Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 9

Herald Review Decatur, Illinois rv TEEN Thursday, December 22, ,1994 S'f BymKDOSI CCPELAMD 1 1 I 1 V. V-' 1 1 I I 1 "Sj 1 Ridder News Service About a year ago, I brought you a comprehensive review of what should and should not be watched on television. Now, as 1994 closes, I hear a yearning from the masses. "Come back," they say, "and tell us more." I now bring you the second annual review of the good, the bad and the ugly of television. The Good: "Animaniacs" (Fox) Picking up where "Tiny Toons" left off, Steven Spielberg's Animaniacs has some of the best writing on TV.

The Warner Brothers (and the Warner sister) have escaped from the water tower and are wreaking havoc everywhere. Guest stars have included Beethoven, Abe Lincoln, Barney and Satan; not to mention Richard Lewis as Noah and William Shatner singing in a karaoke bar. "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (Comedy Central) Classic repeats of the best sketch comedy series ever have returned to Comedy Centrals' afternoon line-up. There was much rejoicing. "Late Show with David Letterman" (CBS) Clearly the best in the otherwise dismal world of late night talk shows.

"Mystery Science Theater 3000" (Comedy Central) Now in its sixth season, the show's more popular than ever. Classic episodes of MST3k (such as "Bad "Time of the Apes" and "Munos the Hands of can be enjoyed again and again. The Bad: "Beavis and Butthead" (MTV): Nothing more can be said about this wretched program. Still the worst show on television. television.

Now, as 1994 closes, I hear a yearning from the masses. UP: "Vitalogy." In case you wondering what the name of Pearl Jam album is all it means "the study of life." title of the album is taken from Ruddick's 1927 book of the name, which featured tips for living. THE UNION: Winter is just the corner, so you'll soon be the chill from head to toe. As mom has no doubt preached to thousand times, the best way warm is to layer yourself in One of the coolest layering options for this winter is the union suit. tight-fitting, button-down undergarment combining shirt and pants, union suit is the hipper cousin of It can smoothly fit under of jeans and a flannel shirt or Also, it usually comes with seatj for easy-access toilet the freshest thing about the suit is that it is hype enough be hidden under any other You could sport the shirt the suit while covering the or, if you wanted to get really you could wear wool or corduroy shorts over the pants.

Of course, it's perfect for loungin' a la carte. Style-conscientious retailers like and J.Crew have dropped designer union suits this season, you can go the no-frills route Army-Navy stores. "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" (Fox) Silly costumes plus goofy action sequences equal tremendous popularity and big bucks in merchandising. "Dead at 21" (MTV): MTV's first (and hopefully last) venture into the action drama genre. Bad acting, weird camera angles and dull storylines make up MTV's worst program since Beavis and Butthead.

"California Dreams" fdl (Syndicated) Better known as "the show on after 'Saved By the Bell'," "California Dreams" continues the tradition of mindless teen television. The Ugly: "The Brothers Grunt" (MTV) Squeezes the last drop of humor out of intestinal disorders, nipple twisting and vomiting. The shows' creators are sick and the animation repulsive. Thus finishes another installment of the good, the bad and the ugly. Once again, Comedy Central has gained most of my spotlight, while MTV's dismal programming has drawn my ire.

However', I could not leave you without insight into MTVs' controver-sal sketch comedy show, "The State." The State consists of a large group of people who are clearly insane. Most of their humor is juvenile and unintelligible. Despite this fact, some sketches are hysterically funny. Brandon Ccpdand, 20, is a graduate of MacArthur High School who watches a great deal of TV. Knight d0 someone is abused, they think that is the normal way to do things, so they become abusers themselves.

Often people who abuse others are in pain. To ease their hurting, they inflict an emotional, physical or mental pain on someone else. PAT AND DAVID: From personal put-downs and bullying to in-your-face, kick-your-butt confrontations, some people accept and even seem to admire dominating, aggressive attitudes. Unfortunately, these can become abusive. Also, some people were abused when they were younger, so they become abusers.

