INDEX Dear Abby, Ann Landers Page E9 Movie listings Page E8 Comics Page E10 Isaac Asimov's Super Quiz Page Ell Fixit Page E8 Television Page E12 Thursday SEPTEMBER 19, 1996 SECTION "Patience ceases to be a virtue when it permits others to waste our time." Pauline M. Schmidt Starlhbuna Inside TODAY'S QUOTE Mall curfew A look at the Mall of America's new policy that will require kids under 16 to be accompanied by an adult after 6 p.m. on weekends. Turn to Minnesota Youth News on page E2. This weekend Fashion for Heartlink Find out what's up for this fall's fashion-.
sand help a good cause all at the same time, Nordstrom's will strut the stuff with the $10 admission going to Children's HeartLink, Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Doors open at 8 a.m.; please use the lst-floor entrance to the store.Tickets can be purchased at the event. Call 883-2121, extension 1690. ti Once Upon a Tree Out of Ave stars What A locally produced kids' TV program and video. Review: This nature-oriented puppet show strikes an effective balance between sugar and spice, education and fun for young children.
When: The "Big Ears-episode will air at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on WCCO-Ch. 4. Today Sudden sitcom -T- iff: 5f Photo by Chris Haston Brooke Shields, center, heads the cast of "Suddenly Susan." Brooke Shields stars in "Suddenly Susan" (), 8:30 p.m., KARE-Ch. 1 1, a sitcom with such high expectations that it earned a coveted Star Tribune photos by Bruce Bisping Linda Frolland did some between-scenes tweaking of Mr.
Oakley the taking tree on the magical set of "Once Upon a Tree," built by local stage designer JackBarkla So Must See TV slot and high praise from network execs long before the pilot was shot. Since that time, the first show has been redone and most of the cast changed. Shields plays a maga- zine columnist who leaves a wealthy fiance" at the altar to see whether, THE SEASON By Kristin Tlllotson Star Tribune Staff Writer 77 -v. rs. Peepers! Block that lift!" Emmy-Award-winning director Ted May was badgering a kindly old owl Television anchor Colleen Needles' latest broadcasting venture is behind the camera: She's co-producer of a nature-themed kids' program stairing some pretty darn cute for the first time in her life, she can make it on her own.
(Think Rachel without her Her supporting gang is a talented bunch, most notably Kathy Griffin, a wise-cracking coworker. The problem, at least initially, is Shields. While she's an engaging presence, it's obvious that she doesn't quite have the timing or camera comfort needed for sitcom work. Unfortunately, the show's writers push her like she was Lucille Ball. In the pilot, she gets drunk, sings karaoke and stumbles into a mail cart.
All is not lost. Keep in mind that Lea Thompson, who was in the same slot last year with "Caroline in the City," showed vast improvement over the course of a season. It takes time to learn how to goof off. Other shows premiering tonight: "Diagnosis Murder," 7 p.m., WCCO-Ch. 4 "Friends," 7 p.m., KARE-Ch.
11 I "The Single Guy," 7:30 p.m., KARE-Ch. 11 "Moloney," 8 p.m., WCCO-Ch. 4 "Seinfeld," 8 p.m., KARE-Ch. 1 1 "The Pretender," 9 p.m., KARE-Ch. 11 (will move to Saturdays).
Neat Justin Deep-discount concert Wal-Mart is putting on free shows as part of its "Music Across America" tour at Wal-Mart stores nationwide, including the store in Coon Rapids, where Thrasher Shriver and Larry-" Stewart, formerly with Restless Heart, will give 40 minute-performances today. The concerts are patterned after free shows that last year that drew thousands to stores in Texas and the southeastern United States. The tour will continue through July 1997. It's unlikely that Sheryl Crow will be asked to join the concerts. A recent Crow song implies Wal-Mart sells guns to children.
Wal-Mart has said that it does not and that it will not sell Crow's records. Beavers and bobcats and hares, oh myl Colleen Needles (left) takes five with her co-producer, Robin Blair, and Jasper the Hare during taping of their new project perched on a tree branch. She beat her wings in defiant response. But nobody, not even WCCO-TV anchor Colleen Needles, felt the need to call the Humane Society. This particular beleaguered bird was actually a very lifelike puppet whose human handler was being gently reprimanded for revealing part of a sound-stage support structure behind a huge, gnarled, fake tree named Mr.
Oakley. The scene was the Minnesota Video Productions studio adjacent to KMSP-TV in Eden Prairie, where this summer Needles and her business partner, entertainer Robin Blair, co-produced several episodes of "Once Upon a Tree," an educational children's program they hope will become a nationally broadcast series. One called "Big Ears" will air at 10:30 Saturday morning on WCCO-Ch. 4 (review on page E4J, and four videos also are available for sale regionally starting this week. The premise is typical kiddie fare: Mr.
Oakley, a wise and friendly antithesis to those scary talking trees in "The Wizard of Oz," serves puppets who also hail from the Twin Cities. This project stands out, though, because of sophisticated production values and top-of-the-line talent. The puppets have a range of dexterity and expressions that could give rubber-man Jim Carrey a run for his money, and they make that blank-faced "Barney" guy look well, prehistoric. Turn to TREE on E4 as both resident guru and hangout for several forest creatures, ranging from the bookish beaver Forrest Stump to the hyperactive hare Jasper. Through the resolution of various personality clashes, hurt feelings and sticky situations, the puppets are supposed to send positive messages to kids while amusing them.
Each half-hour segment is interspersed with musical numbers and video segments featuring live Old-car owners cruise, schmooze on Wabasha St, What Thrasher Shriver and Larry Stewart. When: 7 p.m. today. Where: Wal-Mart, 13020 Riverdale Coon Rapids. Admission: Free.
Can: 421-2262. By Joe Kimball Star Tribune Staff Writer and down St. Paul's Wabasha the license plates tell the story: 36 DODGE; 55 TBIRD; 51 Night Crawlers Tim Harlow Broadway Betty Straight from her Broadway turn as the larger-than-life, ex-movie star Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard," Betty Buckley Is bringing her one-woman concert to town for two nights. Buckley, who won a Tony Award tn 1989 for "Cats," will do songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim and others In what has been called "an intoxicating blend of pop, jazz, blues and the Broadway of then and now. Coincidentally, her latest CD a live re- cording of her recent Carnegie Hall concert to benefit AIDS charities arrived in stores only' yesterday.
When: 8 p.m. today and Friday. Where: Ordway Music Theatre, St. Paul. Admission: $30 to $42.
Cal: 224-4222. MERC: 65 GAL Tlw Friday and Saturday night roundups of older cars has grown steadily since St. Paul Police Chief Bill Finney reserved four blocks of Wabasha exclusively for cars from 1965 or earlier. Last Friday about 200 brightly painted and perfectly appointed older cars were parked or cruising along the street. It's scheduled to continue each Friday and Saturday night through Oct.
5, weather permitting. One of the car owners is Stan Berg-hind of Eagan, who parked his red '60 Cadillac with flaring fins in front of Dayton's. "This isn't really a car show, it's a social event," Bcrglund said. "There are not trophies or prizes, although we might try to start that next year. This is more a place to gather, walk around a little and look at each other's cars." Most of the car owners belong to the Minnesota Street Rods Association and used to hang out, with their cars, In the parking lot of the old Montgomery Ward on University Av.
Turn to NIGHT CRAWLERS on ES Star Trbune photo by Bruce Brspmj A I960 Cadillac was among the cars parked on Wabasha St last Friday for one of downtown St Paul's "car nights." Cars newer than 196S are banned from parking on four blocks of the street after 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays..
