Forks balance on the tips of toothpicks; glasses of water are overturnedwithout spilling; and tennis balls fly during Science Day at UCLA featuringPaul Zaloom from "Beakman's World." Zaloom, who portrays Beakman,the delightful but wacky scientist on the popular children's televisionprogram, brings his zany and entertaining low-tech science experimentsto the Veterans Wadsworth Theater on Saturday, Jan. 24, at 2 p.m.

Winner of two daytime Emmy awards, "Beakman's World" premieredSeptember 1992 in national syndication and on the Learning Channel cablenetwork. After only one season, the series moved from national syndicationto CBS's Saturday morning children's lineup.

Since then, "Beakman's World," with its hip humor and flash,has garnered a number of accolades for being both educational and entertaining.Dedicated to answering some of life's most puzzling questions -- such as"How do I grow?" or "What makes a cat purr? -- the showprompted The Boston Globe to declare, "Yes there is hope for children'sTV."

Judy Price, CBS vice president of children's programs and daytime specials,called "Beakman's World" a "breakthrough series" witha "winning combination of education and fun."TV Guide gave theseries an A- rating, saying it is "in a class by itself."

Performance artist, puppeteer and political satirist, Zaloom has beenperforming nationally and internationally since 1978. He has appeared ata number of prestigious venues, including the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis,New York's Lincoln Center, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Mayfestin Scotland, and Les Semaines de la Marionette in Paris, to name a few.

Zaloom has written, designed, directed and performed eight full-lengthsolo shows, including "Zaloominations," "Fruit of Zaloom,"and "Creature from the Blue Zaloom."

Zaloom has received three Citations of Excellence in the Art of Puppetryfrom UNIMA-USA, an L.A. Weekly Critics Award, a Village Voice Obie Awardand a New York Dance and Performance Award. He has also received severalNational Endowment for the Arts Performance Art fellowships and Inner-Artsgrants, and was the recipient of a coveted Guggenheim Fellowship to fundfurther development of his work in 1991.

Tickets to see Science Day at UCLA featuring Paul Zaloom from"Beakman'sWorld" are available for $25, $22 (1/2 price for children 16 and under)and $9 (to UCLA students with valid full-time I.D.) at the UCLA CentralTicket Office, at the southwest corner of the James West Alumni Center,online at www.performingarts.ucla.edu and at all Ticketmaster outlets.For more information or to charge by phone, call UCLA at (310) 825-2101.

One phone number. Lots of entertainment options. The UCLA ArtsLine. Call (310) UCLA-ART. For more information on Center for the PerformingArts events, visit our Web site at http://www.performingarts.ucla.edu.

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