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e 3 | Wednesday. January 20, 1999
The Battalion
A
GGIELIFE
Decade later ‘Simpsons’ still No. 1,
JlComedy Central skyrockets shows to top 10
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BY JACOB HUVAL AND SCOTT HARRIS
The Battalion
N
ineteen ninety-eight was an important and
altogether challenging year for television.
Polls indicated that the majority of prime-tar-
et Audiences were hitting the theaters more than
' ver.
Meanwhile, broadcasting company mergers were
hanging the face of programming. The tediously
ersi stent (as well as generally irritating) presiden-
al scandal update prevalent to most networks
jireutened television’s appeal and consequently its
uality. Yet, despite numerous setbacks and techni
calities, there were still some notable
programs to enjoy.
science prole
very differem
iystem.
many of
“The Simpsons” — Although
“The Simpsons” is entering its 10th
season, Matt Groening’s cartoon-come-
dy concoction is still a major con-
ti hil are a a n( 3 er j n prime-time race. By far, the most
te*ily acclaimed cartoon series of the ’90s, “The
boxer, a se iimpsons” remains a staple of the international
ent s in Li nt^rtainment diet. Why is it that after almost 10
sit as a jur . ears 0 f “Aye, carumba!” and “D’oh!,” viewers
isure how | 3Ve not strayed from “The Simpsons?”
M'he variety and spontaneity of the humor is
n workings.nough to entice a broad audience, while the
all witnesses, a tj re 0 f contemporary life maintains viewer loyal-
each witness y what has made “The Simpsons” unique to
irifne-time programming for the last 10 years is its
has been touted as one of the few sincerely “smart”
cop shows, more often resorting to crisp, psychologi
cal sparring between characters than overblown
gunfights.
“The Daily Show” — Before this pro
gram news magazine, shows such as
“Dateline” and “20/20” have been elusive
to comic ridicule. “The Daily Show” of
fers a tremendously ironic and acclaimed
brand of humor that helps everybody take them
selves less seriously.
Robert Hynecek/The Battalion
guest appearances, musical scores and subject ma
terial. The 1998 season featured guest stars
Janeane Garofalo, James Earl Jones, Alex Trebeck,
U2 and Steve Martin, to name a few.
In its 10th season, “The Simpsons” is a time
less relic that reveals the comedy of human nature,
a sort of warped, carnival mirror for all the ages,
reflecting perhaps not-our-best face, but a face
that is nonetheless enjoyable.
“Late Night with Conan O’Brien” —
In just five years, Conan O’Brien has so
lidified his position as the king of late
night. With the help of his sidekick Andy
Richter and band leader Max Weinberg, O’Brien has
taken the reigns of the late night chariot and left
Leno and Letterman in the dust.
O’Brien uses his wry wit and offbeat sense of hu
mor to keep the viewers watching. With chilling
looks into the year 2000 where the movie “Spice
World” is still the number one rated movie and re
curring characters such as Pimpbot, how
can he not be king?
An
“Homicide: Life on the Street’
oasis in the desert of second-rate police
and hospital dramas, “Homicide” has be
come a weekly blockbuster. Conceived
by Hollywood director Barry Levinson
and written by Tom Fontana, “Homicide”
Fox Specials — Perhaps volume is
more important than quality. Throughout
the 1998 season, Fox broadcasting touted
see Television on Page 4
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