One out of four teens today is a victim of verbal or physical abuse. If you or someone you know is being abused, talk to someone you trust who has the ability to help you. Don't just hang in there and hope the abuser will stop. Abusers don't know how to handle their anger and frustration, and they can't learn how to do so without help. If you don't know anyone to talk to, call the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

TALKBACK FROM I read a letter from an overweight teen express(ing) low self-esteem and loneliness. Your reply was to get active in sports and go on a diet. Telling a teen that their problems are because they V. WORD were the new about, The Dr. E.H.

same good JOIN around feeling your you a to stay gear. A the longjohns. a pair sweater. a drop trips. But union not to garments.

part of pants funky, at home, around the Gap some or at OS ANGELES (AP) Little Ma-caulay Culkin isn't so little anymore, and as the "Home Alone" star quickly grows up, his once-vast audience seems to be shrinking at an ominous rate. Culkin, now 14, holds the lead role in the much-delayed "Richie Rich" movie that opened Wednesday. If the actor's recent box-office history is used as a benchmark, the Warner Bros, film based on the comic book character faces difficult prospects. Said a leading marketing executive: "It's not a given that a Ma-caulay Culkin movie is going to do well anymore." In fact, none of Culkin's last three films was a commercial hit. Last year's "The Nutcracker" took in a pathetic $1.7 million before its plug was pulled, and this season's heavily promoted "The Pagemaster" managed a piddling $9 million in three weeks of release.

Earlier this year, the actor's "Getting Even With Dad" brought in a weak $18.2 million despite a pairing with Ted Danson. As his box-office fortunes decline, the young actor's Hollywood relationships continue to sour. Culkin walked out at the last minute as an award presenter in this year's Academy Awards, infuriating the show's producer. Culkin recently left his longtime talent agent, International Creative Management, and the actor's dictatorial father-manager reportedly canceled Culkin's appearance at a press junket promoting "Richie Rich." Father-manager Kit tried to have narration removed from last year's "Nutcracker," and the film's backers accused the elder Culkin of strong-arm tactics in an unusually public flap. At the same time, Culkin's acting fee has reached the echelon reserved for the town's top players, and as his price goes up so, too, do the expectations for his releases.

The movie-going public generally does not base its ticket-buying habits on a star's off-screen behavior (except for icons such as Woody Allen). But Culkin's backstage antics seem emblematic of a career that suddenly has gone into a nosedive. The critics, too, have responded. The notices for "Getting Even With Dad" bordered on the hateful. With 1990's "Home Alone," Culkin starred in what became the highest-grossing movie comedy of all time.

(It was recently surpassed by "Forrest The fantasy about a lovable, scheming young boy fending for himself earned more than $283.7 million at domestic theaters and established Culkin as pop culture phenomenon. Soon thereafter, the actor (through his manager-father) began making staggering financial and creative demands. Holding the "Home Alone" sequel hostage, he successfully forced the director of "The Good Son" to be fired. Filmmaker Michael Lehman didn't want Culkin in Fox's "The Good Son," but the actor said he would not make the studio's "Home Alone 2" unless he got the "Good Son" lead role as a demon child. Culkin won the showdown and Lehman was forced off the film.

There was a time when Culkin, holding out for a salary in excess of $5 million and a share of the film's profits, was going to be passed over for "Richie Rich." The film's producers opened negotiations with Elijah Wood War," "The Adventures of Huck and Culkin slipped into the film only as time was running out for a nifty $8 million. Some say the actor's decline is simple: He isn't adorable anymore. "He's grown up and he's lost a lot of his cuteness," said one top casting director who requested anonymity. "He's not growing up into a teen idol girls don't find him sexy. What was cute at age 8 is obnoxious at age 12.

"The guy has kind of fizzled out at this point. In today's world, the kind of cuteness he sold doesn't work anymore. Kids these days are 12 going on 60. They're much more sophisticated. "After the age of 7, they want somebody who's cute and good-looking.

