NewsRadio

1990s tv sitcom

New York radio station WNYX has everything that is needed to be successful - devoted employees, manager full of ideas and stinking rich owner Jimmy James. Unfortunately employees compete with each other, manager lacks experience and the owner is... eccentric to say the least.

Young news director Dave Nelson arrives from Wisconsin to take over the position in New York City WNYX News Radio station. He thought he was ready, but when he meets the rich and eccentric owner Jimmy James nothing seems so simple and obvious anymore. Not to mention the employees - manipulative star of the station Bill McNeal, news reporter Lisa Miller that thinks she should be news director, secretary Beth, who tries not to let the work get in a way of having good time or Matthew Brock, who is a walking disaster.

NewsRadio was rather unique project - not when it comes to the themes (there were several other comedy series that gave the look behind the media, f.e. WKRP of Cincinnati, The Larry Sanders Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show), not when it comes to the characters (see The magical 5 sitcom characters), but when it comes to the people behind it. The creator Paul Simms had very little experience with comedy shows - he wrote material for Late Night with David Letterman and The Larry Sanders Show, the cast chosen was full of rather unknown (except Saturday Night Live Phil Hartman) actors with very little experience in TV comedy.

But due to exceptionally well chosen cast and with some great writing the show became one of the best shows of late 1990s. Unfortunately poorly hanled by the network (the time slot for the show was changed 11 times) the show never reached the ratings it deserved. Also after season 3 the chemistry seemed to be running out, Khandi Alexander decided to leave the show and untimely death of Phil Hartman was the last element that lead to cancellation.

The show was mixture of office humor, very funny interactions between well developed characters and a lot of absurdal humor. The cast was chosen perfectly to play their characters (it’s hard to imagine anyone else than Stephen Root in part of eccentric billionaire or Phil Hartman as wayward star of the radio station). Great, but unfortunately forgotten and ill-fated gem of comedy - definitely not one to be overlooked.

Rating	9.2
Funny	9 / 10
Entertaining	5 / 5
Characters	5 / 5
Nonrepetitive	4 / 5