A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Correct me if I'm wrong because I'm not American and the adequacivity of my view on this matter may be a little off. Mid 90s were the times the US was the only super power in existence, and didn't have any competition in any field. This, in my opinion, created an atmosphere of incredulity and cynicism. And a show like this could only be created in such an environment. It was the right show for the right time; a more serious and realistic take than Married with Children, if you wish.But even in such times, NewsRadio "was on the brink of cancellation every season that it was on". Understandable; in what other show have you seen such a perfect display of satire as you see in Rat Funeral (s2e03)?I don't understand people who question Maura Tierney's adequatulence for this show. I think she can be a great comedic actor when the occasion demands.NewsRadio was my favorite show of pre-political correctness times. Yes, I didn't get the references to local people and some events, but I understood the intent. They don't do shows with similar attitude anymore. TV shows today try to pass self serving hypocrisy as cynicism, but NewsRadio was cynical through and through.

Newsradio was the best of the Manhattan-based nondescript workplace comedies that came out in the late 90's (Working, Caroline in the City, the Naked Truth, etc. are more examples). The show had an impeccable ensemble that just came out as more than the sum of their parts. Each of the characters was malleable enough to be able to be thrown into any comic situation and make the plot go along. Highlights included: Phil Hartman as a radio personality who while appearing congenial on the surface is plagued with an incredibly large ego and an incredibly low emotional I.Q; Andy Dick as a spastic reporter who is absolutely useless but is aloud to keep his job for mostly sentimental reason; Joe Rogan is a blue-collar idiot savant; and Vikki Lewis as a ditsy secretary who's loyal to her boss but unapologetic about her dress or any of her other faults. Dave Foley, as the office boss, and Maura Tierny, as the smartest and most ambitious member of the staff, who has a secret office romance with him, ignite a screwball comedy for the ages (not to mention the hilarious sexual tension that arose out of that single sort-of-date between Joe Rogan and Khandi Alexander's characters). Throw in Stephen Root is the least sensible boss in TV history, yet somehow the most successful, and you've got quite a show.

I originally watched "Newsradio" for one reason only, (1 1/2 if you count Andy Dick) because I've been a fan of Phil Hartman when he was previously on SNL. That was all I watched the show for. Then when he died, I tried to give the Jon Lovitz Episodes a chance, but by then it just turned into just another "sitcom" (Though it could be argued that it was leaning in that direction regardless of whether it was with or without Phil.) Having rediscovered this show on DVD years later, I realize that this is a perfect ensemble show that gets a little goofy on purpose. What "Arrested Development" was for this Decade, "Newsradio" was for the 90s and the quality holds up to this day.

Newsradio deals with Dave Nelson (Dave Foley), the new news director of WNYX, and his comic misadventures with his both Jimmy James (Stephen Root) as well as his underlings Lisa, spaz Matthew, Beth, tech-savvy, conspiracy theorist Joe, his secretary Beth and last, but hands down the best Bill McNiel (the late great Phil Hartman). The show hit the ground running with the first season as a mid-season replacement with seven episodes of hilarity, dealing with Dave's first day on the job when he has to fire the previous station manager, his new secret liaison with Lisa, and the arrival of his ex who doesn't know she's his ex yet (. and Bill inviting Beth to dinner and in the best episode of the season trying to quit smoking. Season 2 is amazingly great as well. In the first FULL season we get more hilarious laugh out loud moments, Iincluding Cameos by Dennis Miller, John Ritter, Bebe Neuwirth, and David Cross. This was one of the best comedies ever and only lost steam with the tragic senseless death of Phil Hartman. He was a great guy and a funny funny man. He is missed. Also some of the episode on this DVD set appear to be missing footage, but the set is HIGHLY recommended otherwise. BTW, I STILL think that Chris Elliot should have had Andy Dick's role.My Grade: A+ for Season one; A for Season 2(or as the back of the DVD case says, "Secon season") Seasons 1 and 2 DVD Extras: Commentaries on all but 9 episodes by various cast and crew (all of them interesting, sparse in some spots though); 12 minute featurette (made up of interviews that were shot during the first season); an 11 minute 37 second gag reel (hilarious stuff); Filmographies, and Trailers for "Hitch" (BOO), "The Patridge Family: Season 1 (double BOO!!, Danny Bonaduce is an A-hole), and a promo for contemporary TV.Best Commentary: the one for episode 8 is great