Debbie Allen

Debbie Allen said she had no misgivings about traveling down the oft-precarious sequel road in making "Polly Comin' Home," a follow-up to last season's excellent family movie "Polly.""We were in the middle of making 'Polly' when I said to Bill Blinn, 'This is just too good. We've got to do something else with this group," Allen said over the phone from Los Angeles. Blinn is the executive producer of both ot these Disney-made films."Bill came up with this new character of an Englishman to head the orphanage, and then we got Anthony Newley to play it and everything came together," Allen said.

On November 20, 2005, HELEN A. ALLEN, beloved wife of Clarence Allen; mother of Arthur Allen; mother-in-law of Debbie Allen. The family will receive friends at the family owned and operated Howell Funeral Home, 4600 Liberty Heights Ave. on Friday, November 25 from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, November 26 at Mt. Pisgah C.M.E. Church at Riggs and Fulton Ave. Wake 11 A.M. Funeral Service 11:30 A.M. Interment at Crestlawn Memorial Gardens.

Long Reach High School sophomore Graham Pitts is enjoying a brush with fame this week, and from the looks of it this won't be his only "15 minutes" in the spotlight. The 15-year-old dancer is appearing in "Dancing in the Wings" - a show written, directed and choreographed by Debbie Allen at the Kennedy Center. The show is performed by young people for young people. It is made up mostly of Washington-area dancers between the ages of 7 and 18. It is part of the Kennedy Center's Imagination Celebration performance series for young audiences.

Long Reach High School sophomore Graham Pitts is enjoying a brush with fame this week, and from the looks of it this won't be his only "15 minutes" in the spotlight. The 15-year-old dancer is appearing in "Dancing in the Wings" - a show written, directed and choreographed by Debbie Allen at the Kennedy Center. The show is performed by young people for young people. It is made up mostly of Washington-area dancers between the ages of 7 and 18. It is part of the Kennedy Center's Imagination Celebration performance series for young audiences.

Meredith Alissa Exler grew up watching Debbie Allen as no-nonsense dance teacher Lydia Grant in the television series "Fame," demanding the most out of her talented dance students.Last week the 17-year-old Kings Contrivance village resident took similar orders from the Emmy award-winning actress and choreographer onstage at the Kennedy Center in Washington in the world premiere of the musical "Pepito's Story."The sold-out performance told the tale of a poor boy, ridiculed by other youngsters, who makes the town mayor's sick daughter happy through his dancing.

On November 20, 2005, HELEN A. ALLEN, beloved wife of Clarence Allen; mother of Arthur Allen; mother-in-law of Debbie Allen. The family will receive friends at the family owned and operated Howell Funeral Home, 4600 Liberty Heights Ave. on Friday, November 25 from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, November 26 at Mt. Pisgah C.M.E. Church at Riggs and Fulton Ave. Wake 11 A.M. Funeral Service 11:30 A.M. Interment at Crestlawn Memorial Gardens.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Vice President Dan Quayle, who was hospitalized here a week ago after blood clots were discovered in his lungs, will be restricted to light activity and no air travel for at least a month, his doctors say.Yesterday's prognosis could delay the announcement of his expected Republican presidential bid, which had been anticipated around the first of next year. But the doctors said they expected Mr. Quayle to resume a normal routine after that.They had planned to discharge him from the Indiana University Medical Center yesterday, but decided to hold him for another 24 hours after a test showed that the blood-thinning medication he is taking had not yet had the desired effect in guarding against further clotting.

ARTHartigan showIn the past two or three years, Grace Hartigan has produced paintings that reflect a heightened sense of confidence, and her current show at C. Grimaldis Gallery reflects this. Not only are the individual paintings strong, but collectively they communicate the artist's awareness of using her powers to the fullest. The most completely satisfying of them is her "Another Hunt," which takes us on a little tour of aspects of modern art from Degas to all-over abstraction while remaining thoroughly Hartigan and thoroughly contemporary.

"Polly Comin' Home!" is television that snaps, crackles and pops.It has a bunch of on-screen stars who deliver fine performances -- Phylicia Rashad, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Dorian Harewood, Brandon Adams and Anthony Newley. But the biggest star is Debbie Allen, who directed and choreographed this sequel to last year's "Polly.""Polly Comin' Home" seems so seamless in its movement from drama to music that you wonder why "Cop Rock" couldn't get it right and why TV critics didn't remember last season's "Polly" in their pre-season celebrations of "Cop Rock" this fall.

It's adios for "Blossom."The 5-year-old sitcom will end its run on NBC this May.The Monday-night series (8:30) will end with an episode called "Goodbye," which was shot over the weekend."

