Television in 1990

Greetings, this is BPS Kayla, BPS's own television master. In the spirit of BPS's 90s theme, I will be examining each year of the 90s in terms of television. This is how it will work: I will choose two television shows per year to examine/review. The first will be "America's Choice" for the year. Basically, this is the title for the show that was generally most popular in America in that year. The second will be "Kayla's Choice". Basically, this show will be the show that I personally want to recognize for that year. So, let's get started.

1990

AMERICA'S CHOICE: Cheers

With its transcendent and real (though hilarious) social situations, Cheers stole the comedy stage in America in the late 80s. By 1990, it was in its 9th season and it had three more after that, making it NBC's longest running comedy. I am a fan of a show that relies on an ensemble instead of one or very few characters, and Cheers definitely falls into this category. For those of you not familiar with the show, first of all, you really should broaden your horizons, and second, it is a show about a group of Boston locals who get together for drinks in a local bar to talk and have fun. Hilarity ensues through different social situations that arise in the time in the bar. Some noteworthy cast members include: Kirstie Alley, Ted Danson, Shelley Long, and Kelsey Grammer. I think Cheers was an excellent American comedy because it maintained its hilarity and still addressed various social issues, even including homosexuality (which was generally a no-no on American television during its time, so props to the writers for making a statement).
While Cheers is widely considered a show of the 80s, 1990 was a big year for Cheers. Here is a brief summary of awards the show received in 1990:
Ted Danson: Emmy, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series & Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series
Bebe Neuwirth: Emmy, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
James Burrows: Emmy, Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Other: Emmy, Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or a Special

I find that last award particularly interesting...what made the sound mixing of Cheers so brilliant? I could see them winning best drink mixing...haha, lame joke, sorry. But no really, I am trying to think of the sounds featured in Cheers...? Clinking glasses?

KAYLA'S CHOICE: Gabriel's Fire

I came across this show rather recently and I HIGHLY recommend it. It only ran for two years (1990-1991), but it is what I consider to be the most underrated show of 1990. The show did run again from 1991-1992, but the titles became Pros and Cons and the plot altered slightly, so it didn't live up to its predecessor. Gabriel's Fire stars the excellent James Earl Jones. Now really, you should know who this is, but if for some reason you are thinking that the name sounds familiar but you can not quite place your finger on why, I have two words for you: Darth Vader. Anyways, Jones delivers probably the best acting I have ever seen him execute in Gabriel's Fire. He won an Emmy in 1990 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
In the show, Jones' character Gabriel Bird is sentenced to life in prison for killing his partner. In reality, Gabriel shot his partner because he saw that they were about to murder an innocent family for no apparent reason during a police raid. This premise reflects much of the corruption and violence that had risen in the police force during the 1980s. I like the show for its gritty truthfulness and its rather grim portrayal of society. When Gabriel finally proves his innocence, he starts to work as a private detective, addressing the issues of violence and corruption, fueled by the effects of his own experience. Here is the problem, Gabriel's Fire is nearly impossible to get your hands on. Since it had such a short run, it has not been released on DVD. I found old VHS tapes it had been recorded on in my attic. There is actually a petition floating around on the web calling for a DVD release of the show. I'll post the link later.

Farewell and good riddance,
BPS Kayla