If I understand you correctly, you are using a standard television to preview your footage as you edit, correct? If that is the case, make sure it is a color TV(which i'm sure you are aware). Second, if it is a color tv, it should accurately show the footage you are currently editing on your NLE. If your footage is color, then your image on the TV should be color.
Are you using firewire through to RCA or S-Video to connect to your system?
Not that it will make much of a difference but the more info you provide the better.
Thanks for the help. What was happening was it wasnt set to PAL S-video for editing. now its in color and works fine for my purposes. BUt how do i get AE to see my footage. Its not working as i thought it would. AE looks for a 1395 compliant when i thought it would simply look for a 2nd monitor. THanks