My look back at “TV Guide” magazines from April-May 1990 continues with the April 21-27 issue. This issue contains an interview with Peggy Lipton who played Norma Jennings in Twin Peaks. There is also a fantastic ad with James Hurley (James Marshall) and Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn) at the Double R Diner. It’s an odd one as those characters never really interact in the series.
TWIN PEAKS IN TV GUIDE FROM APRIL 21, 1990
The cover of the Issue #1934 of “TV Guide” (Vol. 38 No. 16) for April 21-27, 1990 features Arnold Schwarzenegger holding a television on his should. He directed an episode of HBO’s Tales from The Crypt (which is news to me nearly 35 years later).
As an aside, there is an episode of that show which was shot on Twin Peaks sets at City Studios in Van Nuys, California.
Titled “Split Second” (Season 3, Episode 11), the episode was directed by Russell Mulcahy and stars Brion James and Michelle Johnson.
Released on August 7, 1991, Steven Dodd and Richard Christian Matheson’s story features a beautiful waitress who marries the owner of a lumber camp and then quickly starts to realize he is not what she really wants.
I nearly jumped out of my seat when I realized that they used Room 315 at The Great Northern Hotel, part of the Blue Pine Lodge and the Roadhouse sets. But I digress…
TV GUIDE PLUS – PAGE 41
Reporter Timothy Carlson has a short article about Twin Peaks on page 41 which includes an interview with Peggy Lipton. Carlson provides details on the show’s television ratings thus far.
“The much-heralded series had a giant sampling in its April 8 debut: it helped win the night for ABC, earning a 21.7 rating and a 33 share and ranking No. 5 for the week. Even more impressive: the audience grew as the show progressed, until the final half hour, when it dropped less than a ratings point.”
To explain this television mumbo jumbo, here is the difference between a rating and a share:
A share measures the success of a campaign and the audience’s preferences. So, a “33 share” in television ratings indicates that 33% of households that were watching television at a particular time were exposed to an advertisement. A rating, however, measures against all possible households watching the show.
Carlson then spoke with Peggy Lipton about her role as Norma Jennings.
“The role brings out more of an edge in me,” Lipton explained. “With her I don’t have to be inhibited, shy or perfect. Norma is not afraid to let herself out.”
Peggy also praised David Lynch for helping her be enthusiastic about her character.
“He helped me tap into a well that was real,” she continued. “I had thought, ‘My God, it’s going to be dry.’ But it wasn’t.”
The article closes with Carlson saying that no character is free from being a suspect in Laura Palmer’s murder, except for Special Agent Dale Cooper. He supposedly received this hint from someone on the inside – “it isn’t Dale Cooper, the enigmatic FBI guy played by Kyle MacLachlan.”
THIS WEEK – PAGES 48-49
In Paul Droesch’s “This Week” column, he very briefly mentions David Lynch and Mark Frost’s show : “And on Twin Peaks (Thurs., ABC), the coroner’s report on Laura Palmer is released.”
THURSDAY GUIDELINES, PAGE 173
In the “Thursday Guidelines” section on page 173, Twin Peaks is briefly mentioned again.
“The plot thickens on Twin Peaks as Albert Rosenfield finishes the autopsy on Laura Palmer and Truman lets Cooper in on a town secret. (9 PM 5, 23, 24, 33)”
THURSDAY EVENING TV LISTINGS, PAGES 174-175
Here is how the television listings appeared for Thursday, April 26, 1990 when Twin Peaks episode 1.003 aired on the ABC Television Network.
TWIN PEAKS ADVERTISEMENT, PAGE 176
Another Twin Peaks season one advertisement appeared on page 176. This time, it’s James Marshall (James Hurley) and Sherilyn Fenn (Audrey Horne) at the Double R Diner. There is a brief three point summary from episode 1.002:
Last week –
- Leo Johnson suspected as Laura’s murderer.
- Agent Cooper saw the killer in a dream.
- Josie discovered a duplicate ledger at the sawmill.
This advertisement is fascinating as James Hurley and Audrey Horne never interact at the Double R Diner, or really in any way throughout the show.
TWIN PEAKS EPISODE 1.003 SYNOPSIS – PAGE 17
On Page 180, there is a synopsis for Twin Peaks episode 1.003:
“The grief-stricken Leland (Ray Wise) welcomes his niece Madeleine (Sheryl Lee), who looks much like Laura; Cooper and Truman (Kyle MacLachlan and Michael Ontkean) question Leo, while a parole officer talks to Norma (Peggy Lipton) about her husband’s imminent release from prison; Josie (Joan Chen) confesses to Truman her fear of Catherine (Piper Laurie); and tensions explode at Laura’s funeral. Dr. Jacoby: Russ Tamblyn. Hawk: Michael Horse. Ed: Everett McGill. Hayward: Warren Frost. Bobby: Dana Ashbrook. Mooney: Jed Mills. Maj. Briggs: Don Davis.”
Download high-resolution photos from this “TV Guide” by visiting Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aloha75/albums/72177720320883940
