The State from Columbia, South Carolina • 58

E6 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2002 THE STATE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA WWW.THESTATE.COM TOP 20 TV SHOWS COLUMBIA TV MARKET November 2001 sweeps period Program 1. "ER" 2. -Friends" 3. "JAG" 4. "C.S.I." 5.

"West Wing" 6. "Frasier" 7. "Will Grace" 8. "Law Order SVU" 9. (tie) "Just Shoot Me" "Everybody Loves 11.

"Law Order" 12. "Judging Amy" 13. "Providence" 14. "Dateline Friday" 15. "Law CI" 16.

"Becker" 17. (tie) "Survivor: Africa" "Weakest Link Monday" 19. "Crossing Jordan" 20. "Third Watch" RATINGS FROM PAGE E3 "Most people are going to throw out the February book," said Rich O'Dell, general manger of CBS affiliate WLTX. "It's not going to be a true indication of viewers' habits." Still, don't expect WLTX to put its aggressiveness on hold.

The CBS affiliate has made strides in the past three years on the news front and wants to keep the momentum going. BATTLE LINES For nearly 40 years, WIS dominated the Columbia television market; its newscasts were unchallenged. That began to gradually change in the 1990s, especially after Gannett Broadcasting bought WLTX in 1998. Gannett quickly showed it was serious by luring meteorologist Jim Gandy away from WIS, where he had worked for 14 years. The company also brought in O'Dell from the Cleveland market to manage WLTX.

Under O'Dell's watch, the station began offering crisper and more fast-paced newscasts. By 2001, the gap had closed and for the first time WLTX twice beat WIS in the noon news. WLTX had gone where no other local station had gone before. But in November, WIS took back some of its turf. The station won every major head-to-head news confrontation with WLTX during the November sweeps ratings period in the 11-county Columbia TV market, according to Nielsen Media Research.

WIS, which had lost to WLTX in the noon news hour during the past three ratings periods, reclaimed that spot in November by the narrow margin of one-tenth of 1 percentage point. WIS had a 6.1 rating while WLTX had a 6. That translates into about 20,700 households or 52,860 viewers. A rating is the percentage of households with TV sets. Accord- DRAW FROM PAGE E3 WEATHER Stations will tell you quickly that weather news tops just about every survey of viewer interests.

WIS has its Storm Team of meteorologists who use the Double Doppler Radar system, a helicopter and a van. WLTX counters with Jim Gandy, whom the station touts as the most trusted meteorologist in the market. Gandy, who worked at WIS 14 years before moving over to WLTX, also uses Double Doppler. Other stations stick with a five-day forecast, but Gandy offers seven days. WOLO's Bailey calls weather "one of the critical elements" of any newscast.

"We just invested in a new state-of-the-art system with new graphics and a better warning system for drastic weather changes," he said. WACH, whose newscasts are produced with the help of WIS, also uses WIS weather equipment. NO PLAY FROM PAGE E3 fully, said director Jocelyn Sanders. The violent events in the play are familiar to people born in the early 1960s or before, but the brutal subjugation of African-Americans seems like ancient history to the younger actors, she said. "I know that was the reality of the time," said Zuri Wilson, a 2001 graduate of Winthrop University, who plays Joyce.

"Rehearsing the play takes an emotional toll." DayAnnette Counts, whose daughter Alexis plays Matoka, said the girl hasn't had many questions. "I've taken it upon myself to talk to her about it," she said. Trustus mounts the play at a time when both the word and Southern Jewish life are being ex- GEORGE FROM PAGE E3 the lessons from the reading. "Many of them now can read the books for themselves," said Williams, mother of four and a veteran of 28 years in the classroom. Not only have the books been a "marvelous learning instrument," they have helped bring parents closer to the school, she said.

For example, one parent last year found a large likeness of George "Larger than I am," Williams said and brought it back to put in her classroom, where it joins pictures on the wall and other Curious George artifacts that keep students entertained and focused. That probably would have delighted Hans Augusto Rey and his wife, Margaret, a pair of German natives who married in 1935 and with a 7.6, actually edged out WLTX's news, which had a 7.5. Still, WLTX news director Larry Audas was encouraged by his station's performance. "We started the newscast without much fanfare and really didn't know what to expect," he said. "For a first -time effort, we are happy with the results." Even WIS' "Live at 5" won its time slot for the first time, with an 8.2 rating compared with WLTX's "Judge Judy," which had an 8.

