BEST BETS / Thursday 7/20

3pm

TV Museum

Television commercials can make or break a political campaign, which is why millions of TV advertising dollars will be spent this fall hyping the presidential candidates. In anticipation of the upcoming election, the Museum of Television & Radio is screening “Madison Avenue Goes to Washington: The History of Presidential Campaign Advertising.” The series includes the most memorable and historically significant presidential commercials created between 1952 and 1996. Among those featured: a 1960 spot featuring Jacqueline Kennedy campaigning for her husband in Spanish and Ronald Reagan’s 1984 “It’s Morning Again in America.” The series is designed to give viewers insight into the preoccupations and political strategies behind various presidential campaigns since the dawn of the television age.

* “Madison Avenue Goes to Washington: The History of Presidential Campaign Advertising,” the Museum of Television & Radio, 465 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills. Tuesdays-Sundays at 3 p.m. Ends Nov. 12. $6; students and senior citizens, $4; younger than 13, $3. (310) 786-1000.

8pm

Theater

“James Joyce’s The Dead” is based on Joyce’s short story from “Dubliners,” about long-buried passions that stir during a multi-generational family Christmas party. The musical by Richard Nelson--winner of this year’s Tony Award for best book--and acclaimed Irish composer Shaun Davey is making its West Coast debut with a cast of theater notables, including Stephen Bogardus, Faith Prince, Sally Ann Howes, Marni Nixon, Alice Ripley and Stephen Spinella.

* “James Joyce’s The Dead,” Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays-Sundays, 2 p.m.; also July 30, Aug. 6, 13, 27 at 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 10, 17, 31 at 2 p.m. Dark Aug. 12. Ends Sept. 3. $25 to $70. (213) 628-2772.

8pm

Pop Music

The recent Latin Grammy nominations dramatized Ricky Martin’s transition during the past year--he got two, one fewer than he received in the regular Grammys earlier in the year. Livin’ la Vida Crossover, the crowd-pleasing entertainer returns to the Southland on what seems like a never-ending tour.

* Ricky Martin, Arrowhead Pond, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 8 p.m. $35 to $95. (714) 704-2500.

2p.m.

Puppetry

On the schedule at Puppet Mania 2000, a four-day festival of shows and puppet-arts workshops: one of Spain’s leading puppet troupes, Los Titiriteros de Binefar; puppeteers Sid Krofft, and Velma Dawson of “Howdy Doody” fame; the artists behind “Muppets Tonight,” “Beakman’s World,” “Being John Malkovich” and “Men in Black”; and a rare appearance by legendary puppet animator Ray Harryhausen. The event also includes stop-motion animation screenings, as well as puppeteer and puppet historian Alan Cook’s “100 Years of Puppetry” exhibition, from one of the largest and most comprehensive puppet collections in the country. * Puppet Mania 2000, Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State L.A., 5151 State University Drive. Shows: today, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m., 1, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Matinees: adults, $10; ages 8 and up, $7.50; evening shows: $15. “100 Years of Puppetry,” Luckman Gallery, Thursday-Aug. 19. Hours: Mondays-Thursdays and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Free. (800) 965-4827 or https://www.puppetbuilder.com/puppetmania2000/

Freebie

* Art Directors Guild and House Beautiful magazine present a state-of-the-art Hollywood bungalow movie set combining the best of classic 1920s and ‘30s cinema and architecture with modern amenities, Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. Weekdays through Aug. 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (310) 657-0800.