Lawrence Journal World
December 26, 1993
Biggest Buzzes
David Letterman, richer, nattier and less goofy; “-Beavis and Butt-Head,” the decline of Western civilization with a
snicker, heh heh heh.
Best New Series,”Viewer Discretion” Category
“N.Y.P.D. Blue,” its powerhouse cast led by David Caruso and Dennis Franz, its episodes spiced with topless dancers.
Good Old American Practicality, 90s Style
The life and times of Amy Fisher, dramatized on three commercial networks, produced the year’s most memorable line as NBC’s teen-age Amy
summed up her relationship with Joey Buttafuoco, married auto mechanic: “He loves me. We have great sex. And he fixes my car.”
Made-for-TV-Movie Action Goes Cable
Productions like “Barbarians at the Gate” and “The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader Murdering Mom” left the commercial networks empty-handed and red-faced in this year’s Emmy best-movie nominations.
Broadway Dying? Not on Television
Jack Lemmon and Matthew Broderlck in David Mamet’s “Life in the Theater”; Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh in John Osborne’s “Look Back
in Anger,” and Bette Midler in “Gypsy.”
Most Imaginative, Least Watched Mini-Series’
“Wild Palms,” Oliver Stone’s spacey trip into paranoia and virtual-reality.
Sequel Hit and Miss
Britain’s “Prime Suspect II,” snapping and crackling with another brilliant turn by Helen Mirren; “Return to Lonesome Dove,” padded to terminal numbness.
Lenny Bruce Memorial Award
To the HBO special starring Bill Hicks, a stand-up comic whose material is so offbeat that a brief routine was later cut from the Letterman show, once known to pride itself on being offbeat.
Let’s Hope It Can’t Get Worse
The Chevy Chase talk show, and the Paula Poundstone series.
