It used to be generally believed that television reveals the truth. "The camera never lies," they said.

Anyone who watches sports knows how false that notion is. Camera angles can give completely opposite information on close calls at first base, questionable pass receptions and suspected fouls in basketball.

Another case in point: The prayer that wasn't a prayer.

Whispers

When the first presidential debate was aired recently from Hartford, Conn., I tuned in to C-SPAN to watch. Its coverage began slightly before the networks', so I saw President Clinton and Mr. Dole standing patiently at their podiums, awaiting their formal introductions.

As they waited, the hall was completely silent -- until a whispering voice began reciting something. At first, I couldn't make out what it was saying or even who it was. A technician checking something perhaps, or a director giving last-second orders. Maybe someone in the audience too close to a microphone meant to capture crowd response.

Then it became clear to me that the voice belonged to Mr. Clinton, who was reciting sotto voce the opening lines of his first remarks, which outlined what he believes are the achievements of his administration. In the final moments before the big event, he was simply testing his memory and practicing his first words.

Prayer?

Finally, the debate began. Afterward, C-SPAN sought reaction from viewers. Said one woman: "I was really impressed with President Clinton. I saw him reciting a prayer before he began. Anyone who would do that is someone I admire."

When I told a co-worker what actually happened, she said: "I thought he was praying, too."

But with his head bowed and his lips moving quietly, the president wasn't appealing to the Lord; he was just prepping himself.

The camera never lies? Tell that to the people who thought they saw their president in prayer....

Jiggly

As the presidential campaign winds down and the 1996 baseball season passes into history, the fall television season labors on, still not impressing me with any shows that have me saying: "I've got to see that again."

Two of the most annoying things in the world are rap music and camera work that tilts and whirls like a carnival ride. Those two annoyances are combined into something very off-putting on "Dangerous Minds," the ABC series about an inner-city high school class taught by an ex-Marine.

The hour-long episode I tolerated had a decent enough plot, about a gang member trying to break free of his violent comrades; but I ended up wanting to experience the show without the sound and video. That tends to leave nothing but a blank screen.

The episodes frequently go into a stuttering, washed-out, angular style that is supposed to be creatively hip. It might appeal to teens, but it merely makes me woozy....

"Common Law" is a sitcom about an Hispanic lawyer who loves a WASP. He battles the system; she battles her parents. I battled to keep awake as routine one-liners were spewed. There is also something iffy about a show that uses stereotypes to preach against stereotypes.

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