Series touts solid, functionaLfamily B13

Mark Pattison/CNS

NEW YORK (CNS)-The fol­ WASHINGTON — It's good that TVReview lowing are reviews of video and Americans can see a solid, function­ § DVD releases from the Office ing family on the WB series "7th Mary's College in Notre Dame, Ind. for Fflm& Broadcasting of the Heaven," said Catherine Hicks, the She then won an acting fellowship ? U.S. Conference of Catholic Catholic actress who pla'ys Annie and earned a master's degree in fine Bishops. Classifications do not Camden, the mother of seven on the arts at Cornell University in Ithaca, take into account the extra con- series. N.Y. - r, tentin DVD releases, which has It plays in sharp contrast to the Originally in TV soap operas as a u ' zr not been reviewed. prevalence of divorce in the United professional actress, Hicks parlayed c 'ANTWONE FISHER' States. "It's breaking the heart of the playing Marilyn Monroe in a made- nation," she told Catholic News Ser­ for-TV movie into a lead role in the Inspirational true-life story of vice in a telephone interview from • short-lived series, "Tucker's Witch." a troubled naval recruit (Derek the "7th Heaven" set in Hollywood. For much of the decade before her ' Luke) who with the help of a "Divorce, divorce, divorce,," she daughter, Catie, was bornrin 1992, Navy psychiatrist (Denzel added; "It's broken the hearts of she had featured rdles in several TV ' Washington) learns to cope with thousands of families. '7th Heaven' series and movies. She took two the emotional devastation is sort of an image of a functioning -years off after Catfie's birth before wreakedt>y childhood rejection family that's not going to break up." returning to the screen. Two years and physical abuse. Some vio­ Hicks, herself married with a after her return, Hicks landed the o lence including depictions of daughter, said she uses some of An­ WB/CNS nole of Annie Camden, wife of min­ • or child abuse, an implied sexual nie Camden's backbone off the set. ister Eric^ on "7th Heaven." encounter and minimal rough "I apply Annie's environment at Actress Catherine Hicks, a lifelong Hicks said fans tend not to con­ language and profanity* The home," she said. "She's helped me Catholic, plays the wife of a fuse her with her character on the USCGB classification is A~m — bark out some commands I really * Protestant minister on the WB tele­ series. "They'll say, "There's the Z adults'. The Motion Picture As­ would shrink from." •• vision series "7th Heaven." In an mom on '7th Heaven.'" People come sociation of America rating is "7th Heaven" is entering its ninth interview with Catholic News up to me and say, 'Thank you. We 3 PG-13 — parents are strongly season on the WB network. It's been Service, Hicks said "divorce is love your show. It's helped our fam­ cautioned. Some material may the network's top-rated series in five breaking the heart of the nation." ily so much,'" she said. be inappropriate for children o of the past six years. To refresh fans o under 13. on how it all began, a DVD set of the series' first season has just-been is­ m 'RAISING HELEN' sued. Pleasant enough story about Since its inception, some of the a spirited single gal (Kate Hud­ child characters have adopted the son) who is given custody of her character qualities of their older nieces and nephew (Haydeji siblings. David Gallagher, who ICELEBRftTIO Panettiere, Abigail Breslin and played earnest preteen Simon Cam­ Spencer Breslin) when her sis­ den, emerged as a teen.heartthrob ter unexpectedly dies in a car in his own right, following in the 'Jill accident, forcing the career- footsteps of Bafry Watson, who minded young woman to re­ plays elder brother Matt. (Both ac­ evaluate her priorities. Brief, tors returned to the show this fall W mild sexual innuendo, implied after hiatuses of one and two sea­ FLEMING POINT .^ underage drinking and a few in­ sons; respectively.) .4 stances of crass language. The Mackenzie Bosman in the first GRACIOUS RETIREMENT-LIVING USCCB classification is A-II — season was impish kindergartner adults and adolescents. The Ruthie. "Mackenzie, she's getting SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14, MPAA rating is PG-13 — par­ pretty,"-Hicks noted, and now expe­ ents are strongly cautioned. riences some of the teen angst orig­ U:00 AM UNTIL 5:O0 PM * Some material may be inappro- inally assigned by scriptwriters to priatefor children under 13. Beverley Mitchell, who plays elder RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY sister Lucy. Inheriting Ruthie's THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT' wide-eyed innocence, in turn, are BEGINS flT1:30P.M . '9 Singing, dancing historical Lorenzo and Nikolas Brito, who play survey of the best of the MGM twins Sam and David Camden; the REFRESHMENTS ENTERTAINMENT TOUR* musicals charms the eye and twins were born during the show's ear with romantic fantasy. It fourth season. PLEASE JOIN US! was written, produced and di­ "7th Heaven" doesn't exactly mir­ rected by Jack Haley Jr. The se­ ror present-day family life, accord­ lection of excerpts from these ing to Hicks. "I think married, cou­ (585) 262-4090 musicals demonstrates effort­ ples argue more than the Camdens," -72 0 Latta Road lessly why their appeal endures she said. On a personal level, she Greece, NY 14612 from generation to generation. added, "I'm a working mom and I The USCCB classification is A- love my one child," as opposed to . www.flemingpoilnt.co-m I — general patronage. The stay-at-home Annie, who's raised MPAA rating is G—general au­ seven kids., rung seniors SIIK V 1LJ~1 JOUfl HK C nip W diences. Also new to DVD are A member of St. Paul the Apostle "That's Entertainment II" and Parish in the WestwOod section of "That's Entertainment III." Los Angeles, Hicks majored in both www.catholiccourier.com theology and^nglish literature at St.