| November 7, 2002 |
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NewsRadio and the Comedic Art
With  attention to detail worthy of a PhD dissertation, Adrian Foo lavishes praise and insightful analysis on NewsRadio. If you missed the sitcom during its five-year run, start by reading some background on the details of the show. The introduction to NewsRadio's comedic prowess alludes to Shakespeare, Jean Luc Godard, and Mel Brooks, while serving up a clear definition of screwball comedy. Each actor on the show is also given his or her due, from set-up man Dave Foley to underrated mise en scéne actress Maura Tierney to comedic fire-starter Phil Hartman, whose death hastened the end of the show. Detailed studies of camera techniques, visual gags, and singular idioms elucidate the smarts behind the laughs, while essays on morally expressive art and the '80s versus the '90s further an understanding of the show's appeal. The worst rated sitcom on NBC in 1997 seems to have flourished in reruns, and the rabid, if scholarly, acclaim on this site may just convince you to give NewsRadio a second look. (in Television) |
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