baby boomers my Saturday mornings were spent in front of the black-and-white television Despite the fact there were only three channels it always seemed impossible to pick which shows to watch on Saturday There was no problem when it came to The Lone Every week the Lone Ranger who wore a black mask was there with his trusted Bidekick Tonto to beat the bad guys He never sought fame or fortune A simple thank you was all he needed (Often some character would ask "Who was that masked as the Lone Ranger rode away) Although the bad guys would do evil the Lone Ranger never shot to kill By standards the character of Tonto was a stereotype But in the lily-white world of television of that time the friendship the crime fighters shared was groundbreaking Moore was a TV pioneer especially in the Western genre When his TV series launched in 1949 it featured many of the elements that would be repeated in the television Westerns to follow: good defeats evil protection of the helpless unselfish sacrifices respect for the environment The Lone Ranger was the perfect hero Sadly that era is gone If toe show aired today the Masked Man would have to deal with the problems of his dual identity he would struggle with all sorts of sexual confusion and his life would be made miserable by threats from gun-control lobbyists My Saturday morning hero could not be stopped What no rustler or hombre had been able to do a judge accomplished in 1979 when Moore was ordered to stop making public appearances in the mask A movie company owned the rights to The Lone and was Batting out a film without Moore ut Lone Ranger would not He just wore sunglasses the movie bombed The court decision was reversed in 1984 and Moore continued his work with a mask After the series ended Moore dedicated his life to being a reminder of what TV heroes used to be Moore's deep voice reminded anyone within earshot of the 'messages his show offered As a child I never realized how much the Lone Ranger taught me about right and wrong But today his voice I hear when people tell me they cant find anything good on TV anymore Everything about The Lone was good The Lone will continue to run in repeats But there will be an emptiness to the show for me because the man who gave it life has died Those who see the show for the first time should be as lucky as those children who learned 40 years ago that heroes do exist They are people who fight for good They take care of the helpless They teach others that there is power in right Television today could use more heroes like The Lone Of course it doesn't reflect reality but television should be an escape It should be a place where heroes can exist in a pure form Clayton Moore showed it could work For that he will always be my hero Rick Bentley is The Bee's TVradio writer Write to him at Features The Fresno Bee Fresno CA 93786 fax him at 441-6457 or e-mail him at rbentleyfresnobeecom Jeff Daniels stars as Gen George Washington in "The on kind of story a story about suspense spying and the Germans and the Bisset says The film actress explains she was attracted to the role because she had been looking for a Jacqueline Bisset is Lady Lewis in "comedic sophisticated for some time The supporting character pops up during the film as a bit of comic relief from all of the mystery and intrigue Bisset has played her share of heavy dramatic roles including the portrayal of Joan of mother Her other credits include "Anna and and Tve tended to be cast in dramas and I just like to do Bisset said The Fresno Bee VALLEY Top secret After you read this destroy It The Discovery Channel offers a look at one of the most secretive organizations in the world with the spe- dal "On the Inside: The CIA" Secrets will be revealed 8- 10 pm Jan 16 Included are a look inside the walls of the headquarters interviews with top officials and previously classified top-secret files Toon trek HBO launches "The Animated' at 4 pm Monday A differ-ent 30-minute epK sode will air each Monday through Jan 31 The series offers an animated i version of epic poem "The Another classic Oscar and Emmy nominee Dennis Hopper and Tony Award winners Frank Langellaand Sir Derek Jacobi have joined the cast of NBC's "Jason and the a Hall-mark Entertainment miniseries The pro- duction starring Jason London will be broadcast April 30 and May 1 They're game There have been more than 6000 applications to be contestants on the CBS show "Surviv- Producers will choose 800 semi-finalists travel to 16 cities to meet them and fly 50 to Los Angeles for tests A The chosen 16 will be left on the tropical island of Pulau Tiga (off Borneo) their efforts captured by camera crews 24 hours a day and compiled Into 13 one-hour episodes Each of the first 12 episodes will conclude with a vote by those invoi- ved to expel one of their colleagues On the final week the expelled partid pants will vote to choose which of the remaining two will win $1 million One thing that was never revealed in the theatrical blockbuster was that the supposedly unsinkable vessel had a sister ship: the Britannic The history of the ill-fated luxury ship is the subject of an original television movie tided that will make its debut Sunday on the Fax Family Channel If you think the Titanic had problems check out this list of woes for Britannic: soon after World War I TV PREVIEW began in 1914 the Love How about Let us know Now is your chance to let us know what your favorite TV show is We are looking for what you like to watch on TV All you have to do is Bhare in 25 to 50 words what your favorite television shows are and why simple Use a letter-size piece of paper Type or write your name daytime plume number and state your favorite show or shows and why you like them We also need a photograph of you A wallet size is good And we return it Send the information along with your name the city where you live your occupation a daytime telephone number and a clear photo of yourself to TV Favs" The Fresno Bee PO Box 12504 Fresno CA 93778-2504 You can e-mail your answers and a photograph to featuresfresnobeecom Results will publish weekly cm the Thursday TV Radio page RADIO crew was infiltrated by German spies a British spy was also on board weapons were smuggled within the cargo there was a near mutiny and in 1916 the ship sank in half the time of the Titanic Despite all of that fodder for a script the film does set sail in the shadow of its blockbuster big sister Jacqueline Bisset who plays Lady Lewis has no problem with the film since it deals with a different ship in a different way an adventure story not the same FAMOUS FAVORITES the view from the Valley Zara Arboleda is co-host of KSEE Channel new "Saturday program that begins 7 am Saturday your favorite TV show and why? A have a real guilty pleasure I have to watch every week I know it is total escapist fore None of that stuff is remotely possible But I just like to watch it Zara Arboleda I i a "I also have to watch and The am a total TV ft? A A 4.