Another What If ... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Adamantium · 09-25-2003, 04:15 PM

What if Phil Hartman hadn't died after the fourth season. Not according to ratings, but to where the show was. How long do you think "NewsRadio" could have gone on for, before getting old.

With Bill McNeal still a character, I could see NR going on for at least three more seasons. I think even the best show would get tired after a while.

Usually I like cast changes in shows. But this cast was perfect and any change would be for the worse. I feel the same way about the cast of "Andy Richter Controls the Universe".

whipwarrior · 09-25-2003, 05:42 PM

I agree. NewsRadio would have easily continued for another three or four years, going as well as it was before Phil Hartman was killed. I'd even go out on a limb and say that it could have run as long as Married With Children. The show had THAT kind of staying power.

-Dale

BababooeyJr · 09-25-2003, 11:41 PM

Being the biased Bill-addict I am, I'm inclined to think that the show would have gone on many more years if "it" hadn't have happened (honestly, I can't even type it in the computer without getting upset). The fact of the matter is that NR had something special. It is a step above all other sitcoms, and I think that a lot of it has to do with the great cast. Losing Khandi Alexander mid-season four hurt the show somewhat, but losing Phil Hartman was just too much, and like many fans say: the show never fully recovered from the loss.
Have any of you guys ever tried to think about the direction the show would have gone in seasons 5+ if the entire original cast would have been on the show? I'd like to think that Lisa would never have married Johnny Johnson. For some reason I don't think Bill would have let that happen. And perhaps by the end of the show Bill would have finally gotten the chance to see her naked.

How that would have happened, I have no idea.

whipwarrior · 09-26-2003, 04:20 PM

Quote:

And perhaps by the end of the show Bill would have finally gotten the chance to see her naked. How that would have happened, I have no idea.

LOL That's what fan fiction is for. I, for one, would love to read a story where Bill finally gets to see Lisa naked. Nothing perverse, mind you, but merely the idea that his dream finally comes true.

If we disregard Season 5, we could treat NewsRadio the way Star Wars Infinities does with the classic trilogy. Imagine how things might have been different if Bill had been there to keep everybody in line.

By the way, if anybody feels inclined to write such a story (or stories), by all means feel free to do so. I'm always on the lookout for great NewsRadio stories to add to the Fanfic Archive.

-Dale

09-25-2003, 04:15 PM	#1
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	Another What If ... What if Phil Hartman hadn't died after the fourth season. Not according to ratings, but to where the show was. How long do you think "NewsRadio" could have gone on for, before getting old. With Bill McNeal still a character, I could see NR going on for at least three more seasons. I think even the best show would get tired after a while. Usually I like cast changes in shows. But this cast was perfect and any change would be for the worse. I feel the same way about the cast of "Andy Richter Controls the Universe".

09-25-2003, 05:42 PM	#2
whipwarrior NewsRadio fan extraordinaire Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 10, 2003 Location: WNYX Posts: 116	I agree. NewsRadio would have easily continued for another three or four years, going as well as it was before Phil Hartman was killed. I'd even go out on a limb and say that it could have run as long as Married With Children. The show had THAT kind of staying power. -Dale
	__________________ "Someone somewhere wants me crazy." -Dave Nelson, NewsRadio

09-25-2003, 11:41 PM	#3
BababooeyJr Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 26, 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 23	Being the biased Bill-addict I am, I'm inclined to think that the show would have gone on many more years if "it" hadn't have happened (honestly, I can't even type it in the computer without getting upset). The fact of the matter is that NR had something special. It is a step above all other sitcoms, and I think that a lot of it has to do with the great cast. Losing Khandi Alexander mid-season four hurt the show somewhat, but losing Phil Hartman was just too much, and like many fans say: the show never fully recovered from the loss. Have any of you guys ever tried to think about the direction the show would have gone in seasons 5+ if the entire original cast would have been on the show? I'd like to think that Lisa would never have married Johnny Johnson. For some reason I don't think Bill would have let that happen. And perhaps by the end of the show Bill would have finally gotten the chance to see her naked. How that would have happened, I have no idea.
	__________________ "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and then toss it in the face of the person who gave you the lemons until they give you the oranges you asked for in the first place!" Bill McNeal NewsRadio