Chris Morgan doesn’t merely watch TV. He studies it. Analyzes it.
Critiques it. And writes about it — a lot. It’s a pastime, to be sure, but it’s also a living.
Morgan, a native of Sterling Heights and a resident of Ferndale, just produced his third book about television, and it’s a sweeping assessment of what he considers a “quality decade for television.” The book – “99 Episodes That Defined the ‘90s: Television Milestones from Arsenio to Homer to Yada Yada Yada” – is a deep dive into the decade’s culture, impact and TV tastes. (Viewers familiar with television fare from the decade will recall late-night host Arsenio Hall, cartoon dad Homer Simpson and Jerry Seinfeld’s “Yada, Yada, Yada” shorthand for “blah, blah, blah.
”) To Morgan, the decade represents both a reason for reflection and an opportunity to remind us of a time distinguished by social change and long periods of peace and prosperity. Hip-hop grew, the Soviet Union was dissolved and the Nasdaq exchange became the first U.S.
stock market to trade online. On television, popular programs ranged from “Beavis and Butt-Head” to “Beverly Hills 90210,” “Friends” and “Frasier.” For Morgan, the decade was ripe for reviewing.
“It’s a decade that is very culturally interesting and had great television,” he said. “Plus, I had noticed there had been a lot of nostalgic attention and critical thought given to the ‘80s and I figured there was a niche for a book about t.