USCCB Movie Reviews The above link will connect you to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop's movie and video reviews. They contain a brief overview of many movies with the USCCB's classification and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating. They may have a comment on any inappropriate language or violence in the film. You may also want to check out the Catholic News Service capsule movie reviews.

Media/Arts Briefs

Corn festival

Monona Terrace tours

TV Programs of Note

Following are some theatrical movies and television programs of note. This information is being provided to assist people in making viewing choices.

Monday-Friday, 2:30 p.m., Inspiration Channel (cable) -- Catholic Mass.

Monday-Sunday, 7 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 6 p.m., 11 p.m., EWTN (cable) -- Daily Mass. No 6 p.m. showing on Sunday.

Sunday, Aug. 10 and Aug. 17, 7 a.m., WISC (CBS) -- Mass. Celebrated by Msgr. Thomas Campion, sponsored by Apostolate to the Handicapped.

Monday, Aug. 11, 7 p.m., WHA (PBS) -- Frank Sinatra: Ol' Blue Eyes is Back. This program aired for the first time on NBC on Nov. 18, 1973, as a celebration of Frank Sinatra's return to performing after a misguided attempt at retirement. Sinatra sings many of his signature songs, and he and his old friend Gene Kelly sing, dance, and reminisce about the old days.

Sunday, Aug. 10, 8:30 p.m., WYOU (cable) -- Christopher Close-up: "The Voice." Best-selling recording artist Russell Watson explores his roots as a factory worker who sang opera on the side, and discusses the experience of performing for Pope John Paul II.

Monday, Aug. 11, 8:30 p.m., WHA (PBS) -- American Experience: "Seabiscuit." This film tells the story of one of the most remarkable thoroughbred racehorses in history. His fabulously wealthy owner Charles Howard, his famously silent and stubborn trainer Tom Smith, and the two hard-bitten, gifted jockeys who rode him to glory turned Seabiscuit into a national hero.

Tuesday, Aug. 12, 3:30 a.m., EWTN (cable) -- The Gardens of Castel Gandolfo. Viewers will get a glimpse into the pope's summer residence and explore his gardens beginning with the original "secret garden," laid out in the 17th century. The tour continues through adjoining properties, acquired in the 18th and 20th centuries, containing trees dating back to the 13th century, and statuary from the first century reign of Domitian. Repeats 5 p.m. Aug. 12.

Wednesday, Aug. 13, 3:30 a.m., EWTN (cable) -- The Pope's Garden. Art and nature, history and imagination, emotions and colors combine in the heart of the Eternal City where the Vatican Gardens continue to bloom outside of time and space. With much of it looking like a typically Mediterranean woods-scene, these gardens seem the perfect place set aside for popes to "stroll and pray in peace." Repeats 5 p.m. Aug. 13.

Thursday, Aug. 14, 3:30 a.m., EWTN (cable) -- The Vatican Apostolic Library. Viewers will learn about the history of the Vatican Library with scenes of the buildings, reading and study rooms, rooms where old books are restored, paintings recording significant events relating to the library, statues of popes and cardinals who helped build and organize the library, and valuable volumes with painted illustrations. The library's presence on the Internet means that anyone anywhere in the world can now consult selected texts. Repeats 5 p.m. Aug. 14.

Friday, Aug. 15, 11 a.m., EWTN (cable) -- Solemn Mass of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Repeats 11 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 15, 7 p.m., Disney (cable) -- The Cheetah Girls. Four vivacious New York City teen girls aim at becoming musical divas in this clumsily contrived film. While the film has abundant energy and colorful costumes to spare, main character Galleria's transformations from spirited to shrew and back to sweet are poorly contrived. Add to this several bogus weepy scenes when interpersonal problems arise and a dancing doggie to save the day, and you have a syrupy concoction that would challenge the staying power of even the teenybopper audience for whom it is aimed.

Sunday, Aug. 17, 8:30 p.m., WYOU (cable) -- Christopher Close-up: "Judas." Actor Johnathon Schaech examines how his Catholic faith shapes his life and how playing the role of Judas in a recent TV movie affected his perception of the character.