Some shows to pick on PBS

Just when the commercial networks go into their long pre-spring dormancy of reruns, PBS blooms with special shows that are part of its annual fund-raising effort.

This March, two of those blossoms are worth picking for your entertainment bouquet -- with a third forget-me-not to pin on your lapel.

The most outstanding of these shows is "Michelangelo: A Self Portrait," a 90-minute documentary that explores the artist's life through his own words and creations (WMHT, channel 17, March 20, 10:15 p.m.).

Greatest ever?

In this program, the focus is on that artwork, with closeups that linger on his paintings and examine every angle of his statuary. While viewers see his handiwork, they hear words from his diaries and letters, words that explain how he came to carve this Pieta or paint that ceiling.

Again and again, the artist -- who was given to putting his own face in obscure corners of creations -- refers to religion, faith and his relationship with God. He saw his talent as divinely given and something that he was called on to return to the Giver.

How faithfully he succeeded over the course of nine decades is on display in "Michelangelo: Self Portrait," which is both a beautiful and an informative film....

Islanders

"The Puerto Ricans: Our American Story" adds to the previous documentaries on such groups as the Jews and Irish, Italians and Poles. Using home movies along with the usual collection of historic photos, this 90-minute special reminds us what Puerto Ricans have contributed to America -- everything from salsa to Jose Ferrer.

Interviewed on the show are such Puerto Rican celebrities as Rita Moreno, Jimmy Smits, Gigi Fernandez, Tito Puente and Herman Badillo. They share memories of their island home, including food, families, music and religion. The latter is primarily Catholic, although the program includes comments from -- of all things -- a Lutheran opera singer from Puerto Rico. Only in America!

"The Puerto Ricans: Our American Story" is a way for Puerto Ricans to celebrate their heritage -- and for others to learn about it....

And if that isn't enough of a Latin touch for you, singer Vikki Carr has a pledge month special titled "Vikki Carr: Memories, Memorias," a 60-minute salute to Mexican and Latin-American music from the 1940s and '50s (WMHT, channel 17, March 19, 9:05 p.m.).

Second quiz: What is Vikki's real name?

From the sculptures of Michelangelo through the salsa taste of Puerto Rico to the melodies of Vikki Carr -- that's three good ways to avoid the fourth showing of a sitcom on the commercial networks.

(WMHT has not scheduled the program on Puerto Rico. Vikki Carr's real name is Florencia Bisenta de Casillas Martinez Cardona. Catholics should also be interested in two other, previously reviewed specials on WMHT: "From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians" will be shown on March 14 at 10:50 a.m., and "Pope John Paul II: Conscience of the World" will be seen on March 15 at both 8 and 10:45 p.m.)

(03-11-99)