Newsradio: The Complete Third Season

The third season (1996-97) of this cutting, cunning, underappreciated sitcom finds its marvelously attuned cast firing on all pistons while each episode seems to amusingly gallop further and further away from plots related to its setting—a New York city AM-radio newsroom. Driven by its personalities—including Phil Hartman as the arrogant anchor, Dave Foley as the put-upon boss, and Andy Dick as the office weirdo—the show really hits its stride in these 25 episodes that begin with truly offbeat "office comedy" stories (ace political reporter Maura Tierney runs roughshod over eccentric billionaire station-owner Stephen Root's run for president), moves mirthfully into screwball territory (an air conditioner breakdown begets bizarre heat-induced daydreams), and ultimately rockets into the stratosphere of silliness with an hysterical concept episode that takes place in outer space. Presented in a three-disc boxed set, DVD extras include commentary tracks on 10 episodes (although the participants have lost a little steam since the 20 commentaries on last year's release of the first and second seasons—and, curiously, some feature bleeped-out comments). But the other bonus features are tops, including raw rehearsal footage (with optional commentary), plus a blooper reel. Highly recommended. (R. Blackwelder)