"Twin Peaks," "Quantum Leap" fans are undeniably devoted
| News Media Commentary | |
|---|---|
| Title: | "Twin Peaks," "Quantum Leap" fans are undeniably devoted |
| Commentator: | Bob Wisehart for McClatchy News Service, The Sun |
| Date(s): | April 5, 1991 |
| Venue: | |
| Fandom: | Twin Peaks, Quantum Leap |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
"Twin Peaks," "Quantum Leap" fans are undeniably devoted is a 1991 news article by Bob Wisehart.
It took the all-too-common derision and "look at the weirdos" approach that is common in journalism.
Some Topics Discussed
- good fans and bad fans
- Twin Peaks and Quantum Leap
- fan campaigns
From the Article
Some people save whales. Others save string. Then, there's that hardyband of eccentrics who save TV shows. You've heard about them. You know they're out there somewhere. Actually, they're out there EVERYWHERE.
They're not dangerous, though they can be very noisy moving through the underbrush of popular culture, kind of like plant-eating dinosaurs.
I'm talking about the brave, the few, the nuts -- those series supporters whose fanaticism is out of proportion to the modest number of people who watch the show.
It is that ragtag gang of video guerrillas who took credit for saving "Star Trek" back in the '60s.
A generation after they rescued "Star Trek" -- if only temporarily -- they persuaded CBS to keep "Cagney & Lacey" on the air, and went on to give the same combative fealty to "China Beach."
The "Beauty and the Beast" crowd was a lovely bunch of coconuts, too. If the show itself had been as creative as what came out of its fans' newsletter and nationwide computer hookup, old furball would still be on the air.
Today, only two series generate that kind of zealotry. One is "Quantum Leap." The other is -- you guessed it -- "Twin Peaks."
"Twin Peaks" fanatics are high-tech, militant and they verge on lunacy. Imagine tens of thousands of Captain Queegs -- steel balls in one hand, foreheads sprinkled with sweat and a nervous tic or two -- and you get the picture.
When ABC took "Twin Peaks" off the air six weeks ago, these people did everything but burn the building down.
A call-in movement shut down ABC Entertainment President Robert Iger's fax machine. Reportedly, one weekend Iger came into his office to find 163 "save 'Twin Peaks'" messages clogging his phone mail.
The "official" save-the-show organizations include C.O.O.P. (Citizens Opposed to the Offing of Peaks), STP (Save Twin Peaks), TPPS (Twin Peaks Preservation Society), and P.E.A.K. (People Emphatically Against Kancellation).
And don't forget the ever-popular death threats. Charming.
The frenzied fan mail brought coffee, homemade pie, doughnuts, fireplace logs like the one carried by the Log Lady, a plastic hand, and golf balls like those that murderer Leland Palmer putted in his living room.
"Twin Peaks," of course, returned to the air last week. Its daffy fans should not take the credit, though they will anyway.
"Quantum Leap" is a different case, mostly because NBC's whimsical series about a time-traveling test pilot attracts a different and gentler viewer.
According to NBC, on Feb. 25 some 300 of these "Leapers" -- some prefer to be called "Leapheads," Lord knows why -- from a dozen different states paid their way to Los Angeles for a special "Quantum Leap" screening at Universal Studios.
They didn't scream or issue death threats. Al they were was there. It wasn't fanaticism, it was devotion. There's a difference.
Fan Comments
> Some people save whales. Others save string. Then, there's that hardy band of eccentrics who save TV shows.
- I save whales, too.
> They're not dangerous, though they can be very noisy moving through the underbrush of popular culture, kind of like plant-eating dinosaurs.
- From the rest of the article I get the impression that this guy does think we're dangerous.
> "Twin Peaks" fanatics are high-tech, militant and they verge on lunacy.
- I accept high-tech and on the verge of lunacy, but militant?
> When ABC took "Twin Peaks" off the air six weeks ago, these people did everything but burn the building down.
> A call-in movement shut down ABC Entertainment President Robert Iger's fax machine. Reportedly, one weekend Iger came into his office to find 163 "save 'Twin Peaks'" messages clogging his phone mail.
- 163!?! Boy, that proves we are a dangerous force. This was clearly a terrorist attempt at overthrowing the powers that be.
> The "official" save-the-show organizations include C.O.O.P. (Citizens Opposed to the Offing of Peaks), STP (Save Twin Peaks), TPPS (Twin Peaks Preservation Society), and P.E.A.K. (People Emphatically Against Kancellation).
- And I thought COOP was the only one.
> And don't forget the ever-popular death threats. Charming.
- Please define popular. There were over 300,000 letters received by ABC. How many contained death threats? 4? 5? In a group this large there are sure to be some kooks.
> "Twin Peaks," of course, returned to the air last week. Its daffy fans should not take the credit, though they will anyway.
- True. I think ABC said it was planning to air the last 6 episodes latter in the season when TP was put on hiatus.
> "Quantum Leap" is a different case, mostly because NBC's whimsical series about a time-traveling test pilot attracts a different and gentler viewer.
- A kinder, gentler viewer. QL consistently has great writing and acting, but rarely takes any big risks. It's a feel good show. TP, on the other hand, has been doing things that have never been done before.
> According to NBC, on Feb. 25 some 300 of these "Leapers"--some prefer to be called "Leapheads," Lord knows why--from a dozen different states paid their way to Los Angels for a special "Quantum Leap" screening at Universal Studios.
- Now if only Lynch would do this. When TP returned to the air in March I and 300 others from the Iowa City area paid their way into a party to watch that nights episode and meet Harry "Deputy Andy" Goaz. I think similar things happened at several other cities.
> They didn't scream or issue death threats. Al they were was there. It wasn't fanaticism, it was devotion. There's a difference.
- In the eye of the beholder. I'm a devoted fan of both shows. I have every episode of TP on tape and watch them regularly. I've also been taping QL for the past year. However, I'm more dedicated to TP because it sparks more thought and discussion. Its something similar to the difference between entertainment and art.[1]
Devotees of Twin Peaks may not want to read it, as it does not exactly paint a glowing picture of them, but it is an interesting article anyway on the history of "save the show" campaigns. [2]
Nobody PREFERS to be called "Leaphead". I wish we could stamp this bletcherous word out. "Leapers" is the Politically Correct (tm) term, the one chosen by the fans themselves, the one the people making the show use to refer to the fans, and the one that the people making the show use to refer to THEMSELVES. [3]
This is correct. "Leaphead" is an epithet foisted upon us by some dweeb at NBC who knows not of what he speaks. Leaphead is one word that tends to bring out fits of bad temper in THIS usenetter. [4]
>They didn't scream or issue death threats. Al they were was there. It wasn't fanaticism, it was devotion. There's a difference.
- Hey, I like this guy. He understands! [5]
References
- ^ from Article about fan devotion (May 1, 1991)
- ^ from Article about fan devotion (May 1, 1991)
- ^ from Article about fan devotion (May 1, 1991)
- ^ from Article about fan devotion (May 1, 1991)
- ^ from a fan, happy to take a bit of praise as long as fans of other shows look worse, an example of Geek Hierarchy, at Article about fan devotion (May 1, 1991)