1.   American and Chinese officials hope relations will be strengthened by the visit to Washington and other American cities by Zhu, who cuts an appealing figure abroad.

2.   But Gore, who continues to trail Republican nominee George W. Bush in public opinion polls, also faces the challenge of presenting himself as a more appealing figure.

3.   However incendiary the action becomes, J.C. gives the series ballast and an appealing central figure.

4.   Most of its viewers will know a lot more about this appealing figure on leaving than when going in.