Why Isn't This Show More Popular Today?

[TSMIV]

Even now, NewsRadio isn't on any major streaming service, and it was only just recently added to The Roku Channel.

Not true. It's on Prime commercial free.

[Alan Brady's Hair]

I think one small problem is the episode names, which sometimes have nothing to do with the episode, for instance, the names of Led Zeppelin albums. Makes it hard to talk about them.

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by TMC

it was only just recently added to The Roku Channel.

It's been on The Roku Channel for a really long time.

[principehomura]

Originally Posted by principehomura

The show was never released in Italy, and never heard of it until Adamantium mentione dit on the Mom subforum.
I started watching it last evening, and I hope to enjoy the ride!

Damn, 2 years

Anyway, I finally found "continuity" and am officially on board in watching it.
Yesterday I finished season 1.
Really a nice group of characters, and in this first batch of episodes my favorite is the owner mr. James.
What impressed me is how fast-paced the whole thing is.
Hope to enjoy the rest of the ride!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

10 Great '90s TV Shows You Forgot Existed

10 TV Shows That Deserved To Become Cult Hits (That Didn't)

8. NewsRadio



Long before he was sitting behind a UFC commentators desk or nodding along to his guests on the Joe Rogan Experience, the star found himself acting as one of the key players in NBC hit sitcom NewsRadio.

This workplace comedy show centered around the staff working on a New York City news radio station, and saw the likes of Rogan, Dave Foley, Stephen Root, Maura Tierney, and Jon Lovitz having the time of their lives cracking wise and regularly clashing in hilarious fashion.

Yet, despite bringing a whopping 97 episodes of shenanigans and lunacy to NBC fans over the course of its five-year run, the show has since all but evaporated, with it often flying under-the-radar on streaming services and not being the sort of series folks are quick to flick on in the background after work.

Which is a bit of a shame, as the often chaotic and charming half-hour delights unquestionably had all the hysterical elements regularly found in eventual cult sitcom hits like Parks and Recreation and Community. But it just hasn't quite been able to keep from becoming one of the '90s greatest forgotten comedies in the years since its initial acclaimed run.

[principehomura]

I am halfway through season 3 now!
About 90s work-place sitcom I still give the edge to Spin City, but I'm having a lot of fun and it promises to get better (while Spin City will crush definetely after its third season): the conviction is because yesterday I've seen the episode s03e07 Daydream, which is pretty unconventional and shows how the writers are starting to dare. I expect to see more of this kind of episodes in the future.

As a work-place environment sitcom, it lacks some "heart". I find the characters funny (above all Jimmy and Beth), but I'm not attached to any of them, and sometimes I miss the presence of a heartwarming storyline or message.
I guess it's a problem of the genre and the reason why I prefer family focused sitcoms.

Anyway, it is defineely good and entertaining, I'm watching an episode every night!

[TMC]

Originally Posted by gameshowfan2001

I feel like with the way the show turned in the 4th season, that it was destined to be cancelled even if Hartman had lived. Season 1-3 are awesome, Season 4 is alright (once they re-hire Matthew and get rid of Andrea), but Season 5 is just a different show. In my mind, the series finale is "Bill Moves On".

I know that this may sound cliched but Phil Hartman's murder shortly after Season 4 just sets a really dark cloud over the series. And the episode that deals with his character's death, "Bill Moves On" can be really sad and depressing (especially since, you could tell that the rest of the cast weren't really "acting" that much) if you aren't in a certain frame of mind.

It's sort of like on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter a few years down the road after John Ritter died in real life and they too had to address his own character's death on the show. It too seemed like the rest of the cast didn't have to put much effort into showing their grief on screen.

[dee2364]

News Radio isn't remembered because it was a middle of the road sitcom that was in a crowded field of sitcoms about whiny middle class Yuppies in the workplace. People are not remembering that there were tons of shows in and around that time that were interchangeable with this show, like Suddenly Susan, Caroline in the City, Just Shoot Me, etc. On top of everything else, it didn't break any new ground. Phil Hartman was basically playing the 90s version of Ted Baxter.

Another thing about this show is that radio is pretty much a dead format, and no's going to care about a show that is based around a dead, dated medium.

