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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 1996)
- " __ Gerry Beltz New ‘toons not worth tuning into Saturday momingsjust aren’t worth it anymore. In olden days—about 15 years ago or so — Saturday mornings made it worth getting up early. “Super Friends” (W ondertwin pow ers, ACTIVATE!) and “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends” provided the comic book action, along with the previous double feature hits of “Tarzan” and “Batman” cartoons (re member the Moon Man?) Other Saturday morning favorites included quite a bit of original pro gramming, including “Rickety Rocket,” “Sigmund and the Sea Mon sters” and “Blue Falcon and Dyno Mutt.” And, naturally, a lion’s share of Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck cartoons; about an hour and ahalf, ifl remember correctly. Also, we had those cool “School house Rock” commercials (“I’m A Bil 1“Conj unction Junction”) and “In The News” (or something like that) to keep the young-unsmjH© date on the real world (and give them a chance to tinkle and grab some more Alpha-Bits cereal). And now? It’s ALL comic book and movie related crap. “The Mask,” “Ace Ventura” and even “Free Willy” have their own shows. “Timon and Pumbaa” (of “Lion King” fame) have their own show. And Winnie The Pooh, Casper and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are STILL in existence! I don’t know if it’s still on, but 6 a.m. used to be a double plug of “Iron Man” and “Fantastic Four,” both of which were really lame. The 1967 car toons were much better, though the scripts were just as stupid. “Spider-Man” has been updated somewhat, with better villainsand story lines, but usually the shows are straight copies from the comic books with no originality. Also sad is the loss of those “School house Rock” thingies. Of course, as capitalism is required in all facets of society, they have been removal from free TV (where someone could benefit from them) and relocated to video cas sette to be rented or purchased by the nostalgic. There's one cool thing about today's cartoons, the increase in violence. No, I’m not talking blood and guts, but the fact that Spider-Man and the various X-Men now can PUNCH somebody instead of using a patheti cally peaceful weapon or some web bing to keep the criminal's feet in place. Granted, we’re not going to see Wolverine doing a Veg-O-Matic on any human-types anytime soon, but at least he can punch somebody in a brawl. There is me new series worth its weight in salt, and it is “The Tick.” This is a cartoon to amuse both those who do and don’t follow comic bodes. His stupidity and herdsm know no bounds, and when the Tick speaks, you'd better listen. Why? Because you’ll laugh your ass off, baby. Besides “The Tick,” there is only (Hie other good thing about getting up (Hi Saturday mornings. There’s still Bugs Bunny. Beta Is a sealor Eaglish edacattoa ma jor aad a Dally Nebraskaa sealor reporter. Grammy winners are anybody’s guess By Cliff Hicks and Brian Priesman Music Critics The Grammys are once again upon us, and the music industry is abuzz with guesses as to who will take home the golden gramaphones. Two of the Daily Nebraskan’s music critics have their own guesses, however. Staff reporters CliffHicks and Brian Priesman are here to speak their minds. Record of the Year Hicks: What a fun world it is when Coolio gets to take on Joan Osborne. Despite the popularity of both these artists, as well as Carey’s team-up with Boyz II Men and Seal’s masterpiece (which only would win in a perfect world), the best bet is TLC. They’ve been mopping up with “Water falls” for most of the year. Priesman: Seal’s “Kiss From A Rose” a mas terpiece? Whatever. Anyway, I’m placing my money on TLC with “Waterfalls.” But person ally,! want Cool io to kick the whiny butts of Seal, TLC, Mariah and Joan Osborne straight to Canada. I never liked Canada much, anyway. (It’s a joke, people!) Album of the Year Hicks: Again, several people put up a fight, but Osborne’s too wet behind the cars, Pearl Jam is too out of place for the Grammy crowd to pick it, and the screcchcrs Carey and Morissette