News Radio was perhaps the single greatest missed opportunity on TV. With an amazing cast and stellar writing, this show deserves to be considered in the same breath as shows like Seinfeld, Cheers, Friends and Frasier.
Initially the show was hampered by NBC constantly changing it's time slot or not airing it for weeks at a time. Based on the DVD commentary from the producers, their relationship with NBC was extremely antagonistic. I think at the end everyone's Ego got in the way and the show didn't get the stability to find its audience.
The untimely death of Phil Hartmann was a severe blow to this struggling series. While it could never be as good without him, it still produced quality shows that are better than most "hit" series before or since.
Fortunately News Radio lives on in DVD. It remains one of my favorite shows and I never tire of watching it.
Initially the show was hampered by NBC constantly changing it's time slot or not airing it for weeks at a time. Based on the DVD commentary from the producers, their relationship with NBC was extremely antagonistic. I think at the end everyone's Ego got in the way and the show didn't get the stability to find its audience.
The untimely death of Phil Hartmann was a severe blow to this struggling series. While it could never be as good without him, it still produced quality shows that are better than most "hit" series before or since.
Fortunately News Radio lives on in DVD. It remains one of my favorite shows and I never tire of watching it.