WIS won 6 p.m. with a 15.2 rating followed by WLTX's news at 11.8 and WOLO's news at 2.8. WACH's reruns of "Moesha" received a 2.4. In the 11 p.m. news battle, WIS won with a 12 rating, followed by WLTX with a 6.7.

WACH's "Good Times," with a 3.2, nudged WOLO's newscast with a 3 rating for fourth place. Worth noting is that WOLO's rating is a big improvement over its 1.3 in May. "We're happy about that," WOLO general manager Chris Bailey said. "Anytime you grow, that's obviously a good thing. We actually grew in the morning, too, where we didn't have any kind of audience for a while." WOLO's 6 a.m.

"Good Morning Columbia" went from a 0.3 rating in May to a 0.7 in November. "We'll take it," Bailey said. Still, at the moment, WIS and WLTX are the top two combatants in the news battle. While WIS is pleased with the November numbers, station manager Jeff Hoffman said no one is ready to throw a party. "We're in a very tight competitive battle," said Hoffman, who also oversees the news operation.

"The huge numbers WIS got 10 years ago are history. We'll never see those again. If the past few months have taught us anything, it's that we should never take anything for granted." Audas said WLTX would continue to apply the pressure. "We're in this for the long haul," he said, "and I think viewers are finding that we're serious about that." newscasts were promoted during the "Survivor" reality-TV series. Bailey said WOLO likes to use ABC's high-rated "The Practice." McBride said WACH has added promos to "The Bernie Mac Show," which has attracted a diverse audience, according to the Nielsens.

THE A-TEAMS You can have all the fancy Dopplers and neat graphics, but ultimately the on-air talent must connect with viewers. And every station has its A-team. WACH Mike Woolfolk and Heather Hudgens, anchors; Ernest Robinson, sports; Cary Allen, weather. WIS Steve Crocker, Susan Aude, Judi Gatson and Dawn Mercer, anchors; Rick Henry, sports; Ken Aucoin and Ben Tanner, weather. Michael Chisholm and Deloris Keith, anchors; Bob Shields, sports; Jim Gandy, weather.

WOLO Jim Blue and Kristin Mitchell, anchors; Cory Curtis, sports; Reg Taylor, weather. Robertson remembers hearing about such signs when she was growing up in Miami during the 1950s. "I remember my parents telling me about these signs that would be posted in the north part of Miami Beach," she said. But Marcia Zervitz, director of the Sanford L. Ziff Jewish Museum of Florida in Miami Beach, said the sign is an urban legend.

She recently organized the exhibit "The Art of Hatred: Images of Intolerance in Florida Culture," which examines public displays of anti-Semitism in a state with one of the largest Jewish populations in the nation. After years of searching, she never has found a sign with those words. She never has found even a photograph of one. "As far as we know it's a myth," she said. "No one has ever found such a sign." we learn that George was living happily in Africa when he was captured by a man in a yellow hat, who took him to live in a zoo in America.

On the surface, at least, the plot offers an unfortunate parallel to the plight of Africans abducted into slavery. The good nature of George with his unflagging sense of wonder and innocence (and the book's whimsical illustrations) have overridden most objections to the books. (Houghton Mifflin, eager to keep its franchise going, also has commissioned two new Curious George books, both written "in the style of" the originals.) The heft of this compilation volume might make it a little difficult to handle at bedtime the paperbacks are perfect for that but for a handy all-in-one collection, i it can't be beat. MOVIES Network-Station NBC-WIS NBC-WIS CBS-WLTX CBS-WLTX NBC-WIS NBC-WIS NBC-WIS NBC-WIS NBC-WIS CBS-WLTX NBC-WIS CBS-WLTX NBC-WIS NBC-WIS NBC-WIS CBS-WLTX CBS-WLTX NBC-WIS NBC-WIS NBC-WIS Definitions: Sweeps period: four times a year in February, vember Nielsen Media Research monitors the all 210 of the country's television markets. The termine local advertising rates.

