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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 1995)
Arts ©Entertainment Monday, February 27, 1995 Page 9 __4 • -■] Melrose rage addicts man I couldn’t believe it when Sydney joined that wacky cult just because pom star Traci Lords became her friend. And I about died when Jo’s baby was kidnapped again. Life’s not fair for some people (especially on television). Ifyou don’t know what I’m talking about, then you prob ably will think I’m one of those soft-minded cretins who sits around and sobs in front of soap operas all day. But I’m not. I’m a man, dammit! I like sports. I like going out, getting drunk and raising Cain. And I also like “Melrose Place.” Sure, it’s okay to admit that you used to watch “90210,” as long as it was just the first season or so. But as soon as it’s discovered that you are a “Melrose” fan, you’re branded a tasteless simpleton. All right, maybe the plot isn’t Emmy-winning, and the characters mirror real life like funhouse glass, but there’s a special something about the show that brings millions of viewers back week after week. I used to go out every Mon day night (until I ran out of money and livers) and make fun of the poor saps who were chained to their television sets wondering what would hap pen to the worthless group of lackluster actors this week. I started watching the show because my girlfriend was an avid viewer, and I figured I could sit through “Melrose” if she let me watch “The Simpsons” on her TV. The first couple of times I watched, I thought it was bet ter than jamming pieces of glass under my fingernails, but I wasn’t really impressed. Then something snapped inside me. It was like some ancient genetic switch in my DNA had been turned on, and now there’s no shutting it off. I find myself yelling at Amanda — not only because she’s the biggest vixen this side of Shannon Doherty — but also because she does stu pid stuff like getting involved with that evil pig Michael. I cringe whenever Matt is shunned by homophobic char acters. I cry along with Jo when she is refused custody of her son. No, I don’t think it’s a per fect show. It’s full of idiots who let themselves get taken advan tage of time and time again. It’s got weak lines and far fetched plots. It’s got more adultery and betrayal than the House of Representatives. But it’s also got pizazz. It’s got style. It’s got social mes sages. And it’s got Heather Locklear. Straiick Is a senior education major and a Dally Nebraskan Se nior Reporter. Film gives new view on Vietnam Film: “The Walking Dead” Director: Preston A. Whitmore II Stars: Allen Payne, Eddie Griffin, Joe Morton Rating: R Grade: B+ Five Words: Fresh look at Vietnam life. By Chad Johnson Film Critic “The Walking Dead” ventures into areas never explored by a Viet nam war movie. Breaking new ground ignored by “Platoon,” “Full Metal Jacket” and “Hamburger Hill,” “The Walking Dead” returns to the home front to explain why soldiers fought a less than patriotic war. Preston A. Whitmore II reaches a level comparable to Oliver Stone (“Platoon,” “Bom on the Fourth of July”) based on the fact that Whitmore was there. His direction brings a fresh new perspective on the role of African-Americans in , the Vietnam conflict. His characters appear much more real than Willard in “Apoca lypse Now” and much deeper than anyone in any of the 1980s Viet nam war movies. Allen Payne, Eddie Griffin and Joe Morton are the key figures in a mission to rescue some prisoners of war from an abandoned camp. The double-cross is explained early on as the main characters discover they are being used by “The Man” for a dirty job. The cast is believable, adding depth and power to roles that have been pre viously treated as token characters in other films. The film moves at a rapid pace. Flashbacks provide necessary in sights into character development. “The Walking Dead” is the first See“DEAD”on 10 Photo courtesy of Savoy Pictures Eddie Griffin, Vonte Sweet, Allen Payne, Roger Floyd and Joe Morton star as marines in “The Walking Dead.” FCC allowed 101.9 change By Jeff Randall Staff Reporter Last Tuesday’s change in for mat for Omaha-Lincoln radio sta tion KYNN-FM was influenced by a 1992 Federal Communica ■■ tions Commission deregulatory act. KYNN was purchased just weeks ago by Mitchell Broadcast ing, an Omaha-based company that had previously owned KQKQ • j FM (98.5) and KKAR-AM (1110). The 1992 act allows duopolies, ownership of up to two stations in each format (AM and FM) in a single market. Thus Mitchell Broadcasting could also acquire KOIL-AM (1290) in August 1993, and, more recently, KYNN-FM (101.9). Mitchell Broadcasting’s deci sion to expand its ownership is typical in the broadcast industry, ] said Marty Riemenschneider, the company’s executive vice presi dent. j “The general rule of thumb is -r— , > “We felt we should take advantage of the deregulation in order to both increase our market share and to allow us better service for the public.” m MARTY RIEMENSCHNEIDER Mitchell Broadcasting spokesperson multiple ownership,” Riemen schneider said. “It is fast becom ing the best way for stations to survive and be successful. “We felt we should take advan tage of the deregulation in order to both increase our market share and to allow us better service for the public.” John Bender, an assistant news editorial professor, said the FCC’s previous restrictions on dual own ership had been the result of ex cessive media concentration. “There were some situations in • which one owner would have total or near-total control of all of the media in a specific market,” Bender said. Bender said a good example of over-concentration was the near monopoly the Kansas City Star had in the 1950s. The Star owned both of the city’s daily newspa pers, the Sunday newspaper, one television station, an AM radio station and an AM/FM radio sta tion. See DUOPOLY on 10 Show tonight offers humor, free hypnosis From Staff Reports Master of the mind Jim Wand will perform his unique brand of hypnosis tonight in the Great Plains Room of the East Campus Union. Wand, who has performed more than 4,000 professional engagements and hypnotized more than 50,000 people, uses audience participation, humor, his educational expertise and self-help techniques to enter tain audiences nationwide. University of Nebraska Lincoln students may remem ber Wand best from his many BigRed Welcome appearances * in the past. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free for students and $3 for the public.