8 DTH OmnibusThursday, April 20, 1989
Edited for Television
Prime-time TV much improved in the '80s
By WI'&TGN LLOYD
Staff Writer
in comparison to the 70s, the
past decade has been quite good
for television. I'm talking quality,
not quantity, as in viewers, since
that has declined for the major
networks. But the prime-time
product has gotten better as the
80s have progressed.
With the following Top 10
comes the worry that I have no
memory. Yes. I do remember
"WKRP" and "Remington Steele,"
but as I perused back issues of TV
Guide, I realized that everything
got better and better. Would you
believe that "Laverne and Shirley
was still on ABC's schedule for the
1982-83 season? "TJ. Hooker" was,
too, and "Archie Bunker's Place
was on CBS.
Looking at the best, though,
brings me to some I feel I should
mention. Even though they were
short lived, there was some qual
ity in them, in the fall of 1 985, NBC
premiered "Amazing Stories."
Steven Spielberg produced and
the likes of Eastwood and Scorcese
directed episodes. The anthology
excelled over CBS's new "Twilight
zone" and over a Hitchcock anthol
ogy. However, the criticism was
that the stories weren't that
amazing, but they still managed
to surprise.
Also, there is "Newhart" The
early shows had two different
main characters and no Larry,
Darryl or DarryL Although very
funny, the show doesn't seem to
have picked up on the new "80s
sitcom style, and that is to have
a continuing storyline to ensure
the viewer returns week after
week. At least one part should be
serialized, and only now are they
beginning to do that with the
relationship of Stephanie and
MichaeL
Also worthy of mention are
"China Beach," for the way it
examines the Vietnam experience
away from combat through the
Get through exams with Frisbees, football and food
By C2YAFJ CLIP'S
Staff Writer
This weekend, nighttime activ
ities should be no problem.
Between the Violent Femmes and
R.E.M. concerts, along with the
usual dubs, parties and movies,
there are plently of choices for
nocturnal delight And hey, it's
Senior Week too! But with only a
week of classes left, our time
together is running out; we must
frolick and be happy, festive spring
people.
Spring. How wonderful . . . how
simple, you think. Well, it's not as
easy as you think.
First, you haveto lie in the sun.
It doesnt matter where just do
: it. A road trip to the beach Is great,
- but hardly necessary. People strip
". . . the past decade has been good for
television. As I perused back issues of
TV Guide I realized everything got
better and better."
eyes of nurses; "Hill Street Blues,"
for beginning a new genre of an
ensemble cast and a serialized, but
not soapy, storyline; and "Crowing
Pains," for not innovating but
perfecting the family sitcom.
So without further ado, these
are my Top 10 television shows of
the "80S:
1 0. CHIPS Not since the days of
"Cunsmoke" has a drama so suc
cessfully combined the elements
of classical television production
reflecting American democratic
society while standing as an anal
ogy for the modern nuclear arms
race, while at the same time . . .
WHAT? Sorry about that. By
bringing up such a program as
"CHiPs," I hope to draw your
attention to how bad television
can be, so you can better appre
ciate each of the following entries.
10. The Cosby Show IK2Z) A
very amiable show, which seems
to perfect the family sitcom, but
instead sacrifices story in favor of
acting out Bill Cosby stand-up
routines, or cutesy, unrealistic
skits. The show is nevertheless
hilarious at times, and the cast has
seemed to stop patting itself on
the back for being so funny. But
they are often as funny as they
think they are, and while childish,
Cosby is not insulting to the
intelligence as "Who's the Boss?"
can be.
9. KSght Court (ESC) The show
stays away from realistic situa
tions. Sure, someone would hold
the original copy of the Constitu
down all over campus: on the
quad, by the dorms, on top of the
dorms, basking like the gods of
Olympus in the warmth and light
of the sun. But the great thing is
that not only are we exposing
ourselves to radiation, we're let
ting every member of the oppo
site sex on campus ogle us. You
know that everyone does it, so
accept it and feel free to scope
out other sunbathers.
Of course, there's a lot more to
spring than a taa we can express
our appreciation of spring by just
spending time outdoors. Throwing
a Frisbee, football, or any nonliving
object back and forth is always
fun. And if you're lucky, you might
accidentally hit someone on the
head or at least get in their way.
tion hostage In a New York court
room, or Bull would really keep his
job. But the natural boyish charm
and comedic talent of Harry And
erson has managed to keep the
show on since 1984 through many
cast changes, while John Larro
quette has managed to snag three
or four Emmys. Just watch out,
though, "Night Court" will have
you rolling for 20 minutes, then
becomes serious and character
developing for five more before
the big finale. "
8. Simon and Simon (CCS) Rick
and AJ. Simon solved some of the
most interesting and original cases
for more than five years in san
Diego. In the meantime, their
mother joined the cast and so did
Tim Reid TFranlrt Place") before
the show finally left the air last
season. But it hasnt been canceled
and CBS still has the option of
calling it back. With a good time
slot, Jameson Parker and Gerald
McRaney could conceivably go a
few more years, but chances are
they are tired of it by now. Dont
expect to see any new episodes.
7. Kocnnshting (ACC) A few
years ago this show would be
rated near the top of this list, but
it has not treated its audience well.
