The most indelible images on television during 1991 were the ones that TV executives had nothing to do with - coverage of real events brought home on the tube.
The war in the Persian Gulf. The bombing of Baghdad, reported live by telephone by CNN. Scud attacks on Israel and Saudi Arabia. Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and that magnificent briefing.CNN came of age. The broadcast networks showed their age.
The Clarence Thomas hearings were considerably less of a success. Despite sometimes riveting testimony from Thomas and Anita Hill, they degenerated into a sometimes appalling, brainless battle between partisans - and broadcasters didn't have the sense to shut down the camera.
And the trend hit the depths with sensational, voyeuristic coverage of the William Kennedy Smith trial, an event that may have cost ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN any reputation they might have built during the war.
The broadcast networks teetered on the brink of financial disaster, and their programming reflected it. "Reality" was in, seen in cheaply produced shows like "Rescue 911," "America's Most Wanted," "Unsolved Mysteries" and "American Detective."
The other events (and non-events) of 1991:
- Comedy was king, with ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox scheduling more sitcoms than ever before.
- Delta Burke was finally fired as one of the "Designing Women."
- Despite public relations disasters that would seemingly sink anyone, Roseanne Barr Arnold survived - and "Roseanne" prospered in the ratings.
- Michael Jackson offended much of the nation with his "Black and White" video.
- NBC Entertainment chief Brandon Tartikoff quit, took over at Paramount - and is rumored to be looking for a way to buy his old company.
- "Twin Peaks" fizzled, while "Northern Exposure" sizzled.
- Pregnancy - or talk thereof - was in vogue on everything from "Murphy Brown" to "Cheers," "Married . . . With Children" to "Full House."
- Cable's Financial News Network went bankrupt and was bought out by competitor CNBC.
- CourtTV was launched on cable, covering real-life trials. (It is not, however, available in Utah.)
- NBC continued to try to fix the "Today" show, this time dumping Deborah Norville in favor of Katie Couric.
- Magic Johnson went on TV to announce he has tested positive for HIV.
- Several television veterans passed away: Redd Foxx. Michael Landon. Harry Reasoner. Danny Thomas.
- TCI raised an enormous public relations - and legal - stink with its new Encore movie channel.
- Nostalgia was big. Not only did reunion specials of "Ed Sullivan, "Mary Tyler Moore, "M.A.S.H." and "The Bob Newhart Show" draw big ratings, but 20-year-old reruns of "All In the Family" even made Nielsen's weekly Top 10. Not to mention big ratings for new "Columbo" TV movies.
Nostalgia also arrived in the form of new shows set in the past - "Brooklyn Bridge," "I'll Fly Away" and "Homefront."
- Drama was out, at least at ABC. That network canceled "China Beach, "Equal Justice," "thirtysomething" and "Twin Peaks" in one fell swoop.
- After 13 seasons on the air, "Dallas" finally fell victim to low ratings.
- Lots of other shows met their demise. Some will be mourned - "Dark Shadows," "The Father Dowling Mysteries," "The Flash," "Married People," "My Life and Times," "Shannon's Deal," and, once again, "The Carol Burnett Show."
But most won't even be remembered - "Amen," "The Antagonists," "Broken Badges," "Going Places," "Good & Evil," "Good Sports," "Guns of Paradise," "Hi, Honey, I'm Home," "Lenny," "Man in the Family," "Morton & Hayes," "Palace Guard," "Princesses," "STAT," "Steven King's Golden Years," "Sunday Dinner," "Teech," "True Detectives," "Uncle Buck," "Under Cover," "Yearbook," "You Take the Kids," and "WIOU."
- "Beverly Hills, 90210" became a big hit, particularly among the nation's teens, and the show managed some controversy of its own when Brenda lost her virginity.
As for next year, it's impossible to say what news events will dominate television, but expect more of the same - retrenchment, regression and retreads, as well as the occasional gem - from broadcasters.