Did The Show End Due To Phil Hartman's Murder? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 02-19-2009, 04:33 AM

If we look back in retrospect, if the last season of NewsRadio wasn't surrounded by the Phil Hartman tragedy would the show have gone on longer than it did?

Do you think the show was destined for cancelation at this time regardless of the Hartman incident?

Chocoholic · 02-19-2009, 11:43 AM

Seeing as the show sadly was on the verge of cancellation each year it was on, I don't think Phil's murder was any factor in it finally getting cancelled. I'm surprised it even lasted that long.

TwoFire · 06-07-2009, 12:12 AM

They were barely pulled back from the brink for Season Five; I believe it did cause quite an issue with those of us who were lucky enough to find it when it was on the air.

The dynamics of the show changed incredibly; Lovitz lacked a central focus until Jonny Johnson (Warburton) came into the picture.

I think its' time was coming up as it was, but NBC did it's best to kill it - you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a "Just Shoot Me" promo, but I didn't even get to see Season 5 until it was on A&E in syndication.

catlover79 · 06-07-2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocoholic

Seeing as the show sadly was on the verge of cancellation each year it was on, I don't think Phil's murder was any factor in it finally getting cancelled. I'm surprised it even lasted that long.

I agree. Also, didn't Jon Lovitz and Andy Dick have a big feud going on??

TwoFire · 06-07-2009, 12:26 AM

Yes, and they even had a fight again about two years back.

Lovitz blames Dick for Phil's death, as Andy supposively re-introduced Brynn to drugs.

masterdkd · 06-29-2009, 02:47 PM

If Phil Hartman was still around, Newsradio would last for another season or two. As a fan of the show, I watched it when it first aired, just to see where it was heading. And it went nowhere. The show definitely needed Hartman because fifth season was atrocious.

Regardless if Jon Lovitz was in it or not... the writing was just atrocious. I quickly got bored of it. It wasn't even funny. I was hoping maybe after a few episodes earlier on that the show would start to get back on track. But it wasn't. Most of the earlier episodes were really awful. Then the whole Lisa Miller and Johnny Johnson getting married was one of the most atrocious thing I've ever seen. It almost made me want to vomit. I pretty much stopped caring after that.

The actors did everything they could with the crap they were given so I can't blame any of them.

So, pretty much the writers and whoever else was involved ruined the 5th season and that's what they wanted to do.... and they've done their job.

02-19-2009, 04:33 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,291	Did The Show End Due To Phil Hartman's Murder? If we look back in retrospect, if the last season of NewsRadio wasn't surrounded by the Phil Hartman tragedy would the show have gone on longer than it did? Do you think the show was destined for cancelation at this time regardless of the Hartman incident?

02-19-2009, 11:43 AM	#2
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Seeing as the show sadly was on the verge of cancellation each year it was on, I don't think Phil's murder was any factor in it finally getting cancelled. I'm surprised it even lasted that long.

06-07-2009, 12:12 AM	#3
TwoFire Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 19, 2006 Posts: 22	They were barely pulled back from the brink for Season Five; I believe it did cause quite an issue with those of us who were lucky enough to find it when it was on the air. The dynamics of the show changed incredibly; Lovitz lacked a central focus until Jonny Johnson (Warburton) came into the picture. I think its' time was coming up as it was, but NBC did it's best to kill it - you couldn't swing a dead cat without hitting a "Just Shoot Me" promo, but I didn't even get to see Season 5 until it was on A&E in syndication.

06-07-2009, 12:26 AM	#5
TwoFire Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 19, 2006 Posts: 22	Yes, and they even had a fight again about two years back. Lovitz blames Dick for Phil's death, as Andy supposively re-introduced Brynn to drugs.

06-29-2009, 02:47 PM	#6
masterdkd Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 02, 2009 Posts: 31	If Phil Hartman was still around, Newsradio would last for another season or two. As a fan of the show, I watched it when it first aired, just to see where it was heading. And it went nowhere. The show definitely needed Hartman because fifth season was atrocious. Regardless if Jon Lovitz was in it or not... the writing was just atrocious. I quickly got bored of it. It wasn't even funny. I was hoping maybe after a few episodes earlier on that the show would start to get back on track. But it wasn't. Most of the earlier episodes were really awful. Then the whole Lisa Miller and Johnny Johnson getting married was one of the most atrocious thing I've ever seen. It almost made me want to vomit. I pretty much stopped caring after that. The actors did everything they could with the crap they were given so I can't blame any of them. So, pretty much the writers and whoever else was involved ruined the 5th season and that's what they wanted to do.... and they've done their job.