LONG REACH High School junior Trent Covington recently had a brush with fame. And those who know him well suspect this will not be his only "15 minutes" in the spotlight. The 17-year-old tap dancer performed at the Kennedy Center with famed choreographer Debbie Allen to sold-out audiences for more than a week this month. He had a standout role in the show "Brothers of the Knight," written, directed and choreographed by Allen as part of the Kennedy Center's Imagination Celebration series for young audiences.

The 15th annual "American Comedy Awards," taped Sunday in Hollywood, includes presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to George Carlin. Carlin has appeared on "The Tonight Show" more than 130 times, and his 12th HBO special is scheduled for November. Airs tonight at 8 on Comedy Central. At a glance "Contact" (8 p.m.-11 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) - Jodie Foster stars in this well-regarded 1997 movie about a message from outer space. CBS. "The Old Settler" (8 p.m.-9:30 p.m., MPT, Channels 22 and 67)

A few years ago, Chita Rivera was asked to write her autobiography. "They wanted a tell-all book and that's not what I'm interested in," the two-time Tony Award winner said recently from Richmond, Va., where she was appearing in "Chita & All That Jazz." The revue opens a one-week run at the Lyric Opera House tomorrow."Chita & All That Jazz" is, in part, her substitute for an autobiography. "I was coming towards the end of 'Kiss of the Spider Woman' and I realized that one doesn't dance forever," said Rivera, 65, whose career would appear to disprove that statement.

One of the most remarkable things about 1997 was that two prominent white filmmakers -- both directors who can call their own shots -- made films featuring African-Americans in prominent roles. And, because those filmmakers were Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino, both approached their subjects in totally different ways.Spielberg, who directed "Amistad" after producer Debbie Allen spent more than a dozen years shopping the project to Hollywood studios, filmed the African characters of the film at a reverent, painterly distance, his respect often approaching worship.

Meredith Alissa Exler grew up watching Debbie Allen as no-nonsense dance teacher Lydia Grant in the television series "Fame," demanding the most out of her talented dance students.Last week the 17-year-old Kings Contrivance village resident took similar orders from the Emmy award-winning actress and choreographer onstage at the Kennedy Center in Washington in the world premiere of the musical "Pepito's Story."The sold-out performance told the tale of a poor boy, ridiculed by other youngsters, who makes the town mayor's sick daughter happy through his dancing.

The setting: a posh suburb of Los Angeles.The main players: a former star running back in the NFL and a young, attractive, recently divorced mother of two.The premise: The woman thinks the guy living in the guest house might be a cool nanny for her two kids, as well as a new best friend for her.No, it's not "O. J., the Sitcom." It's "In the House," a new NBC sitcom, starring LL Cool J and Debbie Allen, which premieres at 8:30 tonight on WBAL (Channel 11). And it's not surprising that elements of the most popular story in America are starting to find their way into television sitcoms and dramas.

LONG REACH High School junior Trent Covington recently had a brush with fame. And those who know him well suspect this will not be his only "15 minutes" in the spotlight. The 17-year-old tap dancer performed at the Kennedy Center with famed choreographer Debbie Allen to sold-out audiences for more than a week this month. He had a standout role in the show "Brothers of the Knight," written, directed and choreographed by Allen as part of the Kennedy Center's Imagination Celebration series for young audiences.

The 15th annual "American Comedy Awards," taped Sunday in Hollywood, includes presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to George Carlin. Carlin has appeared on "The Tonight Show" more than 130 times, and his 12th HBO special is scheduled for November. Airs tonight at 8 on Comedy Central. At a glance "Contact" (8 p.m.-11 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) - Jodie Foster stars in this well-regarded 1997 movie about a message from outer space. CBS. "The Old Settler" (8 p.m.-9:30 p.m., MPT, Channels 22 and 67)

It's adios for "Blossom."The 5-year-old sitcom will end its run on NBC this May.The Monday-night series (8:30) will end with an episode called "Goodbye," which was shot over the weekend."

INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Vice President Dan Quayle, who was hospitalized here a week ago after blood clots were discovered in his lungs, will be restricted to light activity and no air travel for at least a month, his doctors say.Yesterday's prognosis could delay the announcement of his expected Republican presidential bid, which had been anticipated around the first of next year. But the doctors said they expected Mr. Quayle to resume a normal routine after that.They had planned to discharge him from the Indiana University Medical Center yesterday, but decided to hold him for another 24 hours after a test showed that the blood-thinning medication he is taking had not yet had the desired effect in guarding against further clotting.