Stations also use popularity of local syndicated programs. Rating: the percentage of households with TV sets Share: the percentage of those home watching TV Source: Nielsen Media Research ing to Nielsen, there are 345,000 TV households and 881,000 viewers in the Columbia market. "Reports of our demise have been greatly exaggerated," WIS general manager Mel Stebbins said. "We really are pleased with the November numbers." WLTX's O'Dell noted that the news numbers were up for all stations compared with those in May, the most recent sweeps period. "I definitely think the events of Sept.

11 have a lot to do with that," TARGET AUDIENCE All stations try to appeal to as broad an audience as possible. But the 18-to-49 and 25-to-54 brackets are key to advertisers. "They supposedly have the most buying power," Bailey said. McBride said that's changing. "Many of the people who are watching Fox now are going to be turning 50 soon," he said.

COMMUNITY NEWS All the stations put a high priority on "community Stories about people in Richland and Lexington counties top the list, but because the Columbia market encompasses 11 counties, events in Sumter, Orangeburg and other cities in the Midlands also are considered important. WIS has the "Consumer Troubleshooter" with Judi Gatson, testing whether a product delivers what its manufacturer promises. And for the African-American community, there is the long-running issues show "Awareness." WLTX's "On Your Side" is designed to help viewers solve prob- IF YOU GO When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 3 p.m.

Sundays through March 2 Where: Trustus, 520 Lady St. 3 How much: $12.50 to by donation Feb. 17 Contact: (803) 254-9732 amined. A book about the word, written by Columbia native Randall Kennedy, has gained national attention since its January publication. USC's McKissick Museum recently opened "A Portion of the People: 300 Years of Southern Jewish Life." fled Paris hours before the Nazis seized the city in 1940.

Their first book, "Curious George," appeared in 1941, soon after their arrival in New York. Six years later, the second book, "Curious George Takes a Job," was published. Five more followed: "Curious George Rides a Bike" (1952), "Curious George Gets a Medal" (1957), "Curious George Flies a Kite" (1958), "Curious George Learns the Alphabet" (1963) and "Curious George Goes to the Hospital" (1966). All of those books are collected in a wonderfully nostalgic new release, "The Complete Adventures of Curious George: 60th Anniversary Edition" (Houghton Mifflin, 422 pages, $30). The book includes an essay about the authors (he died in 1977, she in 1996), a glimpse of the worldwide Curious George phe- May, July and Noviewing habits of results usually deratings to gauge the at a given time O'Dell said.

"People now not only want local but are interested in national and global updates." WLTX responded to the September terrorist attacks by adding a 7 p.m. newscast. That offered WIS competition in that time spot for the first time. WIS still won in November with its running "7 O'Clock Report." According to Nielsen, WIS had a 12.8 rating, slightly better than its 12.5 in May. The good news for WOLO at 7 p.m.: Its "Wheel of Fortune," lems.

"We get 600 or 700 calls a week," O'Dell said. WOLO has Phyllis Jackson's "Family Report," aimed at AfricanAmerican families. WACH has the "Teens to Watch," highlighted student achievers, and "Midlands' Most Wanted," which solicits viewers' help in tracking crime suspects. CONTENT How many stories and how much variety are packed into each newscast? Every station said that fluctuates, depending on the day. An event such as the Sept.

11 terrorist attacks dominates even local telecasts. "On the day the lottery started, we had more stories on that," Bailey said. WACH's McBride, though, said that with only one daily newscast (at 10 p.m.), his staff tries to pack as many items as possible into the allotted 35 minutes. CROSS PROMOTION Watch just about any network's prime-time lineup and you'll see a promo for a local newscast. O'Dell said WLTX made sure its Discrimination against Jews in the South rose during the 20th century, when large numbers of Jews from Eastern Europe began arriving.

Unlike Jews who had been in the area for centuries, the new immigrants stood out because of their odd accents, clothing and more orthodox religious practices, said Lynn Robertson, museum director. The Ku Klux Klan turned its wrath toward Jews at this time, she said. Robertson and Trustus employees said they will work together to inform patrons of what the other group is doing by distributing flowers and putting up posters. According to several people, the sign from which the play takes its name is part of the lore of Miami Beach, not the rural South. And it might be only lore.

nomenon it has been translated into 25 languages and uncommon photographs of George's creators. None of that will matter in the least to George's youngest readers, who will revel in George's insatiable appetite for getting into -hearted mischief. Whether it's painting murals of jungle animals on apartment walls, disrupting lunch trays at the hospital or making boats out of the newspapers he's supposed to deliver, George will get into trouble. And yet everything always turns out OK: George makes a sad little girl laugh, or saves a baby bear that escaped from the circus. And the man with the yellow hat is always there, waiting to bail out George.

