University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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A Year in Arts: Movies, Music, and TV Lx.% One might say that the year in arts was almost a year nations including Best Picture. As Good As It Gets, the hat wasn ' t at least for as far as the movies were cynical comedy starring Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear and oncerned. the record-setting Oscar-nominated Jack Nicholson re- A majority of the year was filled with mediocre films ceives golden nods as well. | ftat hardly met any standard of cinematic excellence. The film industry finally found some dryland in its I jure we had the humorous My Best Friend ' s Wedding, final months of production. What looked like a year that is well as the acclaimed cop-drama LA Confidential in was going to sink into the depths of cheesy art and he summer, but it was not until the final months of 1997 overrated drama, resulted in one of fine films that met hat Hollywood decided to pull it all together. the expectations of both audiences and critics alike - i December was usually something of a rare occurrence in the entertainment the time when anticipated industry. Oscar hopefuls hit the the- The music business, however, was not as lucky. In aters, and this year was no recent years, music ventured from a limited genre art different. Titanic sailed form, to a diverse mishmash of taste and talent. It into theaters taking teenie- seemed that this year music fans and music critics didn ' t hoppers and sentimental quite agree as to the best in listening paraphernalia, fans by storm. The Critics raved over Radiohead ' s OK Computer. Simi- Leonardo DeCaprio and lar to the twist they took last year with Beck, Radiohead Kate Winslet disaster ro- found the originality that critics craved. Only few listen- mance was the most ex- ers seemed to agree. Radio stations relied on the talents photo courtesy of paramount studios pensive film ever made o f groups such as Matchbox 20 and Celine Dion to fill with a expense sheet of their play stacks. Albums with more critical disdain than [$200 million. When the Academy Awards were an- anything else. Groups like the Spice Girls and Backstreet 10 u need on Feb. 10, there was no doubt that Titanic Boys sang into radio waves and music charts, but out of Would make its money back, if not in concrete cash, then the acclaim of the experts. In critical praise. It garnered 14 nominations, tying the Some cheesy pop groups even gained a critical nod loscar record set by 1950 ' s All About Eve. or two. The young trio Hanson, with their MMM-Bop Wag the Dog, the political satire starring Dustin performance on Middle of Nowhere received a Best | I oilman. Robert DeNiro and lAnne Heche, also rolled into the- i raters at the most opportune time. With a sexual scandal at Presi- lent Clinton ' s feet, the film was ' ilmost too close to reality, and nany questioned whether the Kiral Id was planned or acciden- tal. The extra publicity that Wag jthe Dog gained from the evening icws programs helped boost it photo courtesy of RM Photo Service Spice Girls: After releasing a chart topping CD the Spice Girls hit the box office with Spice World. New Artist, Best Performance by a Duo or Group and Record of the Year Grammy nominations. What surmounted in music was the obvious diversity that was building within the industry. No longer was there merely pop, rock, jazz and country, but now there was alternative, rap, hard I rock, new age and R B. The dis- vice . between critics and f ans !, J ar films. sity within the industry. | Cinemas most handsome stars also found their way to On television, NBC ' s Must-See TV continued to reign uccess this year. Men in Black starring Tommy Lee the airwaves beginning with Friends, Seinfeld and then (ones and the newlywed Will Smith was the highest ER. While it was known that eventually Jerry Seinfeld grossing film of 1997. This summer drama had not only would decide to call it quits, he and the gang who made r yon the hearts of special effects gurus, but also those the ordinary funny decided to go out in style this season. kusting after some of the best-looking stars in the busi- Speaking of going out: ABC gained a notch in televi- icss. Heartthrobs abounded when Good Will Hunting sion history when Ellen DeGeneres announced that she vas released in December. Drama and comedy collided was gay, not only on her show Ellen, but also in real life. n the silver screen when best friends Ben Afflect and Couch-potatoes across the country tuned in to see just JMatt Damon both wrote and starred in the film that what she was all about. {gained nine nominations from the Academy of Motion Fox continued to taunt the big three with shows such Picture Arts and Sciences. as the new comedy;! ) ' McBeal and the returning drama The surprise successes of the year, however, included The X-Files which continued to baffel viewers. Ally the British comedy The Full Monty about five men who McBeal won the heart of many fans with her frank charm f dared to go all the way. The film won the praise of and her witty personality. Audiences across the globe as well as four Oscar nomi- by Kristin Long