shouldn’t get it. Give it to the guy with the glove. Priesman: Wow! I actually agree with my esteemed partner! I’m going to give it to the gloved one, Michael Jackson, as well. Because no matter what type of freak he is and where his sexual interests lie, he’s still a dam good musi cian. Besides, he’s Michael, and Michael owns the Grammys. Song of the Year Y Hicks: Nix Osborne and Morissette for con troversy, and although All-4-One and Jackson Rose” was a beautiful song with great lyrics. Stick it to Seal. If “You Oughta Know” wins, Brian, the only thing anyone “oughta know” was that everyone’s got more song-writing ability than Morissette. Priesman: “Kiss From A Rose” has great lyr ics? Cliff, what are you smoking? “I’ve been kissed by a rose on the wind ...” Yeah, Cliff and Seal are obviously on the same bad acid trip. The two safe bets are All-4-One’s “I Can Love You Like That” and Alanis Morissettc’s “You Oughta Know.” Best New Artist Hicks: Oh, like this is even a choice. I’m sorry, but Twain, Osborne, Morissette and Brandy com bined wouldn’t be enough to topple the mighty force that is Hootie. Simply too much to mess with. Priesman: Hootie. He’s got this one in the bag. Although I’d like to see Alanis Morissette win it because she’s got a really cool attitude. Best Pop Album Hicks: The squelcher, Carey; the squealer, Madonna; and the diva, Lennox, but none of them have this one in the bag, nor does Joni Mitchell. The Eagles win this one simply for agreeing to play together again. Priesman: Eagles? Yet again I am astounded at the intellectual vacuum of my esteemed part ner, Cliff. The Eagles will win only when “Hell Freezes Over” (pun intended). My money is on the queen of all divas, Annie Lennox. Two snaps up, babe! Best Rock Song Hicks: It’s this year’s hardest call, with a ton of neck-and-neck runners. Morissette won’t be cause she’s too new, Young’s not going to get it because he’s been around too long. Reznor’s too far out and as much as I’d like to see U2 win it, Dylan, despite his age, is one of the most re spected people in rock and it’s a great song. Bet’s on Bob. Priesman: Bob Dylan? Give me a break. He may be a great song writer and well-respected, but he has about as much of a chance as I do. I’m gonna go with Bono and U2 for “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me.” Best Rock Album Hicks: “Forever Blue” is about as rock as Frank Sinatra is rap. No. Young’s respected, but the others are above him, and “Jagged Little Pill” of them Brian’s taken. As popular as Pearl Jam is, Petty’s time has come, and “Wildflowers” should snag here. Priesman: Now I know Cliff is on drugs. Neil Young all the way, baby! (That’s a joke!) Cliff, when did you listen to all of Alanis’ “Jagged Little Pill?” I know you don’t own it, and you haven’t listened to all of mine, so when did you hear it all? Actually, I’m putting my money on Ellen DeGeneres, the Grammys’ host, on winning this one. Grammy Nominees "On# Swo4i Day" ^ Coolio Featuring L V. "Gangsta's Paradise" Joan Osborne "Qm . . Seal "IOm From A Rom" hjc c—kMz ■ y'vJ -' 1 ! Michael Jackson |iv • "IRStayP^PmoMa^FolmotmAr Alanis Morissette "Jagged UtUoPBT % > Joan Osborne • •" fCo ,-,S ;r<• ff '"HoMM* ■ • --v Pearl Jam 1 AIM-One & John Michael Montgomery , i caauvi TMiwiiar Seal "IOm From A Rose" Joan Osborne "One Of Us" Michael Jackson "Yau Art Hot Alone" Alanis Morissette "You Ought To KnooT Mi Bob Dylan "Dignity" Niel Young "Downtown" U2 "Hold me, ThrU Me, KIm Me, KH Nine Inch Nails "Hurt" Alanis Morissette "You Ought To Knowj* Chris Isaak TorowrRhm" Alanis Morissette "Jagged UtUePHT Pearl Jam "WWogr Tom Petty "Wildflowan" Niel Young "MhvorBaR" -I Brandy Hootie & The Blowfish I Alanis Morissette Joan Osborne Shania Twain Norwegian pianist to perform at Kimball By Emily Wray Staff Reporter Pianist Audun Ravnan will bring Norwegian flavor to Kimball Recital Hall at a performance tonight at 8. The concert is a fund-raiser for the Nebraska Public Radio Network. Titled “Piano Music of Norway,” ihc program includes compositions from Edvard Grieg, Rikard Nordraak and other Norwegian composers. The Norwegian-born Ravnan studied piano with Norway’s