With creativity and imagination running amok (a Titanic-spoof finale!) amongst the offbeat characters (little work gets done in this office), the penultimate season of NewsRadio (the great sleeper comedy of the 1990s) is arguably the show's pinnacle. The 22 daffy 1997-98 fourth season episodes here involve suicidal screwballs (guest star Jon Lovitz), homicidal copy machines, psychotically candy-sweet efficiency experts (a pre-Gilmore Girls Lauren Graham), desperate a cappella singers, miniature cars, and hot air balloons. Dave Foley, playing the station's news director, fuses steadily growing city-dweller cynicism with ingrained aw-shucks-y Midwestern sensibilities, creating a tightly-wound straight-man character. Maura Tierney scores big laughs with understated self-doubt behind a brainiac personality as the station's star reporter. Phil Hartman—as the arrogant, benighted anchorman—turns his character's twisted childhood memories into uncomfortable guffaws about "good times...good times." And when Andy Dick's office weirdo character is fired, he becomes the office stalker. NewsRadio may be dressed up as a conventional three-camera sitcom, but it's an unconventional show nevertheless. DVD extras include commentaries on a handful of episodes and a bloopers reel. Recommended. (R. Blackwelder)
NewsRadio: The Complete Fourth Season
Sony, 3 discs, 480 min., not rated, DVD: $39.95 Volume 21, Issue 5
NewsRadio: The Complete Fourth Season
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