The books have not been completely without controversy. In the first book, for instance, Times listed are for today's showings BUSH RIVER GENERAL CINEMA'S DUTCH SQUARE At Dutch Square Center 750-3576 1. Royal Tenenbaums (R) 1:50, 4:20, 7:10, 9:40 2. Lord Of The Rings (PG-13) 12:50, 4:30, 8:00 3. How High (R) 1:50, 4:50, 7:20, 9:30 4.

Kung Pow (PG-13) 12:50, 2:50, 5:00, 7:40, 9:50 5. A Walk To Remember (PG) 1:40, 4:40, 7:20, 9:40 6. Black Hawk Down (R) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 7. Mothman Prophecies (PG-13) 1:30, 4:10, 7:00, 9:30 8. Count Of Monte Cristo (PG-13) 1:10, 4:00, 7:10, 10:00 9.

I Am Sam (PG-13) 1:10, 4:00, 7:00, 9:50" 10. Snow Dogs (PG) 12:45, 3:00, 5:10, 7:30, 9:40 11. Harry Potter and the Socerer's Stone (PG) 1:20, 4:20 12. Ocean's 11 (PG-13) 7:30, 10:10 13. Orange County (PG-13) 1:30, 3:20, 5:20, 7:40, 9:50" 14.

Slackers (R) 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:30, 9:30 15. Beautiful Mind (PG-13) 1:00, 4:10, 7:10, 10:00 DOWNTOWN NICKELODEON Main at Pendleton 254-3433 www.nickelodeon.org 1. Our Lady Of The Assassins (R) 3:00, 7:00, 9:00 FOREST ACRES REGAL CINEMA 7 Richland Mall Rooftop 748-9044 1. In The Bedroom (R) 1:00, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10 2. The Count Of Monte Cristo (PG-13) 12:50, 4:00, 7:00, 10:05 3.

The Mothman Prophecies (PG-13) 1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 10:00 4. Kung Pow: Enter The Fist (PG-13) 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 9:50 5. Gosford Park (R) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:05 6. The Royal Tenenbaums (R) 1:10, 4:15, 7:40, 10:15 7.0 Ocean's Eleven (PG-13) 7:20, 9:55 8. Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (G) 2:00, 4:40 WYNNSONG 10 5320 Forest Drive 782-8100 1.

A Walk To Remember (PG) 1:30, 4:00, 7:15, 9:30 2. Kate And Leopold (PG-13) 1:30, 4:20, 7:10, 9:40 3. Orange County (PG-13) 2:00, 4:10, 7:20, 9:40 4. Lord Of The Rings (PG-13) 12:00, 3:35, 7:30 5. A Beautiful Mind (PG-13) 12:45, 4:00, 7:00, 9:50 6.

Black Hawk Down (R) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 7. Slackers (R) 2:00, 4:30, 7:30, 9:45 8. Harry Potter and the Socerer's Stone (PG) 12:30, 3:45, 7:00, 10:00 COLUMBIANA PLACE 1250 Bower Pkwy. 407-9898 Raymond" 1. Brotherhood of the Wolf (R) 12:35, 3:45, 6:50, 9:45 2.

Birthday Girl (R) 12:50, 3:15, 5:30, 7:50, 9:50 3. Slackers (R) 12:40, 2:45, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30 4. I am Sam (PG-13) 1:00, 4:10, 7:10, 10:10 5. In Bedroom (R) 1:10, 4:30, 7:35, 10:15 6. Black Hawk Down (R) 12:45, 1:30, 4:00, 4:45, 7:00, 7:45, 10:00 7.