lcadingpianist and as a teen-ager, was a featured performer at the centennial cel ebrations of Grieg’s birth. He also has close ties to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is now a George Holmes Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music. In his 36-year teaching career, which ended in early 1993, Ravnan also garnered many awards and served as the chairperson of the piano depart ment. Benefit concerts of this type arc good oppor tunities for performers to donate their services and talents for a cause, said Michele Peon Casanova, membership coordinator at Nebraska Public Radio Network. This benefit concert is in conjunction with an on-air fund-raiser that the Nebraska Public Radio Network starts on Friday, she said. Pcon-Casanova encouraged students to listen to and support public radio. “It’s a good way to be informed with what’s happening in the world by tuning into the news, and it offers an alternative with classical music you can’t find anywhere else,” she said. Tickets for tonight’s performance arc $ 10 and can be obtained from the box office at the Lied Center for Performing Arts by calling472-4747. Ross Theatre to feature Canadian series By Gerry Beltz Senior Reporter Canada: Good beer, great cinema. ' Today througli March 9, the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theatre will run the film series “The Changing Face of Canadian Cinema: New Films from Canada,” featuring nine recent feature films and 10 new short animated films, the selection of which was very multi-faceted, said Dan Ladely, director of the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theatre. “Some were selected because 1 had seen them before at film festivals,” Ladely said, “and ‘Ex otica’ was brought on for the merits of its director Atom Egoyan, who is one of the major creative forces in Canada.” Ladely said he was happy with the films that had been selected. “We picked nine of the best films to give a representative sampling,”he said. “There’sdocu mentary, experimental film-making and anima tion, which 1 think will be a big favorite. “It’s not meant to be totally comprehensive because it’s only nine films, but it gives people a very good flavor of film as an art being produced in Canada right now.” Ladely said he saw nothing but sunshine in the future of Canadian cinema. “1 think the future looks pretty good,” he said. “In the past, it has been thwarted by United States film-making, which is a hard obstacle to over come. “But I think they have done it with great distinctness, and I think we will continue to see very good films for a long time to come.” Another part of this series will be a discussion on issues raised by the films, featuring a panel of scholars in film and Canadian literature. The panel recently added L. Kent Wolgamott, a film critic for the Lincoln Journal Star. Admission to the discussion, which takes place Sunday at 4:45 p.m. is free. Some of the films to be exhibited in this series include: • “Love and Human Remains” (by Denys Arcand), which won ’ t appeal to the Pat Buchanan crowd, with it’s frank looks at homosexuality, domination and real life in general. • “Forbidden Love” (by Aerlyn Weissman and Lynne Femic), which looks at the shrouded world of homosexuality in the 1950s and ’60s, as told by a group of 10 women from that era. • “32 Short Films About Glenn Gould” (by Francois Girad), which shows the trials and tribu lations of pianist Glenn Gould, a genius at the piano andas strong-willed andpcrfection-mindcd as he was talented. His gift set a new standard for the performance of Bach, but he was met with some problems when recording crossed his mind. • “Careful” (by Guy Maddin), which takes place in the 1800s in the village of Tolzbad, where students train to be butlers. The film fea tures blind ghosts, duels and star-crossed lovers galore. Complete series schedules and plot synopses arc available at the Ross Theatre. Individual tickets may be purchased for $5.50, $4.50 with student identification, and $3.50 for senior citizens, children and members of the Friends of the Mary Riepma Ross Film Theatre. A ticket for the entire series may be purchased for