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