Gx-Hy8LtuQE

Drugs. Ratings. Bullying. Death. Joe Rogen. All of this and more surrounded the history of the innocuous classic sitcom, NewsRadio.

When Newsradio made it's debut in 1995 NBC was hugely known as sitcom king during the 90's and while Friends and Seinfeld were huge successes NBC was hoping for another sitcom that would be popular as much as Frasier Seinfeld and Friends was and from the time Newsradio made it's debut with the pilot episode people were overjoyed with hopes that this new sitcom would become a huge surprise hit. And with big stars hoping to make it huge such as Kids In The Hall alum Dave Foley to comedian Phil Hartman and Maura Tierney NBC knew that this was the sitcom that would bring a lot of ratings. But what I think started causing Newsradio to go downhill was first Khandi Alexander's departure from the show because had she not left Newsradio the show wouldn't have suffered weak ratings and they should've replaced Khandi Alexander when she left. But I think the real mistake that ultimately caused Newsradio to be cancelled was replacing Phil Hartman with Jon Lovitz after Phil's tragic death because Jon Lovitz's character Max Lewis was fun and upbeat and very different than Bill McNeal but ever since Newsradio's final episode you don't hardly hear about all the other cast and it seems that Dave Foley Maura Tierney Joe Rogan and Stephen Root have been mentioned quite a bit and aside from Andy Dick's ongoing troubles I think Newsradio deserved a second chance at NBC
Bestie

Hi, Bestie! I think you are right. When Phil Hartman died, the show went downhill. Death will do that to a show. I still miss Phil Hartman.
DTK

I also still miss him!!!