Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 23, 1990 TAG: 9005230116
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TRACIE FELLERS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The mesmerized media have praised the show's distinctiveness. Raved about its weird twists and turns. Heralded its arcane approach.
But judging from responses to a decidedly non-scientific survey earlier this week, "Twin Peaks" has failed to intrigue a goodly portion of Roanoke Valley viewers.
So, who killed Laura Palmer? That question may haunt the waking hours of every self-respecting TV critic, but it drew more blank stares than heated opinions among the lunchtime crowd on Roanoke's city market Monday. Replies from 11 of 12 people surveyed ranged from: "Who's that?" to "I'll have to draw a big fat zero on that one."
If you're a "Twin Peaks" fan who's just come to the conclusion that we Southwest Virginians are hopelessly unhip, hold that thought.
Initially, when asked if she had a clue about Laura Palmer's killer, Carolyn Shovely of Roanoke was just as lost as the other 11. But at the mention of "Twin Peaks," a light of recognition glimmered. Then she revealed her thoughts on the strange, slow-moving soap.
"I only liked the first episode," Shovely said as she waited in line at an eatery in the market's food court. "The first night I was sitting there on the edge of my seat," she recalled.
But by the second episode, Shovely found herself losing interest. Then she stopped watching. "It's dragged on too long," she said.
However, Shovely hasn't completely broken free from the show's eerie spell - she just may tune in for the season finale tonight at 10 p.m. "I'm curious," she admitted. "But it's very strange."
And as for Laura's murderer, Shovely did venture a guess. "Her father did it."
Bailey Dwiggins, program operations manager for Lynchburg's WSET (Channel 13), said he couldn't begin to guess who Laura's killer might be. But Dwiggins wasn't obscure at all when asked if "Twin Peaks" - which has aired on WSET, the Roanoke-Lynchburg market's ABC affiliate, Thursdays at 9 p.m. - has a following in the area.
"Oh yes, definitely," he said. Dwiggins said the station has gotten about 30 calls from people since the premiere aired last month. "That's a fairly large number of calls for any program," he added.
"We've had no negative calls on it. Generally speaking, they like the show. They want to know things like is it going to be back next season . . .. Then we get calls from people who want to know who's responsible for the murder."
And how does the station respond? "We say we don't know. We're watching it just like you are."
Even members of the "Twin Peaks" cast don't know whodunit, Dwiggins said. "Whoever did it doesn't even know he did it at this point."
Ah-ha! Does this mean we can safely rule out all female suspects?
Naah. No sense grabbing at straws, fans. Even the cagiest critics have admitted they are just as clueless as the rest of us.
And if that isn't bad enough, director David Lynch and executive producer Mark Frost have confessed that the identity of Laura's killer may not be revealed in the season-ending episode.
But wait. All may not be lost. Despite a sharp decline in ratings after the premiere episode, ABC has announced plans to renew the series for another season. So if Laura's murder is not resolved in tonight's episode, the fall's first show will wrap it up, Frost has said.
And as sure as there's a Log Lady or a passion for jelly doughnuts in the mythical sawmill town, you can bet there will be more twisted, offbeat tales to tell among those Douglas firs.
by CNB