Snow Dogs (PG) 12:15, 2:35, 5:00, 7:30 8. Orange County (PG-13) 12:20, 2:30, 4:35, 6:45, 9:00 9. Gosford Park (R) 12:25, 3:30, 6:40, 9:35 10. A Beautiful Mind (PG-13) 1:05, 2:05, 4:15, 5:05, 7:15, 8:00, 9:55 11. Lord Of the Rings (PG-13) 12:30, 4:05, 7:40 12.

Kate and Leopold (PG-13) 1:35, 4:40, 7:25, 10:05 ST. ANDREWS $1.50 CINEMA St. Andrews Rd. 772-7469 1. Shallow Hal (PG-13) 2:40, 5:00, 7:10 2.

Black Knight (PG-13) 2:10, 4:00, 5:55, 7:40 3. Joe Somebody (PG) 2:20, 4:30, 7:00 4. The Princess Diaries (G) 2:00, 7:20 5. Serendipity (PG-13) 4:10, 5:45 6. Training Day (R) 2:30 7.

Domestic Disturbance (PG-13) 5:15, 7:30 LEXINGTON PASTIME PAVILION 8 Hwy. 6, Lexington 951-3603 1. Slackers (R) 2:20, 5:15, 7:50, 10:10 2. A Beautiful Mind (PG-13) 1:50, 4:50, 7:35 3. Lord Of The Rings (PG-13) 4:00, 8:00 4.

A Walk To Remember (PG) 2:10, 4:20, 7:30, 9:50 5. Snow Dogs (PG) 1:30, 4:10, 6:50, 9:20 6. Kung Pow (PG-13) 1 2:30, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30 7. Mothman Prophecies (PG-13) 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 10:00 8. Black Hawk Down (R) 1:40, 4:40, 7:45 9.

Snow Dogs (PG) 1:45, 4:10, 7:10, 9:30 6. Kung Pow (PG-13) 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:40 40 10. I Am Sam (PG-13) 1:15, 4:00, 7:00, 9:45 7. Lord Of The Rings (PG-13) 11:45, 3:10, 6:35, 10:00 IRMO 8. A 12:10, Walk 2:25, To 4:50, Remember (PG) 9:20 7:05, CARMIKE 14 Across from Columbiana Centre 781-3067 MOVIES AT POLO 9700 Two Notch Road 1.

Mothman Prophecies (PG-13) 788-7818 1:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 2. Vanilla Sky (R) Check ad for movie listings 1:15, 4:00, 7:00, 9:40 or call 788-7818 3. Monsters, Inc. (G) 12:15, 2:30, 4:45 4. The Imposter (PG-13) 7:30, 9:30 5.

How High (R) 2:10, 4:20, 7:30, 9:30 6. ALI (R) 1:00, 4:30, 7:45 7. Majestic (PG) 12:30, 4:00, 7:30 8. Spy Game (R) 12:30, 3:30, 7:00, 9:40 9. Jimmy Neutron (G) 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 10.

Walk To Remember (PG) Listings guide 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:15 11. Kung Pow (PG-13) No passes, Super Savers, 2:00, 4:30, 7:30, 9:30 Greenbax or 12. Ocean's 11 (PG-13) Movie Madness accepted 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:40 13. The Man Who Wasn't There (R) DTS, THX or Digital sound 1:15, 3:45, 7:15, 14. Behind Enemy Lines (PG-13) Showtimes subject to change.

To 2:00, 4:30, 7:30, 9:50 confirm, call individual theaters. 89639-65 15. Count Of Monte Cristo (PG-13) 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:45 QUICK FLICKS 10-second review: "Birthday Girl" The title character, played by the ever-alluring Nicole Kidman, is half dream-come-true, half nightmare. The story is half romantic comedy and half thriller. And the movie itself is half good.

Critic's rating: (R for sex, nudity, language and violence) NORTHEAST COLUMBIA MALL CINEMA 8 Two Notch At Parklane Rd. At Columbia Mall 788-7664 1. The Count Of Monte Cristo (PG-13) 1:00, 3:50, 6:40, 9:30 2. Snow 12:15, 2:40, 4:55, 7:15, 9:35 3. Slackers (R) 12:20, 2:45, 4:55, 7:25, 9:55 4.

The Mothman Prophecies (PG-13) 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:35, 10:10 5. Black Hawk Down (R) 12:30, 3:45, 7:00, 10:05.