But the show has been innovated.
It never has taken its genre
seriously, with David announcing,
"This is the car chase" or won
dering what happened to his copy
of the script This self-reflexive
attitude is what makes the show
such fun, along with a certain
serialization of the relationship.
But wait, there's more spring
time activity; you can participate
in team sports, intramurals are OK,
but why be so organized? Just get
out there and play. Of course,
baseball and softball are the
traditional choices for April fun,
but don't feel limited. Really,
almost anything is acceptable:
volleyball, flag football, basketball,
synchronized swimming (you can
ogle more in this one), etc
Spring also provides the perfect
atmosphere for parties, picnics
and barbecues. Of course, as we
learned from Springfest, these
events should be planned
weather permitting. Don't be
pessimistic, though. A little rain
wont ruin a cookout, but a tor
rential spring downpour can sort
But the five-part miniseries at the
end of the 1986-87 season turned
the show into a soap opera and
even spots of genius like the prison
yard musical scene weren't
enough to keep the viewers
through the reruns of the follow
ing season, or through Cybill
Shepherd's absence, or Maddie's
marriage. But now they are back
on track and Maddie and David are
fun again. The stories are interest
ing, the repartee quick, the acting
excellent and the ratings lower
than "21 Jump Street"
6. Late tSght with David Lct
terman iUZC) I had not planned
on looking outside of prime time,
but Dave deserves it. I hated this
show early on, but once you get
comfortable with this former
weatherman, he can really make
you laugh even when doing
stupid things. His running jokes
with Phil Donahue, "The Today
Show" cast, or Connie Chung and
Maury Povich are great Viewer
mail usually works, and the Top 10
has become very consistent. A
John Gotti Tax Tip-. Three words
to the IRS agent "How's your
family?"
5. MASH (CDS) I know youTe
thinking 70s and that although
the 4077th went into the "80s, it
did so without Trapper, Henry,
Frank or Radar. But the final two-and-a-half-hour
episode airing Feb.
23, 1983, was the highest rated
program of all time. The show was
still funny but running out of
steam, and the fact the producers
noticed this is reason enough to
put them among the '80s best.
4. LA. law iUZt) This would be
the newest show in my rankings
and also the most serious. "LA
Law" has been able to perfect the
style of "Hill Street" and "St
Elsewhere" and has given us just
enough soap opera and humor to
keep It from depressing us. And
the characters are diverse enough
to attract ail kinds. If you hate
of put a damper on things. At
these events, not only can you
partake of the most delicious
classes of outdoor food, maybe
even burgers, but you can also
participate in many of the spring
activities we've discussed. As for
that old-fashioned idea that a
picnic of wine and cheese is the
way to go for that special some
one, forget it Be original serve
Doritos and guacamole or mayon
naise sandwiches. And this menu
is not as expensive as you would
think.
Spring is definitely the time to
rekindle that relationship with
retire, too. wren you hsve a lot
of studying to do, tce your books
; outside and get to know an insect
' while you learn about the Socratic
Kuzak, you have Amie. If you hate
Douglas, there's Sifuentes.
3. Family Ties (KSC) it began in
1 982, and its gimmick was that the
generation gap had reversed its
poles. Now the parents were
liberal, hippie types and the child
ren were as right wing as Ronald
Reagan. Michael J. Fox makes, the
show but the others play off him
perfectly, especially Michael Gross
(Steven). But recently, "Family
Ties" has become more and more
a caricature of itself. Mallory is a
joke and Jennifer is too philosophi
cal. But as Alex graduates from
college, "Family Ties" is still able to
reach your heart and grab your
mind as he prepares for a "real
world" far away from the one he
has known. Seniors can empathize.
2. Magnum, P.I. (CCS) One of the
first attempts television took to
look at the world through the eyes
of a Vietnam veteran exploded
into an excellent drama which was
able to change from the classic
crime-drama style of the 70s to
the emphasis on character com
mon to the "80s. Over eight sea
sons we came to know Thomas,
T.C, and Rick. We were introduced
to recurring characters Mac, Col.
Green, DA Carol, icepick, Lt Tanaka
and Thomas' wife, Michelle. Some
died, others maybe should have.
And we saw the strict Jonathan
Quayle Higgins become a loving
father figure for Magnum and Co.
as well as a good friend. The final
episode closed the series on the
theme of the gang leaving the
adolesence they had so enjoyed
since the war. Magnum returned
to the adulthood he had so long
avoided as a private investigator,
and as a Navy commander and
father, we last saw Magnum at
Rick's wedding. Meanwhile T.C was
assuming the responsibilities of a
father and husband also, and
Higgins was still denying that he
is Robin Masters.
Next week, No. 1.
method. Or go somewhere and
plant a tree, forming that special
bond between man and baric Or
just go on a walk, smell the flowers,
listen to the birds and tread on
some grass. There are so many
options, l feel almost
overwhelmed.
We are truly blessed with all
these spring weather possibilities;
take advantage of them. Save
bowling and Trivial Pursuit for the
rainy days. And remember in these
'last weeks, Frisbee, tanning, tree
planting, picnics-, they're all great
ways to relieve the stress of final
exams. After ail, we need to relax
and enjoy spring before the hard
ships of summer come striking
down upon us. .