Page 43 - Abc Network News Today

>> im got good news, is dying too many. that gum you like is going to come back in style. >> what on earth is essentially an art film doing in prime time television? >> american network television has long been considered the home of the blands, the cautious and the predictable, so it was with some trepidation that the abc network recently launched a new series that was none of those things. "twin peaks" has already been described by one critic as the series that will change tv. its directed by ...

>> were not -- its not a scrapbook, its a freezer. >> no! >> we kind of all were part of this chapter in television where we realized we were in the right place at the right time. >> lets see how you like this, naughty boy. >> we certainly associate nbc of the 90s with having extremely successful sitcoms but they werent the only network that found their way to having some success. tgif was on abc on friday, and it was their block of family-oriented comedies. >> i cant take it. i need the cake. >...

There was never a gay character that was the lead of a show. >> so you want to go look at apartments tomorrow? >> great idea! >> ellen degeneres, the comedian, was about to come out. as a lesbian. and she does it on "time" magazine. yep, im gay. but they decide that the character ellen plays on tv will also come out. >> it is just reprehensible that abc, now owned by disney of all companies, is going to feature ellen as coming out of the closet. it wont be long before god knows what, you know. b...

A art film doing in prime time television? >> american network television has long been considered the home of the blands, the cautious and the predictable. so it was with some trepidation that it the abc network launched a new series that was none of those things. "twin peaks" has already described by one critic as the series that will change tv. its directed by david lynch. >> david lynch was a filmmaker known for his taste in the eccentric and memorable. the idea that he would do television i...

Whole lot of original programing for cable, but they were airing movies. so we needed to compete and i felt that if we didnt, we were going to kind of get swept out. >> you son of a -- >> and so i came up with a notion of doing a cop show that was r-rated. when abcs broadcast standards read our script, they went berserk. ♪ >> i was sitting with a pad and a pencil drawing pictures of breasts to try to show them what we would show and what we wouldnt show. grown-ups sitting in a room doodling. >...

Thursday night. that was at the time one-third of the country. >> ooh! what is this stuff? >> the sweater is angora. >> well, its wonderful. >> the machine that was nbc in the 90s for comedy was untouchable. >> youre not from around here, are you? >> it generated so much viewership and money and awards. >> you do not need this. >> its the top of our wedding cake. >> were not -- its not a scrapbook, its a freezer. >> no! >> we were all kind of part of this chapter in television where we realized ...

I mean, i just -- susan, im gay. >> ellen coming out was a huge moment for me personally because, you know, i was a closeted gay guy. gay child at that time. and it was the bravest thing i saw. >> that felt great. that felt so great. >> initial report suggests abc made a bundle on ellens highly publicized outing on national tv last night. the broadcast was accompanied by coming-out parties all around the country, including one in birmingham, alabama, where the local abc station refused to broadc...

So i came up with a notion of doing a cop show that was r rated. when abcs broadcast standards read our script, they went berserk. >> i was sitting with a pad and a pencil drawing pictures of breasts to try to show them what we would show and what we wouldnt show. grown-ups sitting in a room doodling. >> then we started on the language. >> we heard it with the brains of a flea and the balls of a moth. >> the program premiered with an advertising boycott. >> channel 7, shame on you! >> but it was...

A new era of technology and competition. ge buying nbc, capital citys abc. and all of them want their moneys worth. >> well now have the strongest network. well have a stronger defense piece. this is going to be one dynamite company. >> theres a danger that news will be mixed up with the rest of television and considered just another profit. >> late 1920s, to early 1930s, to the 1980s, the sense was if some of the broadcasting time took public service, 1990s, journalism in the country changed a ...

>> what on earth is essentially a art film doing in prime time television? >> american network television has long been considered the home of the blands, the cautious and the predictable. so it was with some trepidation that it the abc network launched a new series that was none of those things. "twin peaks" is already described by one critic that will change tv. its directed by david lynch. >> david lynch was a filmmaker known for his taste in the eccentric and memorable. the idea that he woul...