From Tinseltown to Toontown

Family Guy’s Emmy nomination could signal a change in
Hollywood's perceptions of animation

 

 

     
 
    

Angela Espinoza

ost of us get our short-term
television fix from YouTube,
but there’ re still a number of us

who watch the good ‘ol fashioned boob
tube. For those who do, you'll know the
61" Primetime Emmy Awards aired on
September 20.

Neil Patrick Harris returned to host
this year, opening the show with “Put
Down the Remote,” a musical number
on why we shouldn’t change the channel.
Unlike last year, viewers took his advice
mainly because this year’s show was far
more entertaining. The writing improved,
as did the musical additions and comedic
skits. But while all these aspects managed
to change, the winners didn’t.

Once again, 30 Rock won for
Outstanding Comedy and Mad Men
received the Emmy for drama. Also for a
second time, The Daily Show beat out The
Colbert Report for Outstanding Variety,
Music or Comedy. In the Outstanding
Lead Actor (Drama) category, Bryan
Cranston won again for Breaking Bad,
and Glenn Close took a second win for
her role in Damages.

The Emmys for drama and comedy
writing stayed with Mad Men and 30
Rock while this time Toni Collette
managed to break this chain of repeats
taking the prize for Outstanding Lead
Actress (Comedy) in United States of
Tara. Hometown boy Michael J. Fox won
for Outstanding Guest Actor (Drama) in
Rescue Me, while Ellen Burstyn brought
it home for her guest appearance in Law
& Order: SVU. Justin Timberlake took
the cake for his various contributions
to Saturday Night Live, as did Tina Fey
for portraying ex-governor Sarah Palin.
Finally, Outstanding Lead Actor for
Comedy went to the world’s greatest
actor: Alec Baldwin for 30 Rock.

However, one noteworthy difference
in this year’s nominations was the
contenders for Outstanding Comedy
Series. Family Guy is the first animated
series nominated in over 40 years, not
since The Flintstones. This got me to

thinking: What’s changed in animation in
that time?

In the 1960s, The Flintstones
dominated airwaves. With Hannah-
Barbera came shows like The Jetsons,
Scooby-Doo, and even claymation
shows like Davey and Goliath, any bible
thumper’s wet dream. This was the time
of innocent, moral-laced family shows;
that is, until the Bugs Bunny Show
brought an end to the age of innocence.

Henceforth, the action/adventures of
the ‘70s and “80s such as Super Friends,
G.I. Joe, He-Man and Thundercats
became more popular. Of course, there
were the female counterparts: She-Ra,
Jem and Rainbow Brite. Even tykes
had The Smurfs and Care Bears to look
forward to.

In the ‘90s, the animated world was
ruptured by groundbreaking works such
as The Simpson's, Batman: The Animated
Series, Gargoyles, and Animaniacs. Even
more so with the MTV-produced adult-
oriented surrealist shows such as The
Head, Duckman, Aeon Flux, and The
Maxx. It was also around this time that
Family Guy made its debut.

MTV-produced shows returned in
the new millennium with one-seasoned
classics Clone High and Undergrads.
Then through Warner Bros and Cartoon
Network came cult favourites The
Oblongs and Mission Hill.

In recent years, the majority of half-
decent animated programs come from
Adult Swim—the nightly programming
block on Cartoon Network. While there
are dozens of these, I'll just briefly name
Robot Chicken, Metalocalypse, Aqua Teen
Hunger Force and Moral Orel. Adult
Swim has even brought back the surrealist
cartoon genre with /2 oz. Mouse and
Superjail.

Of course, I can’t ignore the recent
concept of “internet cartoons.” Virtually
thousands of shows have enhanced this
genre, but some of the more infamous
web-series’ include Happy Tree Friends,
Charlie the Unicorn and Home-Star
Runner. Three of my personal favourites
include Salad Fingers, On the Moon and
Baman Piderman. One can only imagine
what animation will be like in 40 another
years.

 

 

 

 

 

      

Jay Schreiber

arts editor

   

* Thursday Oct 1
Their name is Motorhead, and they play rock and roll! Perhaps the most
ridiculous billing in Vancouver history, the Vogue theatre will need renovations
after the British heavy metal gods storm through and tear the place apart.
Supporting acts Nashville Pussy and Reverend Horton Heat back up the group
to show everyone on Granville where the place to be is.

¢ Friday Oct 2
Bryan Adams comes through the Orpheum Theatre for a night of mediocre
mumble rock that promises to meet Can-Con requirements. As well, the Biltmore
Cabaret hosts a CD release party for You Say Party, We Say Die! Doors are at
11 p.m. and the show goes until some time in the morning. Check it out if you
still have any hearing left over after Motorhead...

¢ Saturday Oct 3
It’s an old school show of good Vancouver bands from yesteryear. Trooper
gained fame somewhere in the 1980’s with their ever-so-singable hit, “Boys in
the Bright White Sports Car,” and have kept rocking for the last three decades.
The show starts around 9 p.m. at the Commodore ballroom.

¢ Sunday Oct 4
After a loud riotous weekend of deafening music that would leave any concert
goers in tears, why not settle down and relax with a nice pint at O’Doul’s Pub
downtown? Local jazzer Ross Taggart plays around 9 p.m. and cover is free.
Good beer, good atmosphere, and good tunes make it tough to not enjoy yourself.

Motorhead