NewsRadio

Last updated

NewsRadio
NewsRadio.jpg
Genre Sitcom
Slapstick
Created by Paul Simms [1]
Starring
Theme music composer Mike Post
ComposerIan Dye
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes97 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Kell Cahoon
  • Tom Saunders
  • Barbara Dorio
  • Mark Grossan
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network NBC
ReleaseMarch 21, 1995 (1995-03-21) 
May 4, 1999 (1999-05-04)

NewsRadio is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from March 21, 1995, to May 4, 1999, focusing on the work lives of the staff of a New York City AM news radio station. It had an ensemble cast featuring Dave Foley, Stephen Root, Andy Dick, Maura Tierney, Vicki Lewis, Joe Rogan, Khandi Alexander, and Phil Hartman in his final regular role before his death in 1998; Jon Lovitz joined the show after Hartman's death. [2]

Contents

The series was created by executive producer Paul Simms and was filmed in front of a studio audience at CBS Studio Center and Sunset Gower Studios. The theme song was composed by Mike Post, who also scored the pilot.

Despite the several time slot changes that led to the show to not be a major hit for NBC, it is regarded as one of the best ensemble sitcoms of the 90s.

Overview

The series is set at WNYX, a fictional AM broadcasting all-news radio station in New York City, populated by an eccentric station owner and staff. The show begins with the arrival of a new news director, the everyman Dave Nelson (Dave Foley). While Dave turns out to be more experienced than his youthful appearance suggests, he never fully gains control of his co-workers.

The fast-paced scripts and ensemble cast combined physical humor and visual gags with quick-witted dialogue and farcical storylines. Plots often involved satirical takes on historical events, news stories, and pop culture references. The third and fourth season finales took the surrealism to the extreme, setting the characters in outer space and aboard the Titanic , respectively.

NewsRadio debuted on March 21, 1995. [3] It took over the time slot from Something Wilder . [4]

There are a total of 97 episodes. Reruns continued in syndication for several years before disappearing in most markets. However, the show has aired on A&E, Nick at Nite, and TBS network in the United States, and DTour and the Comedy Network in Canada. In the United States, the show occasionally airs as a filler on WGN America and runs regularly on Reelz, Antenna TV, and Rewind TV. For several years starting in July 2007, the program was syndicated through The Program Exchange. [5]

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 7March 21, 1995 (March 21, 1995)May 9, 1995 (May 9, 1995)
2 21September 19, 1995 (September 19, 1995)April 28, 1996 (April 28, 1996)
3 25September 18, 1996 (September 18, 1996)June 5, 1997 (June 5, 1997)
4 22September 23, 1997 (September 23, 1997)May 13, 1998 (May 13, 1998)
5 22September 23, 1998 (September 23, 1998)May 4, 1999 (May 4, 1999)

Characters

Main

The cast of NewsRadio, Seasons 1 to 4 NR-Cast-2.jpg
The cast of NewsRadio, Seasons 1 to 4

Recurring

The only recurring character to appear in more than one production season is that of Jimmy's lawyer, Roger, played initially by Norm Macdonald, and later by NewsRadio writer Drake Sather, who did a vocal impersonation of Norm Macdonald.

Several other actors appeared in multiple seasons playing different characters, notably Lovitz, David Cross, Toby Huss, Brian Posehn, David Anthony Higgins, Dave Allen, Wallace Langham, and Bob Odenkirk.

Tone Lōc and Toby Huss played security guards Lorenzo and Junior in two episodes in season 2. The characters were based on the security guards at the studio where NewsRadio was shot. [12] During the last season, Patrick Warburton had a recurring role as Johnny Johnson, Jimmy's nemesis and Lisa's love interest (and eventual husband).

Lauren Graham had a four-episode run as Andrea, a manipulative efficiency expert who shakes up the office (firing Matthew, demoting Dave, and promoting Lisa). She is sometimes referred to as "Planbee" after Matthew misunderstands her being Jimmy's "Plan B" for the office. In a season 4 episode commentary track, Tierney gives the hiring of Graham as a possible explanation for Alexander's departure, which contradicts the idea that Alexander intended to leave before Graham appeared on the show (In Dave Foley's appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, they talked about Alexander leaving because she was not given enough lines). All of the changes introduced during Graham's time on the show would be restored by mid-season to the way things were before her arrival.

Brad Rowe had a four-episode run as Walt the intern, Jimmy's nephew who has a crush on Lisa, which causes more worry for Dave.

Home media

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released all five seasons of NewsRadio on DVD in Region 1 between 2005 and 2007. Each set includes multiple audio commentaries with creator Paul Simms, the writers and actors. The DVD sets also include special features such as gag reels and other featurettes.

On August 27, 2013, it was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to various television series from the Sony Pictures library, including NewsRadio. [13] They subsequently re-released the first two seasons on DVD on April 1, 2014. [14]

On May 19, 2015, Mill Creek Entertainment re-released NewsRadio – The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1. [15]

DVD Name# ep.Release Date
The Complete First and Second Seasons28May 24, 2005
(re-release: April 1, 2014)
The Complete Third Season25February 28, 2006
The Complete Fourth Season22June 20, 2006
The Complete Fifth Season22March 20, 2007
The Complete Series97October 28, 2008
(re-release: May 19, 2015)

Nielsen ratings

Though the series received critical acclaim, ratings were inconsistent, and the show never placed higher than 26th.[ citation needed ] During its run, NewsRadio's time slot changed eleven times. [16]

On its first two broadcasts, the show received a 20 share, improving on its lead-in ( Wings ) by a percentage point, and beating its competitors ( Under One Roof and Thunder Alley ) in its share of the 18- to 49-year-old audience. [7]

Season ratings

SeasonTV seasonTime slot (ET)Ratings rankViewers
(in millions)
1 1994–1995 Tuesday at 8:30 pm#39[ citation needed ]11.4[ citation needed ]
2 1995–1996 Tuesday at 8:30 pm (episodes 1–10)
Sunday at 8:30 pm (episodes 11–21)
#39[ citation needed ]10.6[ citation needed ]
3 1996–1997 Wednesday at 9:00 pm (episodes 1–10, 12–17)
Thursday at 8:30 pm (episodes 11, 25)
Wednesday at 8:00 pm (episodes 18–21, 23 & 24)
Wednesday at 8:30 pm (episode 22)
#92[ citation needed ]7.0[ citation needed ]
4 1997–1998 Tuesday at 8:30 pm (episodes 1–8, 10–15, 22)
Thursday at 8:30 pm (episode 9)
Wednesday at 8:00 pm (episodes 16–21)
#62 [17] 8.0 [17]
5 1998–1999 Wednesday at 9:30 pm (episodes 1–7, 9)
Tuesday at 8:30 pm (episodes 8, 10–22)
#77 [18] 9.6 [18]

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  12. Commentary track for episode "Friends"
  13. "Mill Creek Entertainment Signs Deals With Sony Pictures Home Entertainment To Expand Their Distribution Partnership". Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
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