The Guardian 25 October, 2006
TV programs previewed
Sun Nov 5 — Sat Nov 11
SBS programs only this week
In 1997, the SBS Radio and Television Youth Orchestra travelled to Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary to trace the path of the River Danube from the Black Forest to the Black Sea. The highlights of that trip — documented in From The Black Forest To The Black Sea (10.30am Sunday) — were a visit to Eisenstadt in Austria to perform Symphony No 3 by Schubert, dedicated to the bicentenary of his birth, and an appearance at the Bratislava Autumn Festival — the first performance by an Australian orchestra in the Slovak capital. Conductor: Matthew Krel.
In Mythbusters — Archimedes’ Steam Cannon (7.30pm Monday) it took Adam and Jamie two seasons to bust the last Archimedes myth of the infamous solar death ray. No sooner was that done and dusted off when another super weapon has come to light. This time it’s the Archimedes Steam Cannon. According to legend, during the very same battle of Syracuse in which the death ray failed to ignite, Archimedes also supposedly built the world’s first super gun — a cannon powered by steam.
Adam and Jamie go to work and build the mother of all cannons. But will it work? Amidst the mayhem of the steam cannon, the team manages to test another myth, courtesy of Adam’s mum. Mrs Savage did not allow her beloved young Adam to eat sugary cereal, because according to her, the box it came in had more nutrients than the cereal itself. The team test this myth by organising an eating competition with a difference.
For three decades, from the 1950s to the 1970s, Australian authorities pressured many unmarried mothers to give their babies up for adoption into what they considered "better" homes — those of married couples. At a time when society had no place for single mothers and their "illegitimate" children, these women were unaware of their legal rights.
Storyline Australia: Gone To A Good Home (8.30pm Thursday) explores the experiences of these women and their efforts to contact their children and gain recognition for past wrongs, while revealing the dramatic change in social values that has since occurred.
In 1967, Lily was almost 17 and was two months pregnant, living happily with her boyfriend Steve. Police arrested her, declaring she was in moral danger. Despite having parental permission to marry, the couple were kept apart and Lily was confined in a Catholic girls’ home until the baby was born. Alone and confused, she was manipulated into signing adoption papers.
This documentary reveals that some of these young women were coerced — and even drugged — and their babies were literally stolen from them. Despite the arguments that the practice was well-intentioned for the individuals involved, the ongoing impact has been devastating.
Presented by Jon Stewart, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart — Global Edition (10pm Thursday) delivers smart wit, satire and commentary on current affairs. This Emmy and Peabody Award-winning program takes a reality-based look at news, trends, pop culture, current events, politics, sports and entertainment with an alternative point of view.
In each show, Jon Stewart and a team of correspondents comment on the day’s stories, employing actual news footage, taped field pieces, in-studio guests and on-the-spot coverage of important news events. In addition to news stories, the program includes interviews with celebrities, semi-celebrities, authors and political figures.
Between 1300 and 1600 the Western world was transformed. An extraordinary wave of artistic and cultural innovation shattered medieval society and brought European culture reluctantly into the modern era. This was the Renaissance. This four-part documentary series The Medici — The Magnificent Medici (2pm Friday) tells the story of a violent, dramatic and compelling age — and the family that inspired some of the greatest moments of that era.
Lorenzo de’Medici, the 17-year-old heir to the dynasty, foils a murderous plot against his father and saves his family from a coup d’état. The Medici still dominate Florence, but they now take extra precautions, like picking a useful bride for Lorenzo. Clarice Orsini, a baron’s daughter and a cardinal’s niece, brings connections, class and military muscle to the Medici dynasty.
In the workshops of Florence, business has never been better. Under Medici patronage, artists like Sandro Botticelli go on to redefine the Renaissance.
Tales From The Palaces takes viewers behind the scenes of Britain’s historic palaces, following conservation staff as they battle to preserve the nation’s crumbling royal heritage. The innovative methods being developed to attract visitors to the royal palaces comes under examination in the final episode of the series. This final episode, Future Of The Past (7.30pm Friday) examines one of the most famous features of Hampton Court, its maze.
Planted in 1689 for William and Mary, it has been a source of enjoyment for residents and visitors over the centuries. But there is concern that the bench at the centre isn’t sufficient enough a reward for successful explorers. It is decided a sound installation will be made for the centre and members of staff are asked to recite excerpts of Shakespeare.
Up on the roof, architect Andrew Harris is working out how to reconstruct a chimney. Each brick has to be hand carved to match the originals — a complex craft made more difficult because everything must be done to a strict deadline. The palace will be used for concerts and festivals, but having parts covered in scaffolding is not an option.
At Kensington Palace, staff are preparing for the future. Margaret Tyler, from Wembley, has an extensive collection of royal memorabilia and after 25 years in her home, a handful of the most interesting items are going on display.
Feast Bazaar: Syrian Offerings (8pm Friday) is a ten-part journey into the labyrinth of mysterious souks and the colour, culture and customs of two of the most intriguing countries in the Islamic world. Following on from the success of his first series; Feast India, English-born Chef Barry Vera gets to the heart of Moroccan and Syrian cuisine, and on the way discovers much more. In the final episode of this series, Barry is back in the kitchen and paying homage to a unique cuisine, by adding his own imaginative twist to some of his favourite Syrian dishes.
Classical Destinations — Finlandia (6pm Saturday) explores the lives of the master musicians, the cities they lived in, and how their work reflects the very same surroundings familiar to us today. Presented and narrated by the celebrated British actor and music expert Simon Callow, the fourth episode looks at the elemental sights and sounds of Finland.
From Helsinki to the snowy vistas of Lapland where Santa has his workshop, all are captured in the music of Sibelius. Viewers will hear the story of the Finnish musical legend, visit the composer’s home of Ainola and hear his most famous musical work.