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December 17, 1997 South Park: Cool Dude! Comedy Central ' s new animated series South Park took the world by storm this fall broadcasting for the first time onAug. 13. Nestled in the mountains of Colorado, the tiny town of South Park was home to four third graders; Kenny, Cartman. Stan, and Kyle. This series caught the attention of many viewers with the kids ' shockingly twisted views of the world. The Dec. 17 episode was noteworthy due to the fact that Kenny who had been killed off in even 7 other show survived the Mr. Hanky Poo episode. by Michelle McCombs January 1998 Clinton ' s Sex Scandal: Intern and President photo courtesy of Comedy Central photo courtesy of ' lie . ssocuited Press Monica Lewinsky: After completing her job as intern in the White House, Monica Lewinsky was secretly recorded on tape allegedly stating that she had engaged in sexual acts with President Clinton and that he told her to lie about these incidents. Clinton denied all accusations stating that he did not have sexual relations with Lewnisky and had never asked anyone to tell anything but the truth. Monica S. Lewinsky, a 24 year-old former White House intern reported that she had had an affair with the President and that he told her to lie about it. Clinton denied that there was an affair and responded to press accusations by saying, I did not ask anyone to tell anything other than the truth. Independent white house counsel Kenneth Starr, appointed by Attorney General Janet Reno to investigate the white water conspiracy against the President also stepped in to investigate this arena of allegations. Other former white house workers, including former secretary Linda Tripp joined the act, claiming to have taped conversa- tions with Lewinsky about her alleged affairs with the President. Public opinion on Clinton ' s guilt or inno- cence wavered while overshadowing the Iraq con- flict. Yet, his wife, first lady Hillary Clinton, con- tinued to stand by her husband, despite the grow- ing accusations from other employees. Political analysts toyed with the idea of a possible resigna- tion by Clinton, but in the wake of the conflicts overseas, Clinton made no responses to questions of resignation, and held firm to his story. by Virgina Hiltz January 23, 1998 Unibomber Guilty: Kaczynski admits guilt On Thursday, Jan. 22, 55 year old Ted Kaczynski agreed to a plea bargain in which he pleaded guilty to 13 federal charges including five Unabomber attacks in return for a sentence of life in prison without parole. On Jan.8 Kaczynski asked to be his own lawyer and also attempted suicide. Kaczynski ' s arrest was brought upon by his younger brother David who turned him into the FBI after noticing similarities between the Unabomber ' s manifesto and his brother ' s letters. This added to the pain and guilt felt by David and mother Wanda who were both stunned by Kaczynski ' s hatred. Kaczynski had isolated himself from his family 12 years before after giving up his job as math professor. Kaczynski ' s acts of violence came as a shock to those who knew him growing up. Friends and neighbors of the Kaczynskis described their family as normal and active in the community. Eveyln Vanderlaan, a former neighbor said that when she heard that the Kaczynski ' s whiz-kid son Teddy was in the news she, figured he had won the Nobel Prize or something. by Michelle McCombs February, 1998 ' Winter Olympics: Medals won in Nagano, Japan Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total Germany 6 5 6 17 Norway 5 6 4 15 Russia 7 3 1 11 Austria 2 3 6 11 Canada 4 4 1 9 Japan 3 1 3 7 Finland 2 3 2 7 Netherlands 2 3 1 6 United States 2 1 3 6 Italy 1 3 1 5 r -h- December 31: Michael Kennedy was killed while on a family ski trip in Aspen, Colorado. Kennedy wasplay- ing football on skies when the accident occurred. . jnuary: Top paid come- dianjerry Seinfeld, turned down NBC ' s $5 million offer announcing that this was the last season that Seinfeld would air. Clinton made history by being the first president to take the stand in acourtcaseplead- ing in his own defense, while in office. I 96 Retrospect

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