The Arizona Republic’s Short Takes Guide to ‘Twin Peaks’ from May 3, 1990

There was much excitement in the air when Twin Peaks was first broadcast on the ABC Television Network in spring 1990. Despite the buzz, not every household had tuned into David Lynch and Mark Frost’s groundbreaking show, especially since it aired at the same time as NBC’s incredibly popular Cheers. As May began with the last half of the first season, newspapers like The Arizona Republic published viewing guides to help the uninitiated with understanding the characters and stories from the small Pacific Northwest town.

YOUR GUIDE TO ‘TWIN PEAKS’ IN THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC, MAY 3, 1990

Twin Peaks episode 1.004 aired on Thursday, May 3, 1990. That same day, the Short Takes column in The Arizona Republic published “Your Guide to ‘Twin Peaks'” Michael Clancy served as editor of this column along with his Short Takes assistant Julie Newberg. There are multiple stories in this article along with brief character profiles which I’ll highlight below.

Clancy was a reporter for The Arizona Republic from April 1980 to October 2014. On Sept. 18, 1989, the paper described Clancy’s ‘Short Takes’ column.

“The Arizona Republic’s Life & Leisure section is introducing a new page and two new columnists. Beginning today, the ‘Short Takes’ column compiled by Michael Clancy will move to Page 3 of Life & Leisure and will be expanded to a page of entertaining and informative topics. ‘Short Takes’ will run Monday though Fridays and will help you start your day with information you need and with news that will make you smile.”

Twin Peaks was the perfect topic for the May 3 paper as the buzz about the show was everywhere.

SHORT TAKES EQUIPS LATE CLIMBERS

Short Takes has heard all the excuses.

It’s too bizarre. Too strange.

Twin Peaks is just too difficult to get into, especially if you missed the Sunday movie that kicked off the series, created by David Lynch, the oddball movie director who made Blue Velvet and Eraserhead.

We agree, but we recommend you drop Cheers for a week and check it out. ABC affiliates seem to be delighted that the show is getting as big an audience as it is against NBC’s ratings-rich Cheers.

“Anything that breaks double digits” — 10 percent of the audience — is a big deal at KTVK-TV (Channel 3) in Phoenix,” says Sue Schwartz, program director. The general response, according to Schwartz: “This is the most bizarre but wonderful show.”

It’s on again tonight — the fifth of eight shows —and if you feel like giving Cheers a rest, this guide might help you find your way around Twin Peaks.

HERE’S THE WINDING PLOT TRAIL (WATCH OUT FOR VULTURES)

The second article uses a cropped publicity photo credited to Bob D’Amico, who began shooting photos for ABC Television in 1981. He in on Instagram now – @Damicob – and shared two awesome photos of Kyle MacLachlan (October 21, 2018) and Michael Ontkean (June 26, 2021).

The publicity photo of Joan Chen, Michael Ontkean, Kyle MacLachlan and Piper Laurie below is one of the earlier photos taken for the series (date on the photo states May 1989).

The plot of Twin Peaks circles the death of popular high-school girl Laura Palmer like a vulture circles carrion.

And like a buzzard picking at a carcass,. the story reveals several layers of strangeness beneath the tranquil surface of a typical small town.

Laura’s body was found at the Packard sawmill, one of the major employers in Twin Peaks, Wash., just south of the Canadian border. Mill owner Josie Packard is the object of her sister-in-law’s jealousy. Caught between Josie and Catherine, the sister of Josie’s dead husband, is Catherine’s husband, Pete.

The murder investigation is carried on by Sheriff Harry S. Truman, who has a thing going on with Josie. He is assisted by his two deputies, his ditzy receptionist and FBI agent Dale Cooper, who is overcome by the magic of the small town as he does his job.

Laura’s fellow students seem tightly linked to her killing. Was it the varsity football jock, Bobby? Her best friend, Donna? Audrey, the odd daughter of the most powerful man in town? The outcast biker, James? The relationships of the kids makes up another subplot.

One thing for sure: Drugs are found in Laura’s system. Leo Johnson, a local trucker, may be transporting them. We already know he beats his wife, Shelly, who works at the Double R Diner and sleeps with the football star, Bobby, when Leo is on the road.

The Double R is run by a strong woman, Norma, whose success may be jeopardized by her rotten husband, about to get out of prison. She’s having an affair with the wise gas-station owner, Ed. He isn’t very happy with his wife, who is trying to invent the perfect drapery rod.

The drug angle recently drew in two new characters, the French brothers who run The Roadhouse, a nightspot. They have connections to Leo and to the One-Eyed Jack, a casino and house of ill repute across the border. Benjamin Horne, Audrey’s powerful father, visits there regularly.

Home’s lawyer is Leland Palmer, father of the dead girl. In his grief, he hurled himself upon Laura’s coffin at graveside, causing a malfunction; as he rode the coffin up and down, his wife freaked out.

And then there’s Bigfoot. The possibility of his introduction was broached last week, when Sheriff Truman told the FBI’s Cooper of an “evil presence” lurking in the woods and a vigilante group formed to combat it, which includes Ed and James.

And Cooper? The dancing midget appeared to him in a dream, which many viewers consider the key to the mystery.

That brings you up to date. Now, the story continues …

ABC SEEKING AVALANCHE WITH FINALE

The publicity photo of David Lynch that accompanies this short article was originally taken by Gregory Heisler on the set of his 1984 film, Dune. Heisler would later photograph Lynch of the cover of “Time” on Oct. 1, 1990.

ABC said Tuesday that the season finale of Twin Peaks will air at 9 p.m. May 23.

The network is moving the season-ending episode from its usual Thursday slot back to Wednesday, to include its large audience in the May ratings “sweeps,” which just happen to conclude May 23.

Peaks will have aired eight times, including a two-hour pilot, when the lights dim. Will Laura’s killer be revealed? Will the show be back next year? Will you still care by May 23? Don’t ask.

TWIN PEAKS CHARACTER PROFILES

Clancy and Newberg included publicity photos of major Twin Peaks characters, each with their own brief summary.

• Catherine Martell (Piper Laurie) – She thinks the family sawmill should be hers.
• Josie Packard (Joan Chen) – The sawmill’s owner is a Twin Peaks outsider
• Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook) – His temper often colors his judgment.
• Benjamin Horne (Richard Beymer) – Twin Peaks kingpin has few moral qualms.
• Donna Hayward (Lara Flynn Boyle) – She was the murder victim’s best friend.
• Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) – Her sexuality makes her tantalizing.
• James Hurley (James Marshall) – Clues link the lone biker to Laura’s murder.
• Norma Jennings (Peggy Lipton) – Her quiet strength is threatened by ex-con husband.
• Ed Hurley (Everett McGill) – The gas-station owner has his own secrets.
• Shelly Johnson (Madchen Amick) – She’s attracted to trouble.

This is just one of several guides published in the early days of the show, designed to help viewers understand the groundbreaking television series we’ve come to love.