The Daily Star - Stay Tuned
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/53854
The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, January 27, 2012 2 coverstory Teacher takes special-ed students to Space Camp Reach for the stars By Kyla Brewer TV Media rage, but there's still room on television for a good old-fash- ioned tearjerker. The latest tells the tale of a dedicated special-education teacher who shows his students how to reach for the stars and nev- er give up. Hallmark Hall of Fame's "A Smile as Big as the Moon" premieres Sunday, Jan. 29, on ABC. C Based on a true story, the original movie stars John Cor- bett as Mike Kersjes, a high- school football coach who also works with special-needs students at a Michigan school. When he learns about Space Camp, a NASA program de- signed for gifted science stu- dents, Kersjes becomes deter- mined to help his own stu- dents reach for the stars. One student in particular, a boy with Down syndrome (Peter ten Brink) who wants to be an astronaut, inspires the teacher. School administrators quickly nix the idea of send- ing the students because of the cost involved, but that doesn't deter Kersjes. Even the "powers that be" at Space Camp, including head honcho Dr. Deborah Barnhart (Cynthia Watros), don't stop Kerjes from encouraging his razy celebrity series and scandalous reality shows may be all the students. The administrators have reservations about al- lowing special-education stu- dents into the competitive program. In the past, only elite students from elite schools have earned the Space Camp privilege. Despite the seemingly in- surmountable odds, Kersjes doesn't back down. Finally, he convinces every- one to give his kids a chance with the help of fellow teach- er Robynn McKinney (Jessy Schram). Then, the real work begins. Kersjes and his charg- es spend close to nine months tirelessly training and fund- raising. He even convinces his football players to help his class with physical condition- ing. At last, their persever- ance pays off and they head to Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. While working on the film, Corbett came to appreciate exactly what Kersjes did for those kids and others like them. "Once his class made that first groundbreaking visit to Space Camp, the doors were thrown wide open," said Cor- bett. "Thanks to a foundation he set up, more than 3,000 special-ed kids have been able to experience the won- der and magic of space explo- ration." Corbett has a tendency for playing likeable characters. The real Mike Kresjes (left) with his on-screen portrayer John Corbett The actor is perhaps best known for his TV roles as Chris Stevens in "Northern Exposure" and Carrie's beau Aidan in "Sex and the City." On the big-screen, he played the male lead in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (2002). This isn't Corbett's first gig for Hallmark either. He also starred as the father of an ail- ing child in the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie "November Christmas," which aired on CBS in November 2010. Co-star Schram has a long list of high-profile TV credits, including guest spots on "CSI: Miami," "Without a Trace" and "Once Upon a Time." Fans of Steven Spielberg's television series "Falling Skies" may know her as Kar- en Nadler. Schram, like Cor- bett, also has an interest in music and has toured the country as a singer. Viewers may also recog- nize Cynthia Watros, who broke into television on the soap operas "Guiding Light" A/Auto Boutique B/The Green Giraffe 2 x 2 and "Another World" in the 1990s, before showing off her comedy chops in "The Drew Carey Show" and "Titus." More recently, Watros was seen in ABC's celebrated dra- ma "Lost" as Libby. She's also appeared in "Desperate Housewives," "The Closer" and "Gossip Girl." The other stars of "A Smile as Big as the Moon" may not have been as experienced, but are no less remarkable. Some of the students in the film were played by actors with Down syndrome, Tourette's, ADD and autism. Working with the young actors was an eye opener for Corbett, who admitted he was initially skeptical. How- ever, their enthusiasm and "unfiltered honesty" soon won him over. There were some remark- able people behind the cam- era as well. Kersjes himself, whose memoir with author and journalist Joe Layden served as inspiration for the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, acted as technical adviser for the film. Real-life drama is nothing new for scriptwriter Tom Rick- man, who earned an Oscar nomination for his script for the acclaimed Loretta Lynn bio "Coal Miner's Daughter" (1980), starring Sissy Spacek. He also penned the script for Hallmark Hall of Fame's ac- claimed "Front of the Class" and won the Humanitas Prize for his screenplay for "Tues- days with Morrie." Chirstopher's Coins 2 x 2 hollywoodQ&A By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: On the TV show "The Closer," Det. Sanchez (Ray- mond Cruz) wears a wedding band on his left hand. However, I thought his character was single. His wife is never mentioned, and he acts like quite the lady's man. A: It certainly isn't mentioned often. It wasn't even re- vealed until the finale of the show's fourth season, but in fact Det. Julio Sanchez is a widower. The brusque, frequently belligerent and occasionally chauvinistic detective lets his softer side show in the epi- sode, in which Brenda (played by Kyra Sedgwick) gets mar- ried. At the reception guests are asked to record a video message for the newlyweds, and he mentions in the video that his wife died six years earlier. He still wears the ring, showing the kind of bond the newlyweds have entered into. This, of course, allows him to be as flirty as he wants to be without taking the ring off. It's telling, perhaps, that all of that flirtation doesn't lead anywhere. Season 4 was a big one for Sanchez's backstory. A few ep- isodes prior to the finale sees his younger brother being killed in a gang murder. The episode allows Cruz to stretch his acting legs a great deal, as his character covers a huge range of emotions in dealing with the loss. A/Crazy Tom's B/Allstar Auto Wash 2 x 3 Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town.