I ENTERTAINMENT I David and Joel Simmer. The Boys' N ht Out. When the school bell rings, this teacher and student reverse roles and team up to produce award-winning cable shows. STEVE HARTZ Special to The Jewish News W hile other fathers are coaching their sons on the ball field, this dad is being directed by his son at their little hangout — Continental Cable in West Bloomfield. In November 1987, the Simmers had cable hooked up in their West Bloomfield home. A few weeks later, then-11-year-old David ask- ed his father if the two of them could enroll in a public access television production class. His dad immediately said yes. "I had known about this class, and I had been think- ing for quite a while that perhaps it would be something that he and I can do together, something fun," said the 43-year-old Simmer, who teaches at West Bloom- field High School. "Little did I know that he'd ever really take off on it, enjoy it, understand it, use it well and continue to use it. That was a surprise to me." It wasn't a surprise to the younger Simmer, an 8th- grade student at Orchard Lake Middle School. "It's fun," he said. "I love direc- ting and operating the swit- cher, a machine that con- trols the cameras, colors, graphics and all kinds of special effects." The Simmers decided to take other courses offered by Continental Cable. They were licensed in many technical areas. After work- ing together on several pro- ductions, it became apparent to the administration at Continental Cable that "Father (and Son) Know Best." They soon were working on a handful of shows, in- cluding "Metro Arts Re- view." Even though David is a student and his father teaches, their roles are reversed when they leave school each afternoon and enter the cable studio. "It seems like I'm the one who normally gets stuck behind the camera and follows orders," Joel Simmer said. "My son, on the other hand, is usually the one ordering me around. I also work on audio and lights if he tells me to; I don't make any deci- sions, which is fine because I make decisions all day long. So, it's nice — even though it means that I have to listen to my son for a change. "I'm constantly hearing his voice say, 'No, no. Do it this way or that way.' And occasionally I find myself disagreeing, but I have to do it his way. I have been very surprised after I've been put in my place and have seen the finished products. They sure looked good." So good in fact that when Continental Cable of Oak Park, Southfield and West Bloomfield held its first an- nual version of the Academy Awards last November, David Simmer walked home with three awards: Best Program —Entertainment, Best Switcher and a Special Achievement Award. One show, "The Eyes of a I GOING PLACES WEEK OF FEB.9-FEB.15 JEWISH EVENTS JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER 6600 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield, "Evening on Broadway," cabaret concert starring Sheri Nichols with Richard Berent, 8:30 p.m. Feb. 17; Mask Puppet Theater, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 11, admission, 661-1000. B'NAI B'RITH HILLEL 1429 Hill Street, Ann Arbor, The Brother from Another Planet, movie, 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Feb. 10, admission, 769-0500. COMEDY CHAPLIN'S Plymouth, Kevin "Spike" Manton, 8 p.m. Feb. 9-10, admission, 454-4680. THEATER PERFORMANCE NETWORK 408 W. Washington, Ann Arbor, The Owl and the Pussycat, Feb. 15-25, admission, 663-0681 or 354-6129. HENRY FORD MUSEUM THEATER Dearborn, John Loves Mary, through March 17, admission, 271-1620. ROSEDALE COMMUNITY PLAYERS The Upstage, 21728 Grand River, Detroit, Barefoot in the Park, through Feb. 24, admission, 534-4010. FARMINGTON PLAYERS Farmington Players Barn, Farmington Hills, Waiting for the Parade, through Feb. 24, admission, 538-1670. FISHER Detroit, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, through Feb. 18, admission, 872-1000. ATTIC THEATER 2990 W. Grand Boulevard, Detroit, A Shayna Maidel, through Feb. 25; Blueprints, 8 p.m. Feb. 12, admission, 875-8284. THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 71