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TV War Specials, Movies Return For Veterans Day

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By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 11, 2008

Veterans Day brings Sen. John McCain to Jay Leno, heroes from the Iraq war to MyNetwork TV, and memories of Vietnam and World War II to various cable networks.

This holiday doesn't generate a lot of programming, but what's out there is good stuff on a day when we honor troops from all wars.

McCain, a hero of the Vietnam War, makes his first post-election TV appearance on NBC's "Tonight Show" at 11:35 tonight. It's being billed as Leno's Veterans Day salute.

PBS has aired several pre-Veterans Day specials, including a repeat of Ken Burns' World War II epic "The War," which concludes on Sunday. The network also has some post-Veterans Day specials, including "Lioness" at 11:30 p.m. Thursday (on WEDU, Channel 3).

This "Independent Lens" film is about five female Army support soldiers in Iraq - mechanics, supply clerks and engineers - who became the first women in U.S. history sent into direct ground combat. For other PBS specials, go to PBS.org.

MORE IRAQ HEROES: The Iraq war is certain to take center stage when the new administration moves in to the White House. There are several programs today that remind us of the sacrifices.

"Heroes at Home," hosted by former NFL star Howie Long, profiles six U.S. soldiers who share personal experiences of helping Iraqi families get back on their feet. It airs at 8 tonight on WTTA, Channel 8 (MyNetwork TV).

"Body of War," at 8 p.m. on Sundance, follows an Iraq veteran who returns home paralyzed.

"Home of the Brave," at 7 p.m. on HBO, also follows soldiers returning from Iraq.

WAR MOVIES: Tonight at 8, AMC offers "Midway," a 1976 film set in the Pacific during World War II with a stellar cast that includes Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Glenn Ford and Robert Mitchum.

TCM (Turner Classics) has "Warner at War" at 8 p.m., a look at the great World War II films made at Warner Bros. during the 1940s, followed at 9 p.m. by "This is The Army," a rousing 1943 patriotic salute with music by Irving Berlin.

VIETNAM DUTY: "Vietnam Nurses with Dana Delany," at 8 tonight on the WE network, recounts the experiences of nurses in Vietnam. Before Delany was on "Desperate Housewives," she played a nurse in "China Beach."

VIDBITS: Tampa's Tina Greene and her estranged hubby, former NFL player Ken, survived another leg of CBS's "Amazing Race" on the episode that aired Sunday. The Greenes had to overcome several obstacles to get through India. Texas divorcees Kelly and Christy were bumped from the show. (Get more details at Walt TV on TBOextra.com).

• The magazine "Entertainment Weekly" is reporting that the fifth season of "Lost" will premiere with a two-hour event on Jan. 21 at 8 p.m.

• Still confused about going digital? A public meeting is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hillsborough County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., to educate the public on the upcoming digital television conversion.

Presented by the Tampa chapter of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, the event will feature experts from the Federal Communications Commission and the National Association of Broadcasters.

Effective Feb. 17, TV broadcasters will switch to a digital format. For those households with analog sets that receive signals only by antenna, this could mean loss of television reception. For information, go to sbe39.org.

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