For many of us, the 1988-89 television season will be best remembered for things that those who saw them would probably just as soon forget.
Geraldo Rivera leading the Charge of the Lightweight Brigade known as Trash TV. The writers' strike. "Favorite Son." Rose-anne Barr's regular national trashing of Utah and Utahns. "Tattingers." Willard Scott vs. Bryant Gumbel. "Baby Boom." "Freddy's Nightmares." Dueling Liberace docudramas. "War of the Worlds." "Dirty Dancing." Vanna White as "The Goddess of Love." Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke failing - again.It wasn't pretty.
Still, there were a few highlights, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will do its best to honor them Sunday night when Fox presents The 41st Annual Prime Time Emmy Awards (Sunday at 7 p.m., Ch. 13).
Which is not to say that Hollywood will necessarily put its best Gucci forward on Sunday night. There will be some surprise winners (such as the shocking victories by "The Wonder Years" and "thirtysome-thing" last year), some undeserving winners (did anybody really think Jason Robards earned the Best Actor Emmy he won last year for "Inherit the Wind"?) and a few winners who nobody but their mothers really care about (come on - who won last year's award for hairstyling in a miniseries or special?).
And the telecast itself will have its share of highlights, lowlights and curious creative decisions - or had you forgotten last year's decision to use Tony Danza as a "designated acceptor" for actors who didn't show up to accept the awards themselves? It was funny the first time, but by the time he made his seventh appearance the schtick had gotten pretty old. And embarrassing.
But maybe that's part of the fun of these awards shows - the possibility of watching these famous, glamorous people make fools of themselves in front of a national television audience.
And speaking of people making fools of themselves in public, it's time for our annual pre-Emmy predictions. I know, I know - my record for the past two years is a none-too-impressive 7-out-of-21. But the way I look at it, batting .333 would land me a multimillion-dollar contract in the major leagues. It should entitle me to at least one more shot here.
LEAD ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Nominees: Ron Perlman ("Beauty and the Beast"), Edward Woodward ("The Equalizer"), Carroll O'Connor ("In the Heat of the Night"), Michael Tucker ("L.A. Law") and Ken Wahl ("Wiseguy").
Pick: Even though the show suffered qualitatively this season, I still think Perl-man deserves the award. I mean, how many actors could wear that much makeup and still communicate his character's moods and emotions so successfully?
Prediction: Tucker has been nominated in this category twice before, and the Academy has a habit of making it up to popular guys like him. I think they'll take care of that this year - especially since the category isn't especially strong this time.
LEAD ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Nominees: Blair Brown ("The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd"), Betty White, Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan ("The Golden Girls") and Candice Bergen ("Murphy Brown").
Pick: I'd love to see it go to Brown - just to spite NBC's Brandon Tartikoff. But since she's on Lifetime and has no realistic chance, I think I'd cast a ballot for Bergen, who has been surprisingly effective in a demanding comedic role that helped turn "Murphy Brown" into one of the season's brightest and most literate comedies.
Prediction: It'll be a "Golden Girl." It always is. Eenie-meanie-minie-moe - let's say that Arthur will win her second consecutive Emmy.
LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR SPECIAL
Nominees: Diane Lane and Anjelica Huston ("Lonesome Dove"), Amy Madigan and Holly Hunter ("Roe vs. Wade") and Jane Seymour ("War and Remembrance").
Pick: I know "War and Remembrance" bashing was all the rage last year, but Seymour's performance as the ill-fated Natalie Jastrow Henry really was superb. It's hard to believe this is the same woman who starred in "Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders."
Prediction: Hollywood really loved "Roe vs. Wade," a show they considered "timely" and "important." And I think they'll think they're making a pro-abortion statement by giving the Emmy to Hunter, who played Jane Roe. And it's hard to argue with the selection, because Hunter was terrific. But if they give the award to Huston, who should have been nominated as a supporting actress, I think I'll boycott the next product that's advertised on the Emmycast - whatever it is.
BEST DRAMA SERIES
Nominees: "Beauty and the Beast" (CBS), "China Beach" (ABC), "L.A. Law" (NBC), "thirtysomething" (ABC) and "Wise-guy" (CBS).
Pick: I'm waiting for something to jump out at me here - something really exciting and wonderful. I'm still waiting. . . .
Prediction: "L.A. Law" was nominated for 17 Emmys, only one less than front-runner "Lonesome Dove." They always get a lot of nominations, but they don't win very often. However, even though this wasn't a great year for the gang at McKen-zie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak, I think they'll win The Big One for the second time (the first was in 1987).
BEST MINISERIES
Nominees: "I Know My First Name Is Steven" (NBC), "Lonesome Dove" (CBS), "A Perfect Spy" (PBS), "War and Remembrance" (ABC) and "The Women of Brewster Place" (ABC).
Pick: Any other year I'd be proud to vote for "War and Remembrance." But against "Lonesome Dove," even a monumental achievement like that pales by comparison.
Prediction: The Academy and I will see eye-to-eye on this one, too, or there ain't no dust on a cattle drive.