Turn On That TV

Getting junior couch potatoes to turn off the tube is a major battle in some households. Call a truce, though, for the Museum of Television & Radio’s monthlong International Children’s Television Festival in November.

With screenings of some of the world’s most innovative, outstanding children’s shows to choose from, plus entertaining family workshops, TV never looked so good or felt so good for you.

The eighth festival, offering a host of U.S. premieres, opens Nov. 6 and 7 with an “Adventure & Travel” theme. Screenings include the animated “Adventures of Dodo” and “The Adventures of Captain Pugwash” from England and France; the interplanetary “Nguyamyam” from the Philippines; Israel’s “Grabbit the Rabbit”; a magical live-action tale from the Netherlands, “The Bicycle”; and the multinational “What Now Bhatso?”

An episode of William Joyce’s delightful computer-animated Disney Channel series “Rolie Polie Olie” will also screen.

The Nov. 6 “Stories and Storytelling” workshop, hosted by Storyopolis, will include a craft to create Rolie Polie Robots and Joyce’s original art. On Nov. 7, LeVar Burton of “Reading Rainbow” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” will read a story, followed by a storybook-making craft.

Other screenings include live-action, Claymation, computer animation and traditional cel animation shows from Hungary, Malawi, Wales, Portugal, Croatia, Russia, Canada, Japan, Australia and the U.S. Themes are “Tolerance” (Nov. 13 and 14), “Music and Magic” (Nov. 20 and 21) and “Growing Up” (Nov. 27 and 28).

Other workshops and live entertainment include KCET’s “The Puzzle Place” creators and puppets (Nov. 13); international recording artist Jocelyne Jacobs and a celebration of International Day for Tolerance (Nov. 14); the North Wind Quintet (Nov. 20); folk singer Jacki Breger, an animation workshop with Canada’s Royer Studios and an appearance by “Franklin” creator Brenda Clark (Nov. 27 and 28).

Presented by the museum in cooperation with the United Nations, most shows, with a target audience of ages 5 to 10, are suitable for all ages; a few are recommended for 8 and older. All are either in English, dubbed in English or are wordless.

* The Eighth International Children’s Television Festival, Museum of Television and Radio, 465 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills, Saturdays and Sundays, screenings 1 and 3 p.m., and workshops, 2 p.m. through Nov. 28. Included with general museum admission: $6 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, $3 for children under 13. (310) 786-1042. (Screenings at the museum’s New York site run from Nov. 13 to Dec. 5. (212) 621-6785).

Award-Winning Artists: It’s time for some mostly unsung heroes to be recognized for their contributions to the Southland’s schoolchildren: The fourth annual Professional Artists in Schools Awards (PASA) banquet, to be held Nov. 14 at the Empress Pavilion Restaurant in Chinatown, will celebrate four honorees for their long-term work in schools to expand students’ horizons through the arts.

Chosen by a panel of arts educators, administrators and previous award winners, the artists who will receive lifetime achievement awards include Dongsuk “Don” Kim, founder of the Korean Classical Music and Dance Company; John Zeretzke, instrumentalist and composer for film, TV, the Joffrey, the Royal Danish Ballet and other dance companies; and actor, writer, puppeteer and arts educator Lauren Levian.

The fourth honoree is singer-songwriter and speech educator Dan Crow, who has received an Emmy Award, a Cable Ace nomination and several Parents’ Choice Gold Awards for his children’s songs written for his own concerts, for film and TV.

The special evening, a dressy “Oscar” night for the artists, will be hosted by PASA founders Paul Tracey and Susan Cambigue-Tracey; the public is welcome.

* Fourth annual Professional Artists in Schools Awards banquet, Empress Pavilion Restaurant, Bamboo Plaza, 988 N. Hill St., Chinatown, Nov. 14, 5 p.m. $27.50; $30 after Nov. 1. Table for 10, $275. Reservations necessary. Paul Tracey, 340 Las Casas Ave., Pacific Palisades, CA 90272-3306 or call (310) 454-4575.