Some people have a mid-life crisis when they realize that they can’t do all the things they once could – they lose breath quickly, or can’t keep up with their friends playing touch football. for example. Others look at what they have accomplished and wonder, “is this it?” The usual result (at least for men, of which I am one) is that they buy a Corvette.
Well, I’m not at my mid-life crisis yet, but I’ve figured out a potential key trigger for that emotional state:
Twin Peaks first aired 17 years ago.
I was a HUGE Peaks fan, and still have my framed Laura Palmer photo (the homecoming queen shot, as seen in the pilot). I watched every week, discussed the subtext and hidden meanings with friends, and actually was able to figure out who killed Laura before it was revealed it on air (seriously – ask my friend Jeff). You know, the same way people have recently gone nuts over Heroes and Lost.
But Peaks was first, and I still say the best, at that superb mind-f*** that captured the imagination of TV audiences. A non-parody parody of soap operas, detective shows, and a DAMN FINE drama in its own right, Peaks has been off the pop culture radar for some time now, with only the first season sans pilot available on DVD, and no one broadcasting reruns.
Well, that is changing, and soon. Peaks will start airing on the new Chiller TV cable channel tomorrow night with the original pilot, and from the looks of their schedule they’re only broadcasting one episode per week, on Friday nights (just like, well, 1991)… So, if you want to go back to the land where the Owls are Not what they Seem, Chiller TV has you covered (it’s on DirecTv – your local cable may not have it).
If you are impatient, on April 3rd the first season will be reissued (and the unreleased second season will finally come out) on DVD – and supposedly an “Ultimate box set” will be out late this year… But if you’re cheap and have Chiller, you can get your Dale Cooper fix every week.
Oh, and click here for a site that is WAY too comprehensive about all things Peaks…
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some car shopping to do… and you kids need to get off my yard!