European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                On television from Levert to the troops a Christmas Story Sarah Bottorf Ftp plus editor t started apparently with this great idea from Rad Star Gerald Lcovert get a Bunch of celebrities to donate their time fora my. Sical Enteria intent television special and broadcast it to the troops at operation Desort shield. Nothing wrong with the idea and the response was tremendous. The proposed one hour special ended up being 2vi hours of Whitney Houston . Hammer new kids on the clock Levert Donald Trump a Ftp Donald Trump basketball and other sports stars and other celebrities sending music and messages of support to the troops. The show officially titled Holiday music video message a also expanded rapidly to become a message of support for All american. Troops  the world. The reason it was expanded to include troops outside desert shield is probably obvious to you by now the troops in the Gulf done to have a whole lot of Access Tode Levision sets. Great idea to Send a Holiday message but not if they. Done to have any Way to receive it a a  unfortunately while some of the desert shield troops arc stationed in places with Access to television reception from armed forces radio and television service a As Many As 25,000 troops according to arts a apparently even they did no to see the Holiday  broadcast the special on its worldwide satellite Dee. 16, but when it beamed Down to the afro so a contingent in Riyadh saudi Arabia apparently it was blacked out. An officer with the contingent explained that All Christmas programming is blacked out in a scrupulous Effort to avoid offending the Host country s religious sensitivities a unless arts sends word that a particular Christmas program is not religious. No word came from arts on the Levert special. Well this being a Christmas Story it should have a Happy ending and it May yet. Levert and his organizers mentioned in a press release they plan to have videotapes of the program distributed to the military perhaps for future airing when and if television is Mold available to desert shield troops. And at least the show is being seen by troops elsewhere overseas. It was taped by various military stations Here in Europe when it was trails Mitt cd and will be shown Over Christmas week an to plans to air it at 3 45 . Central euro. Can time Christmas morning for example and. Southern european broadcasting will broadcast it at 1 . Get Christmas eve. The times Arentt great but if you re up late wrapping Christmas presents its a Good show to catch. Levert and Crew did a Fine Job a the show s Sharp and fast moving and the music a great. Bette yet tape it while you watch. Send it Toa Friend in the desert a an Avalanche of More traditional Christmas specials comes our Way this week on Arnand All the other military channels. And there Are the. Bowl games too another Christmas week tradition. /  a the Aloha bowl Syracuse is. Arizona is Sel for Christmas at 930 . Get on an to the Liberty bowl from Memphis term., air Force is. Ohio state at 2 . Get Friday morning and then there a the blockbuster bowl Penn state is. Florida state at Miami at 2 , get saturday Check the schedule pages for bowl games on your station. A As for Christmas specials Here a a Brief rundown of the shows airing at various times on various channels. Check the schedules for details. A mickeys Christmas Carol has Mickey mouse As Happy but poor Dob Cra chit Cir k to miserly Scrooge Mcguck in a 19s4 Oscar nominated animated special. A Christmas in Washingion Joh 11 Denver hosts the ninth annual Holiday special from the nation no museum building. Featured St aretha Franklin Reba Mcintyre Barbara Hendricks and the . Naval Academy glee club. A a christinas Carol yes Virginia this is the 19r4 to movie that a already a classic with Gcorge c. So cites Scrooge. A tic year without Santa Claus Santa Claus Here is Mickey Rooney a voice and a puppet body and its a personal favorite this Story of the year Santa was just too tired to go on. A the Christmas toy this ones from the late Jim Hansen about what toys do when the doors shut a at least that show Kermit the Frog describes the Story. A party of the air Christmas program Vanilla ice in Vogue and Chubby checker Are promised for this music special w hich was not available for review at press time. Geraldon a special Christmas eve from saudi Arabia was also not available for review at press time but we re afraid it is what it sounds like Geraldo Rivera discovers the Gulf. Now Saddam Hussein really has something to worry about. There Are More than a few others whose titles a re self explanatory. Walt Dis nay very Menry Chri St Mas Parade knots la n Ding sing Ajo n a Pinn Ochion a Christmas the Hollywood Christmas Parade. And that about wraps it. Merry Christmas from a to plus. A a. A a a. A a a a. A a. Atlantic Gerald Levert Center to the Mastermind behind a Holiday special for the troops also pictured Are Levert members Sean Levert left and Marc Gordon.  a a Page 10 c to Pius sunday a Mcember 23,1990