Moyers Strikes Again With Two Specials That Probe Power

Bill Moyers has become such a key figure in television programming that engages the mind, so often a kind of American conscience, that we've probably come to take him for granted. That may be why PBS has programmed two Moyers specials on consecutive nights this week: a reminder of how how great a debt viewers owe him.

No matter how often he may have become annoyed at TV during the three decades he's been actively involved in it, Moyers has never given up on it, continuing to explore how it can be made more effective as a communication medium to help Americans see their lives and their world more clearly.

This year he's been involved in several ``Frontline'' episodes - and has given that series a strong boost of relevancy. Last week he hosted ``Springfield Goes to War,'' a powerful examination of opinions and attitudes in a Massachusetts town about the Mideast Crisis. This week's two programs are quite different, not only from last week's ``Frontline'' but from each other.

At 8 p.m. tomorrow on KCTS-TV, he's the correspondent for a 90-minute ``Front

line'' episode, ``High Crimes and Misdemeanors.'' Wednesday, same time, same station, he's host and correspondent for a stunning and provocative look at the Italian Renaissance, ``The Power of the Past: Florence.''

But in all three cases, Moyers is exploring the meaning of power - how it is used (and misused) and how it can be controlled.

In the case of ``Springfield'' and ``High Crimes and Misdemeanors,'' Moyers shows his belief in and admiration for the U.S. Constitution, an attitude that is no surprise to those who have viewed Moyers' other programs.

``High Crimes'' is another look at the Iran-Contra affair - and while you may initially resist the idea of hearing one more word about that despicable event, trust me: This is a compelling 90 minutes of TV. Instead of the kind of details highlighted during the investigations of the Iran-Contra affair, Moyers has stepped back to look at the overall picture of the story, from its beginnings to the most recent testimony by former President Ronald Reagan.

And from this vantage point, where the outline of the whole shameful, shabby affair is clearer, it shows as well how dangerous it was, how often public officials lied and - the worst sin of all, by Moyers' standards - how those same officials elected to ignore the U.S. Constitution.

In interviews with various officials involved, Moyers and producer Sherry Jones draw an unemotional portrait of an administration doing exactly as it pleased. There were those who claimed the Iran-Contra affair was every bit as terrible a piece of American history as the Watergate affair. This powerful documentary gives credence to that opinion.

``Power of the Past: ``Florence'' could have been just a glorious travelog - and it certainly doesn't stint in its views of this most beautiful of Italian cities, with its famous art treasures, museums and churches.

But Moyers examines why so much of the great art of the Renaissance was created in Florence - and discovers that many of the contemporary ideas that have shaped our world and our lives were born in that city at that time. How those movers and shakers viewed the creation and use of power is every bit as important to us as how Presidents Reagan and Bush see (and use) power.

If TV plans to declare ``Bill Moyers Week'' - and it should - this is the week to do it. Both programs exist because of the mind and energies, the concerns and morality of this American - and we're all the richer for it.

Three movies: Three new TV movies are on hand this week - two would-be thrillers and a tear-jerker. The latter is NBC's ``To My Daughter,'' which airs at 9 tonight on KING-TV and stars Rue McClanahan as a mother who dotes on one daughter while all-but-ignoring her younger daughter and son. The reason is that the older daughter became a successful writer after leaving home. But when that daughter, played by Michele Green of ``L.A. Law'' dies, McClanahan's character is bereft and her two younger children feel more shut out than ever. ``To My Daughter'' has few surprises - but it does have nice performances by McClanahan, Green and especially Samanatha Mathis as the younger daughter.

``The Stranger Within,'' which CBS airs at 9 p.m. tomorrow on KIRO-TV, is a variation on the familiar lady-in-jeopardy ploy. The lady is played by Kate Jackson, a widow whose small baby is kidnapped. Sixteen years later a young man arrives at her door, announcing he's her long-lost son. Is he? She's convinced but her new boyfriend, played by Chris Sarandon, isn't so sure. The film belongs to Rick Schroder who gives a tour de force performance as the young man, one minute completely lovable, the next a dangerous psychopath.

Will Kate be saved? John Pielmeier (``Agnes of God'') wrote the taut script and director Tom Holland, who has directed several thrillers, never lets the suspense grow slack, even when you have a pretty good idea what's going to happen next.

``Silhouette,'' which cable's USA Network premieres at 9 p.m. Wednesday, is another lady-in-jeopardy film. This time it's Faye Dunaway, playing a very uptown lady who gets stranded overnight in a small Texas town where, from her hotel window, she sees a murder committed. Dunaway is always fun to watch - which is good because the surprises here are few and far between.

Four documentaries: In addition to the two Moyers specials, PBS has several other noteworthy programs this week, leading off with the ``AIDS Quarterly'' airing at 8 tonight on KCTS-TV. Again hosted by Peter Jennings, the centerpiece of this episode of ``AIDS Quarterly'' is a look at AIDS in Poland.

It's about more than just AIDS, however, for it's an eye-opening look at the state of health care in Poland, now that the communist regime has toppled, as well as startling statistics about drug use in Poland and the public reaction to AIDS (even more ignorant than in the worst cases in the U.S. - and we're talking heterosexual AIDS cases there).

The program also includes a very personal but rather thin interview with noted gay writer Edmund White.

At 9 tonight PBS' ``American Experience'' focuses on ``The Iron Road'' - the building of the first transcontinental railway in the U.S., completed in 1869. It's hard to believe it was only a little over 100 years ago that Americans were thrilled by the fact you could travel from New York to San Francisco in 10 days, via railroad. The romance of the railroad has definitely been supplanted in this century by the automobile and the plane but this fine hour puts the creation of the transcontinental railroad in proper context and makes us see why it was perceived as such a monumental accomplishment.

What a contrast is provided by this week's ``Nova'' episode - ``We Know Where You Live,'' which airs at 7 p.m. tomorrow on KCTS-TV and is a fascinating look at the world of junk mail and especially the technology that makes it work (demonstrated effectively this week when every issue of Time magazine arrived with the subscriber's name listed in big print on the cover). This mesmerizing episode of ``Nova'' explains how it all works - and it's also depressing, indicating the world of junk mail is only going to grow.

At 11 p.m. tomorrow on KCTS-TV, PBS airs ``A Wife From My Enemies,'' an unusual documentary about the complications that occur when Arabs and Israelis intermarry. It doesnt happen often - but this film makes it clear that when it does it makes ``Romeo and Juliet'' look uncomplicated by comparison.

Video notes: Julie Blacklow begins a three-part report on divorce after 50 on ``KING 5 News,'' starting at 5 tonight. . . . Fox offers its first made-for-TV movie, ``Working Trash,'' starring George Carlin, unavailable for previewing, at 8 tonight on KCPQ-TV. . . . Cable's TBS repeats the newest Cousteau film, ``Invisible Islands,'' a stunningly photographed look at the Andaman Islands east of India, at 9:05 tonight.