He's not anymore. Their idols are Brad Pitt and Christian Slater, not younger teen-agers," the casting director says. An executive at a studio that leased one of Culkin's failed movies said the actor's success in "Home Alone" has come to haunt him. Senior overcomes label to succeed By KERRY TAYLOR Knight-Ridder Writer jjVa "VP- 02 01 III PAT DAVE 1 Why do guys say they I like you and then go and do something very terrible? FROM MICHELEINE, DARLENE, URICK, KEVIN I AND AEVIEE, VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL, LAS VEGAS: Guys I are afraid of showing their eel-I ings. Girls show their feelings I 1 d.

im. 1 mure easily, uui 11 is naru ior guys. Guys have big egos and it makes them feel good to do this. They also like to play the field more than girls; they are fickle. Guys also really don't want to commit because they are too young.

They get peer pressure from their friends to play the field. GARY, Ind. A talented and determined Wirt High School senior, once considered by his teachers to be mildly retarded, was named this year's recipient of the $20,000 U.S. Steel scholarship for his academic achievements. At a school assembly Tuesday at Wirt, teachers, administrators, city and company officials praised Anthony White, 18, for his determination in overcoming a misdiagnosis that sent him to special education for his first four years in the Gary schools.

"Someone told him he couldn't succeed. Someone told him he was retarded because he was in special education. But he kept saying 'I'm bright. I'm In May he'll graduate second in his class," Superintendent James Hawkins said. When he was 6 months old, a fall impaired White's ability to speak, leading to the misdiagnosis and his placement in the special education program.

Speaking to his classmates, White said he was proof that having special needs was no barrier to achievement. White thanked his special education teacher, Sylvia Washington of Aetna Elementary School, who first realized White should be in the regular curriculum. Washington said she remembered White as an inquisitive, cooperative and determined boy whose love of reading convinced her to move him from special education. "By being an avid reader, it helped boost his ability in other subjects. We try to get the students early to boost their skills when they fall behind.

Every child is different, but this time it worked," Washington said. Mayor Thomas V. Barnes said White's accomplishments were the result of a community effort. "This would not have happened were it not for a supportive family, a teacher who made an impact, a good corporate citizen, his classmates and, most importantly, Anthony White," Barnes said. Among his other school activities, White is editor-ucnief of the student newspaper, president of the science club, vice president of the computer club and a tutor for other students.

White is the third annual scholarship recipient and will receive $5,000 each year for four years and have the opportunity to work at U.S. Steel during the summers. White said he planned to attend Morehouse College 1 in Atlanta, where he will major in special education. "I want to come home and teach the same thing Ms. Washington taught me," White said.

He received several standing ovations from his classmates during the assembly. are too fat and lazy just added to the low self-esteem. Why didn't you tell this teen to go talk to a counselor, try to find one good, true friend, try not to judge others by their appearances. You BOTH blew this one BIG time. Let's hope this teen doesn't go on a binge and purge diet, take diet pills or laxatives because of your advice.

PAT AND DAVID: A wise person once pointed out how important it is to know the difference between accepting what can't be changed and changing what can't be accepted. The 180-pound, 13-year-old girl who wrote to us wanted to know what to do about changing her weight. We don't know if that's the column you're referring to because we did not give her the advice you've quoted. Here's what we did say: "Ask your doctor, the school nurse, or your local community health agency if there's a hospital, clinic or agency in your area that offers a weight eating-disorders program. Such programs have nutritionists, dietitians, psychiatrists and psychologists, internists and social workers available.

These specialists will be able to design a total program that works for you." Pst SdssSy zsA Ksf write for Universal Press Syndicate. They appear Thursdays. PAT AND DAVID: There are males who will tell girls anything to score. But you don't have to be a statistic of these meaningless promises. Set your limits and don't let anybody talk or force you into something you don't want to do.

If something "very terrible" was done to you, tell someone who can help you. Start with your parents. If they can't or won't help, go to your school nurse, a counselor or your doctor. Abusers are insecure FROM KELLY, 17: Why do so many people get abused? STUDENTS AT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL, LAS VEGAS: People who abuse mentally, verbally or physically are insecure. They think the abuse makes them better people.

Another reason people abuse is because they were abused themselves. When.