[Adamantium]

Originally Posted by principehomura

I am halfway through season 3 now!
About 90s work-place sitcom I still give the edge to Spin City, but I'm having a lot of fun and it promises to get better (while Spin City will crush definetely after its third season): the conviction is because yesterday I've seen the episode s03e07 Daydream, which is pretty unconventional and shows how the writers are starting to dare. I expect to see more of this kind of episodes in the future.

As a work-place environment sitcom, it lacks some "heart". I find the characters funny (above all Jimmy and Beth), but I'm not attached to any of them, and sometimes I miss the presence of a heartwarming storyline or message.
I guess it's a problem of the genre and the reason why I prefer family focused sitcoms.

Anyway, it is defineely good and entertaining, I'm watching an episode every night!

I'm glad you're watching the show all the way through. Season four is my favorite season.

No, it's not really a heartfelt show. It just goes for laughs with a couple of nice moments here and there. I liked in season two where Bill kept getting on Dave for not having an emotions (during the rat funeral episode).

[principehomura]

Originally Posted by principehomura

I am halfway through season 3 now!
About 90s work-place sitcom I still give the edge to Spin City, but I'm having a lot of fun and it promises to get better (while Spin City will crush definetely after its third season): the conviction is because yesterday I've seen the episode s03e07 Daydream, which is pretty unconventional and shows how the writers are starting to dare. I expect to see more of this kind of episodes in the future.

As a work-place environment sitcom, it lacks some "heart". I find the characters funny (above all Jimmy and Beth), but I'm not attached to any of them, and sometimes I miss the presence of a heartwarming storyline or message.
I guess it's a problem of the genre and the reason why I prefer family focused sitcoms.

Anyway, it is defineely good and entertaining, I'm watching an episode every night!

Unfortunately, in the end instead of winning me over it lost me.
I suffered the lack of a connection with the characters, and a few of them became even a bore to watch. I also missed an underlying storyline to link together the episodes.

Sorry Adamantium
We have similar tastes, maybe I'll give another try in the future.

[Adamantium]

Originally Posted by principehomura

Unfortunately, in the end instead of winning me over it lost me.
I suffered the lack of a connection with the characters, and a few of them became even a bore to watch. I also missed an underlying storyline to link together the episodes.

Sorry Adamantium
We have similar tastes, maybe I'll give another try in the future.

I'm sorry to hear this. I had assumed since you made it this far, you were enjoying it.

As for the underlying storyline, the show really didn't do that by choice. Creator Paul Simms said in the DVD commentary that he loved shows like Barney Miller and Taxi which weren't serialized but rather had self-contained episodes. NBC constantly wanted him to do storylines, so it would be easier to promote the show, but he refused. They also wanted Dave and Lisa to be like Sam and Diane and string out the possibility of them getting together in a will they/won't they situation. But Paul felt that had already been done on Cheers, and while it also worked for Friends and Frasier, he liked the idea better of them getting together right away and dealing with that.

Paul Simms did give in a little during season four. There's a storyline where an efficiency expert (played by Lauren Graham in 4 episodes) comes in and shakes up the office. She fires Matthew (although he continues to hang around the office trying to get his job back), makes Lisa the News Director and demotes Dave to Bill's producer, making Bill Dave's boss. Those are some of the funniest episodes in my opinion. But I don't think any of that is what you're looking for. As for the most part, the episodes still feel self-contained. NewsRadio was very much its own thing and didn't try to be like other shows, which in your case, works against it, lol.

[principehomura]

Thank for the reply that's interesting!
I'm intrigued especially by the Lauren Graham part, being a Gilmore Girls fan!

Yes the Dave/Lisa not doing any of the Rachel/Ross Sam/Diane was definetely a plus.

[principehomura]

Thank for the reply that's interesting!
I'm intrigued especially by the Lauren Graham part, being a Gilmore Girls fan!

Yes the Dave/Lisa not doing any of the Rachel/Ross Sam/Diane was definetely a plus.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

https://jacksonupperco.com/2018/10/1...f-season-five/

Others have said that watching NewsRadio with Phil Hartman after what ultimately happened to him is so hard.