Television Reviews : Video Innovators in Two Channel 28 Series

Anyone who’s been longing for alternative television had better cancel late-night going-out plans on Fridays and Saturdays, or else make sure they’ve figured out how to program their VCRs.

“New Television,” a 13-part feast of independent works from American video makers, debuts tonight at 11:30 on KCET Channel 28. Saturday at 11 p.m., the same station introduces in its regular time slot another unconventional 13-show series, “Channel Crossings,” a collection of international television productions with off-the-beaten-path subjects and approaches. (Two installments already have been broadcast as part of KCET’s UK/LA Festival programming.)

“New Television” will be running works by noted video artists such as Charles Atlas, Lynn Hershman, Peter Rose and Juan Downey, and one-third of the programs will spotlight Californians. Keep that--and the very mixed quality of video art--in mind if you tune in to tonight’s premiere. Initially involving, Dan Boord’s and Greg Durbin’s “The Going Away Party” loses interest about halfway through its 30 minutes.

The video begins with long, static shots of Oklahoman skies and prairies while we hear news accounts being read about an early-’80s political scandal in the state. So far, so good; the juxtaposition of seamy events and picturesque scenery intrigues the eye and mind. But after a few minutes, this contrast gives way to the title party, where people discuss an ousted county commissioner.

This would be fine if it were a real party and these were real people, but the entire event seems staged--indeed, KCET’s press material refers to the work as a mixture of “reality, drama and fiction”--and the viewer is soon wondering why he should care about hypocritical comments and other small talk coming from a bunch of actors about some unnamed politician.

“Channel Crossings” opens with a 105-minute British drama about a BBC film crew making a documentary in Northern Ireland.