HawkHerald This show as about a fictional AM news station in NYC, the staff of whom were the focus of the show.Dave Nelson (Kids in the Hall's Dave Foley), the station's news director and occasional producer, was the straight man for most of the show's jokes and was a Minnesotan hired and unexpectedly given the news director job despite a relative lack of experience. Dave was depicted as a typical nerd and his equally nerdy Kids in the Hall co-members appeared in an episode as his high school friends who wanted to get their all-male acapella group back together. He also tap danced, did ventriloquism, and knife throwing, as the amazing Throwgalli.Lisa Miller (Maura Tierney of ER), an ambitious and overachieving, slightly neurotic reporter at WNYX. She was Dave's girlfriend for the first few seasons. Lisa is hyper-obsessive about her academic achievements and also hyper-competitive having tried to get the WNYX news director position herself before Dave was hired and their romance started.Bill McNeil (SNL Alumni and Simpsons beloved recurring player Phil Hartman), was an over-the-top, egotistical, and golden-voiced lead anchor, constantly irritating other people, especially Dave, with his arrogance and attention-seeking behavior. One of the more amusing examples of this, is The Cane episode, where Bill acquires an antique walking cane only to have it quickly stolen. He's hilariously insubordinate, seen in the Smoking episode, where smoking is banned from the WNYX office. Bill is also surprisingly loyal and insightful when it comes to his co-workers, who are his closest friends.Jimmy James (King of the Hill voice actor and Dodge Ball co-star Stephen Root), is an eccentric, extroverted, and slightly paternal owner of the WNYX news station. He's shown to have a diversified multimedia empire rivaling Ted Turner or Donald Trump but seems to have enjoyed spending most of his days at the WNYX office with Dave and others. He seems to have the closest bonds to Dave and Beth. Jimmy James also seems easily distracted and likely Beth given to hyperactivity. His ongoing search for a wife is seen in several different episodes.Matthew Brock (Andy Dick), is a reporter for WNYX, shown to be clumsy, naive, and even outright stupid. He idolizes Bill McNeil, who constantly lies and torments him. His behavior is supposed to be amusing in a Scooby Doo sidekick kind of way but he usually comes across as obnoxious.Beth (Vicki Lewis), is Dave's secretary. She frequently wares mesh and midriff baring tops. She's shown as hyperactive, gossiping, and the lowest paid staff member.Joe Garrelli (UFC color commentator, martial artist, stand-up comedian, Fear Factor host, conspiracy theorist, and marijuana advocate Joe Rogan) is an electrician and all around handyman. He is dismissive of consumer products as rip-offs and has his own custom-built supplies, tools (typically from cheap household items like duct tape) and invents a number of different devices. Joe, like his real life counterpart, is also a conspiracy theorist, especially when it comes to government cover-ups regarding aliens. He has an intense crush on WNYX co-lead anchor Katherine Duke.Katherine Duke (Khandi Alexander), is the co-lead anchor with Bill McNeil. She has an adversarial relationship with him due to a past failed office romance. Katherine seems the most mature and normal member of the staff. She also displays a talent for three-card Monte for Mr. James. Katherine leaves the show after her character receives a job offer in London. She's also the object of an intense crush from electrician handyman Joe Garrelli.

mrossignol-1 This show was the best hands down. The rapport between Andy Dick and the late Phil Hartman was incredible. As a matter of fact those two in my opinion made that show. While the other actors were right up there also, Andy and Phil were always the ones that were able to make me laugh the most. I was and still am a huge fan of Phil and I cried when I heard of his passing. I'd never done that before!!! I own four out of the five seasons and am waiting for funds to appear so I can purchase season three. Even though Andy had some troubles in the past and more as of late, he still rates right up there as far as comedians are concerned. Hell of a way for him to promote a new release.

S.R. Dipaling I am making reference to one Brynn HArtman,who shot and killed her husband,the show's star Phil HArtman,while he slept,killing him and then turning the gun on herself in the wee/pre-dawn hours of a Friday morning in June of 1998. Needless to say,as a fan of this show(even more so once I finally got myself to watch them again in reruns),this fact always sort of haunted me,as I am sure it did to other fans of this show and/or Mr.Hartman as well.Through the whole four year run of this show,I feel like the comic timing and writing was very strong. Everyone in the cast--even the future "Fear FActor" host Joe Rogan--was very effective in conveying an office full of selfish,short-sighted news workers on the WNYX staff. I can barely stand Andy Dick,but he is not only good on this show,he is UNCANNILY spot-on as MAtthew,the hopelessly clueless office spaz. Phil Hartman's presence,and then absence,on the show was heavily felt,and as game as Jon Lovitz was in stepping in for Phil,it just wasn't quite the same. To be fair and sure,I don't believe that Hartman's death ALONE caused the show to either go down the tubes(which in all truth,it didn't.MHO)or get canceled. I feel like NBC gave up on the show almost as soon as the rating showed any signs of dipping,and given the fact that the network moved the show no fewer than three times in its run(Tuesdays to Sundays to Wednsdays,as I recall),then I believe they also bear some responsibility in this show's early demise,too.In short,I believe that "NewsRadio" is one of the best sitcoms to come out of the nineties and am happy to see that it's made it to DVD at last. I believe someday I may rent,even purchase the show's episodes on DVD. Until then,I think I'll just do the cheap thing and see if I can run across it in reruns again

PaulietheParrot The whole 5 seasons of NewsRadio was like the best show on TV that didn't deserve to get cancelled. The main reason? Phil Hartman. This guy was all out when it came to WNYX but being the first 4 seasons with Hartman was the best than when he died in 1998, he was Replaced by Jon Lovitz. Who was funny as Hartman but wasn't quite the same. Andy Dick really hated him so much on the show that he didn't want him in his life. I think that is why the show got cancelled after the 1998-99 season because of the fact that Me. James really wanted to move to New Hampshire and the fact that on the final episode the two people that still played role to the station was Dave and Matthew. sigh... A Lukewarm finale. But As I can say, NewsRadio is the best sicom in NBC that they had so for that I will give Newsradio a total of.9/10 Best 100,000 watt comedy radio show!