The 1997-98 television season is about to take its Christmas/New Year’s break, eschewing original programming in favor of reruns as viewers bypass TV to spend quality time with loved ones.
But TV gave viewers plenty of gifts well ahead of the holidays.
The presents have come from several established series serving up some pretty special episodes. These are all the more remarkable in that they were made at all. Some veteran shows don’t break a sweat, content to produce the same generic themes and episodes they’ve been doing for years (see “Family Matters”).
But instead of resting on their considerable laurels, both CBS’ “Murphy Brown” and Fox’s “Party of Five” have flexed their muscles with lead characters fighting various forms of cancer this season.
“The X-Files” sometimes was overindulgent, but nevertheless bold, with its black-and-white homage to “Frankenstein,” an episode featuring a deformed, severely misunderstood creature. Series composer Mark Snow in particular rates a salute for his whimsical score.
Last week “NYPD Blue” expanded to 90 minutes with the second of a two-parter about a vicious killer who murdered his own child. The story could have been wrapped up in the usual hour, but the episode was so compelling producers decided that additional time was needed.
Some liked “ER’s” live season premiere; others didn’t buy it. But the fact that it was attempted in the first place, particularly on a show that has to be one of the most difficult–technically–to produce, means something.
“Chicago Hope’s” musical episode was at times charming and distracting, but think of how much time it took the actors to learn choreography and lyrics, all for the sake of being different.
Many forget there is a third doc drama, CBS’ “Diagnosis Murder,” the low-rated crime drama, which is a lightweight in the medical arena. But this season, it also delivered cagey reunions featuring TV veterans from cop shows and spy series. In the future, alumni from “M*A*S*H” the movie, the TV series and its spinoff (“AfterMASH”) will get together for an episode.
“Homicide” and “Law & Order” kicked it up a notch with their second crossover episode, a taut effort about a JonBenet Ramsey-type murder investigation.
The syndicated “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” spent the beginning of its season engrossed in a fascinating, multiepisode examination of war, specifically the alien Dominion/Cardassian campaign against the United Federation of Planets.
From “The Drew Carey Show’s” “Full Monty” and “Men in Black” takeoffs, to “Seinfeld’s” backwards-unfolding, “Betrayal”-ish episode, to Tuesday’s “Mad About You” (7 p.m., WMAQ-Ch. 5), which will run without commercial interruption, certain veteran shows this season have not forgotten that it doesn’t matter how many years are on the auto, as long as there is still something strong under the hood.
Since we’re in the gift-giving mood, here’s a little something just for you: the lyrics to “South Park,” Comedy Central’s manic adult animated series.
Some have asked what the four foul-mouthed kids who star in the series are singing during the show’s opening, because the words are a little hard to understand. Well, here they are, as warbled by Les (Les Claypool, lead singer of the alternative rock band Primus, which wrote and performs the theme):
Les: “I’m going down to South Park, gonna have myself a time.”
Stan and Kyle: “Friendly faces everywhere, humble folks without temptation.”
Les: “Going down to South Park, gonna leave my woes behind.”
Cartman: “Ample parking day or night, people spouting, `Howdy, neighbor!’ “
Les: “Heading on up to South Park, gonna see if I can’t unwind.”
Kenny (the one with the hood on so tight his words are always muffled): “Hmm mph rmph rm hmm mph rmph rm hmm mph rmph rm.”
Les: “So, c’mon down to South Park and meet some friends of mine!”
So television has given you something this season, and we’ve chipped in with a little gift too. Now you do the same.
Please send a donation to the Chicago Tribune Holiday Fund, which supports programs that aid children, the homeless, the hungry and those with developmental disabilities. Clip and send in the coupon at the bottom of this column, in the name of “Murphy Brown,” “NYPD Blue,” “Mad About You” and other shows that have given you so much pleasure this season.
Hey, even if you do it in the name of “South Park,” just please do it.
