HBO shows how to succeed at eating by reading past the advertising

What’s a kid’s favorite vintage wine?

“Buy me this, buy me that, buy me, buy me.”

Just in time for the barrage of enticing holiday commercials, HBO presents Buy Me That 3! A Kid’s Guide to Food Advertising.

HBO’s 1989 “Buy Me That!” and 1991’s “Buy Me That Too!” examined toys and other products targeted at children. The latest installment, again hosted by Jim Fyfe, shifts focus to the foods and drinks kids (and parents) consume.

It’s estimated that kids watch 30,000 to 40,000 commercials a year, two-thirds of which plug food or beverage items.

“Buy Me That 3!” looks at how advertisers use a variety of techniques to make kids think their products taste better than others, or are more healthful than they really are.

Included will be the use of celebrity endorsements, the nutritional value of fruit-flavored “snacks” that have the nutritional value of candy, how hamburgers are manipulated to look more appealing on television, a Twinkie’s ingredients, and the use of sweepstakes to ensure repeat purchases.

The show hopes to demonstrate that, with a little common sense, kids and their parents can learn to look beyond the hype and make economical, nutritious decisions on what they should eat and drink.

“Buy Me That 3!” was produced by HBO with Consumer Reports television.

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“Buy Me That 3!” airs Wednesday at 6-6:30 a.m. HBO. For ages 4 and up.

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MORE FAMILY SHOWS

The Mickey Mouse Club’s 200th Episode Special (Sunday 11 a.m.-noon Disney) features the Rev. Jesse Jackson as a special guest. The show will spotlight kids who have been involved in improving race relations. Musical guests include Tracey Spencer and Tevin Campbell. For ages 4 to 12.

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The new 3-2-1 Contact ‘Extra’ (Monday 7-8 p.m. KVCR; Tuesday 8-9 p.m. KOCE; Saturday 7-8 p.m. KCET and Dec. 20 5-6 p.m. KPBS), “Brainstorm: The Truth About Your Brain on Drugs,” explains how both legal and illegal drugs--including alcohol, nicotine and cocaine--affect the complex workings of the brain and body. The show features interviews with recovering teen addicts and a music video to demonstrate how the brain works and what drugs do to it. For ages 8-12 .

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Lights (Tuesday 2:35-3 p.m. Disney) is an allegorical presentation of the story of Hanukkah. Judd Hirsch narrates, with voices by Leonard Nimoy, Paul Michael Glaser. For ages 4 to 12.

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Sam “leaps” to his hometown for the holidays and shares a special, unexpected Christmas moment with his father on Quantum Leap (Tuesday 8-9 p.m. NBC). For ages 10 and up.

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On Wednesday, CBS rebroadcasts the classic animated Frosty the Snowman, narrated by Jimmy Durante (8-8:30 p.m.) and McDonald Family Theater: The Wish That Changed Christmas (8:30-9 p.m.), about an orphan who gets the gift of love for the holidays. For ages 2 to 10.

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Beliefs (Thursday 7-8 p.m. The Learning Channel) takes a look at the origin of “Santa” and the evolution of Father Christmas, and profiles contemporary society’s celebration of Christmas. For ages 12 and up.

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USA and Arnold Schwarzenegger are promoting physical fitness for kids through the two-part exercise video program The Fitness Expert (Saturday 10 a.m. USA; part 2 airs Dec. 26 10 a.m.), which will be available for free rental in video stores in 1993. Part 1 features Schwarzenegger leading music video-style workouts with cast members of “Saved by the Bell.” Part 2 features him leading a workout for a fourth-grade class from Los Angeles’ Juan Cabrillo Elementary School. For ages 6 and up.