Thus, the location filming of the pilot episode, pan-
oramic shots, Angelo Badalamenti’s haunting mu-
sic, an unprecedentedly large cast of characters, and
numerous unresolved story lines defied television’s
conventions, contributing to the show’s fascination.
The main plot centers on the investigation into
the murder of prom queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl
Lee) by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent
Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan). Quickly the focus
shifts to the quirky inhabitants of the town itself, who
all seem connected in some way to Laura and have a
dark, or at least a strange, side. As the investigation
deepens, viewers learn that saintly Laura, who
worked for Meals on Wheels, tutored a developmen-
tally challenged boy (Robert Bauer), and dated foot-
ball star Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook), also dab-
bled in cocaine and prostitution and was having a
secret affair with biker James Hurley (James Mar-
shall)—among other secrets. The overall effect is
that of a quaint, quiet small town whose economy is
based on the local lumber mill and whose diner
serves comforting coffee and cherry pie, but which
hides murder plots, incest, spouse abuse, brothels,
insanity, and supernatural entities able to possess
innocent souls—quite a change fromDynastyor
Dallas.
Surprisingly, Lynch encountered few censorship
problems. “Don’t take any oink-oink off that pretty
pig” was a felicitous substitute Lynch devised for a
more profane line of dialogue the censors at the
American Broadcasting Company (ABC) would not
allow. More surprising was the extremely violent
murder of Laura’s cousin Madeleine Ferguson (also
Sheryl Lee), unprecedented at the time on network
TV for its graphic viciousness. A more explicit film,
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, followed in 1992.Impact Twin Peakssurpassed its cult following and
high ratings to become a genuine cultural phenom-
enon, forever changing the rules and expectations
for television series.Further Reading
Kaleta, Kenneth C.David Lynch.New York: Twayne,
1993.
Rodley, Chris, ed.Lynch on Lynch.New York: Faber &
Faber, 1997.
Charles Lewis Avinger, Jr.See also Film in the United States; Television;
X-Files, The. Tyson, Mike
Identification World heavyweight boxing
champion
Born June 30, 1966; Brooklyn, New York
Tyson began the 1990’s as the undisputed and undefeated
world heavyweight champion. He would soon lose that
vaunted status and become an increasingly controversial
figure as the decade progressed.
Mike Tyson had unified the splintered heavyweight
championship in a series of high-profile bouts in
1986 and in 1987 and had then gone on to defeat
most of the top fighters in the division by the end of876 Tyson, Mike The Nineties in America
David Lynch, one of the creators of the television seriesTwin
Peaks. (AP/Wide World Photos)