The editing and splicing of Thunderbird to remove scenes in which the characters were smoking, and the man-hours this exercise took, have gone down in the annals of PBS.
This was meant to protect the sensibilities of children, as well as respect the watershed – which obviously still does not exist when it comes to radio programmes.
It would be all too easy to think that the Early Learning Centre advertisement on Radio Malta has been created on the same lines; but actually, it’s a mistake by the advertising agency concerned. Featured are several toys that make noises, which are interspersed within the spiel.
The end message says, “Have a (assorted noises) Christmas” – it seems as though rude words have been bleeped out. This is not the only ridiculous advert on air right now, but it’s the one that takes the Biscuit Award. Next in line is the one that promises a “mad Christmas spirit”.
• Each time I point out to anyone from One Productions that it is the Television Station of the Year by default, their eyes roll and their throats make strangled noises similar to those described above. Indeed, a couple of One TV personnel very unprofessionally passed comments on air about related issues.
I would say this has been noted by Mermaid Media Entertainment Ltd, responsible for the forthcoming Vodafone Malta Television Awards, which were launched last Monday at the Black Pearl restaurant, Ta’ Xbiex. Noelene Miggiani said that circumstances pointed towards the need for slight changes in the format of each award.
With this in mind, the rules and regulations have been changed with an all-important clause that states: “In the (event) of two television stations winning the same number of awards on awards night, the award will be presented to both stations.”
Television stations, production houses and individuals who will be submitting their work in anticipation of being awarded the beautiful Silver Mermaid, may do this until January 14.
Nominations night will be on February 11; the awards night will be on February 19 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.
• Quite a few columns ago I had taken Gawdenz Bilocca to task for what I thought was his caricature of people with impaired eyesight.
I had met the gentleman quite by chance in Floriana, in late September, when he and his gang were rehearsing Tlett Atti Unici ghal Puttinu. It was then that I realised it was merely that his lenses need cleaning – desperately.
So all those shop-owners who made a killing by selling joke spectacles for Carnival got it wrong.
But I digress. Dr Bilocca – or Gawdenz, as he asked me to call him – knows full well he has become a cult figure, and uses his popularity for a good cause.
“I consider it an honour, and a duty to help in any way I can to increase awareness of the Puttinu Cares organisation, the aim of which is to support and care for families within which there are children who have cancer.
“The dedication and commitment of the staff at Rainbow Ward is without limits. I urge everyone, particularly people like you, who work in the media, to give their ongoing support to this noble cause,” he told me.
I know for a fact that most children love the antics (and the whinnying laugh) of this streetwise village lawyer. Gawdenz has participated in a number of fund-raising events in aid of Puttinu Cares, including the annual Puttinu Cares football marathon held in summer.
Gawdenz and his squad had staged parts of the exhilarating musical Mamma Mia Gawdenz, inevitably including a Maltese rendition of several ABBA hits, penned by the scriptwriter of Is-Sur Gawdenz, Frederick Camilleri.
The above-mentioned Tlett Atti Uniċi Għal Puttinu was a wonderful activity in which three theat-rical companies, Kumpanija Karattri, Herman Bonaci Productions, and Moving On collaborated and staged three plays. The proceeds, a cool €13,000, went to Puttinu Cares. Fabian Xerri De Carlo’s troupe staged Is-Sur Gawdenz Jiftaħ Inkjesta (Dr Gawdenz Stages an Inquiry).
Gawdenz also participated in Ir-Rokna ta’ Puttinu on Net Television, the aim of which was to increase awareness on the initiatives taken by Puttinu Cares.
Another event was held recently in Mġarr. A number of artistes got together in order to organise an evening chock-full of entertainment at the Parish Theatre, to raise funds for this noble cause.
• It was nice to see that despite the number of disc jockeys present at the Christmas get-together at PBS, three of whom specifically asked me to tell management to bring back Twanny Scerri, there was no background muzak playing. Is this another of the breath of fresh air indicative of being ‘under new management’, or merely good manners?
• Veteran broadcasters John Inguanez and Alvin Scicluna are the driving force behind the new series Kenn il-Baħħara, which will be broadcast from January 5. The 13, 30-minute programme series airs immediately following Dissett.
The impressive list of interviewees includes architect W Soler; Albert Ganado; Emanuel Buttigieg; Godwin Vella and Victor Wickman, each of whom is an expert in his chosen field.
It is hoped that this series will mark the start of a video-encyclopaedia about the Grand Harbour and the cities bordering it – Valletta, Floriana, Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Kalkara.
Topics covered will be the Great Siege, World War II, and Malta as a British colony.
television@timesofmalta.com