Choices galore for holiday TV programs

By Sri Ramadani

JAKARTA (JP): It's a bumper TV season this week as the six TV stations do battle to give viewers what they want during the Christmas and Idul Fitri holidays.

On the bill are comedies, cartoons, films, music, television dramas and variety shows in abundance.

But the religious observance of the month will not be overlooked.

RCTI and Indosiar are scheduled to air the Christmas Day mass from the Vatican at 5:30 a.m. SCTV will air the Christmas mass from Crystal Cathedral at 8 a.m.

The stations will air the Takbir Akbar from Monas in Central Jakarta, where Jakarta Muslims, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, are scheduled to gather to praise God at 7:30 p.m. on the eve of Idul Fitri.

The six stations will broadcast the Ied prayer from the Istiqlal Mosque at 7 p.m. on Idul Fitri (Dec. 27).

Here are the entertainment choices from the stations.

SCTV: It has a host of cartoon specials for the young ones on Christmas Day -- Kiddie Viddie Christmas Joy (7 a.m.), Miroy, Santa's Misfit Mutt (7:30 a.m.), Brer Rabbit's Christmas Carol (10 a.m.) and Dot and Spot's Magical Christmas Adventure (11:30 a.m.).

Cartoon fans might as well set up camp in front of the TV, with shows at 7 a.m. every day through Dec. 30 (there is also a three-hour cartoon Bebe's Kid and Bon Voyage (Dec. 30) and a 90- minute Race for Your Life on the final day of the year.

SCTV will entertain its film fans on Christmas Day with Whoopi Goldberg's Sister Act2: Back in the Habit (1 p.m.), The Angel of Pennsylvania Avenue starring Diana Scarwid (12:30 a.m.), and Mission Impossible starring Tom Cruise (10 p.m.).

The station's action films on the following days are Johnny Mnemonic starring Keanu Reeves (9 p.m., Dec. 29), License to Kill with Timothy Dalton (9 p.m., Dec. 31) and Steven Seagel's Fire Down Below (11:30 p.m., Dec. 31).

A highlight on Idul Fitri will be the traditional comedy Joko Suryo Lebaran, featuring an all-star cast of comedians Tessy, Marwoto, Mamiek, Gareng, Gogon, Kelik, Malih, Bolot, singer Chintami Atmanegara, actresses Vonny Cornelia, Devy Permatasari, Che Che Kirani, designer Robby Tumewu and presenter Farhan. The show will be broadcast at 9 p.m. on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28.

SCTV's regular sinetron Lorong Waktu will be aired at 5 p.m. on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28, with Idul Fitri themes.

There also will be music shows with Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin at midnight from Dec. 29 to Dec. 31. Indonesian pop fans will be entertained by melancholic singer Yuni Shara at 3 p.m. on Dec. 27 and Dec. 29. The station's religious music shows are scheduled on Christmas Eve (1 a.m.) and Christmas Day (7 a.m.).

RCTI: It has a slew of major films, including Nightmare Before Christmas (9 a.m., Dec. 25), While You were Sleeping (9 p.m., Dec. 25), The Swan Princess (9 a.m., Dec. 26), Father of the Bride 2 (10 p.m., Dec. 26), What a Hero (9 p.m., Dec. 27), and Tokyo Raiders (9 p.m., Dec. 28). The station will broadcast Indonesian films of famed Betawi (native Jakartan) comedian Benyamin Sueb at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28, Friday, Dec. 29, and at midnight on Dec. 31.

Its traditional comedy show Ketoprak Humor, with Timbul, Tessy and Nunung, will be aired at 10 a.m. on Dec 28 and Dec. 29 and at its regular time of 9 p.m. on Saturday.

On the first and second nights of Idul Fitri, RCTI will air the variety show Gita Fitri, comedy shows Lenong Gaul featuring Deby Sahertian, Harry DeFretes, Robby Tumewu and Leysus, among many others.

RCTI will broadcast Siapa Suruh Datang Jakarta (Who Ordered You to Come to Jakarta) and Gelas-Gelar Berdenting, the story of a disabled child, on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28.

Indosiar: Christmas Day will be honored in music, with the Christmas concert Damai Sepanjang Masa, at 9 a.m. and Pavarotti Live in Modena at 11:30 p.m.

Following on from its success last year, the station will air a full day of the comedy show Srimulat, with the ubiquitious Tessy, Asmuni and Nunung, beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 28. Comedy group Project P will perform for 30 minutes on the same day after the Srimulat show.

TPI: It proudly presents cartoons such as Little Match Girl (Dec. 25), Puss in Boots (Dec. 26), Cardcaptor Sakura (Dec. 31), and Mulan (Jan. 1), from 7 a.m to 8:30 a.m.

TPI will also have a comedy show Ngelaba (6 p.m., Dec. 29) featuring the famous trio of Eko, Parto and Akri, and the traditional comedy Ludruk (7:30 p.m., Dec. 30).

It will also be rocking the house with the Spice Girls Christmas Tour (10 p.m., Dec. 25), Kenny G in Concert (10:30 p.m., Dec. 29) and Tom Jones in Concert (10:30 p.m., Dec. 30).

TVRI: It's a filmfest for seven days, beginning on Dec. 22. The films, part of Sepekan Gala Premium (Premium Gala Week), are Kick of Death (9:35 p.m., Dec. 22), Web Deceit (9:35 p.m., Dec. 23), Donato and Daughter (10:30 p.m., Dec. 24), Bad Business (10:30 p.m., Dec. 25), Her Last Chance (10 p.m., Dec. 26), Deadly Blessing (11 p.m., Dec. 27), and The Setting Sons (11 p.m., Dec. 28).

TVRI is also offering religious songs, Tembang Sapaan Rohani (9:30 p.m., Dec. 25, Dec. 27), Christmas Songs with Henny Purwonegoro and Lisa A Riyanto (9:30 p.m., Dec. 24) and Doa Bersama Antar Umat Beragama (interfaith prayer) at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 31.

ANteve: Is set to feature a concert on Islamic songs by popular Malaysian Muslim singers Raihan t 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 28.

The station also has a comedy show Komedi Metropolitan (7:30 p.m., Dec. 27) featuring comedians Omas and Madi, and actors Ria Irawan and Dede Yusuf.

The station will broadcast two award show programs. MTV Europe Music Awards 2000, hosted by singer Wyclef Jean, will be shown at 7 p.m. on New Year's Eve. VH 1 and Vogue Fashion Awards 2000, hosted by Academy Awards winner Cuba Gooding Jr and supermodel Gisele Bundchen, will be shown at 10 a.m. on New Year's Day for those who care about sartorial splendor.