History Trivia / NewsRadio

* TheWikiRule: [[https://wnyxnewsradio.fandom.com/wiki/WNYX_Newsradio_Wiki WNYX NewsRadio Wiki]].

* CreatorBacklash: [[http://www.avclub.com/article/jon-lovitz-49464 Jon Lovitz does not like to talk about his role on the show]], largely because he replaced a character whose actor (and close friend in real life) was murdered. On top of that, Lovitz and Andy Dick had a very negative relationship stemming from issues involving Hartman's murder.

* OldShame: Creator/JaneaneGarofalo doesn't look back fondly on her time on the show:
-->I think I failed miserably on ''[=NewsRadio=]''. I was very nervous because of the calibre of the cast-especially Dave Foley-so I think I did a terrible job. I got it because of Paul Simms, who was one of the head writers on [[Series/TheLarrySandersShow Larry Sanders]]. It's one of those things where once you're connected, you get to stay connected for a few years. Once you're not connected, you just don't get asked to do anything. I don't say that bitterly, because I'm truly grateful for the opportunities I did have, but it's strange how quick it comes and how quickly it can end sometimes.

** In "Review", the titular review states that "[[SpellMyNameWithAnS Katherine Duke is one of the finest news anchors in the city, although chronically underused." - an obvious reference to Catherine being OutOfFocus.

* RealitySubtext: Phil Hartman's death. It's extremely clear the characters' reaction to Bill's death were the cast's real reactions to Hartman's death, to the point that even filming "Bill Moves On" was nearly impossible as they could barely get through most of the scenes without breaking down in tears.

-->I think I failed miserably on ''NewsRadio''. I was very nervous because of the calibre of the cast-especially Dave Foley-so I think I did a terrible job. I got it because of Paul Simms, who was one of the head writers on [[Series/TheLarrySandersShow Larry Sanders]]. It's one of those things where once you're connected, you get to stay connected for a few years. Once you're not connected, you just don't get asked to do anything. I don't say that bitterly, because I'm truly grateful for the opportunities I did have, but it's strange how quick it comes and how quickly it can end sometimes.

* VindicatedByReruns: The show was not popular at all during its original NBC run (specifically, the show never reached higher than 26th place in the Nielsen ratings), largely because NBC kept moving the show around on the schedule. It also didn't win any awards, save for "Outstanding Costuming For a Series", of all things. When the show hit syndication, however, it gained more fans and is now considered a CultClassic.

* CreatorBacklash: [[http://www.avclub.com/article/jon-lovitz-49464 Jon Lovitz does not like to talk about his role on the show]], largely because he replaced a character whose actor (and close friend in real life) was murdered. On top of that, Lovitz and Andy Dick had a very negative relationship stemming from issues involving Hartman's murder (which are best not discussed here).

* QuoteSource:
** TookALevelInKindness

* HostilityOnTheSet: When Creator/JonLovitz joined the cast following Creator/PhilHartman's death, he took an instant hatred to Creator/AndyDick, blaming him for Hartman's death by introducing Hartman's wife Brynn Omdahl to cocaine, which resulted in the murder-suicide that resulted in the deaths of Hartman and Omdahl.

* RealitySubtext: Phil Hartman's death.

* TheOtherDarrin: Catherine was played by Ella Joyce in the pilot episode, after which Khandi Alexander took over the role.

* HostilityOnTheSet: When Creator/JonLovitz joined the cast following Creator/PhilHartman's death, he took an instant hatred to Andy Dick, blaming him for Hartman's death by introducing Hartman's wife Brynn Omdahl to cocaine, which resulted in the murder-suicide that resulted in the deaths of Hartman and Omdahl.

* MoneyDearBoy: Possibly the case for George Hamilton for the episode "Zoso", along with a bit of ExecutiveMeddling. According to the audio commentary, he didn't seem thrilled to be there and didn't like being given direction.

** The episode "Chock" was originally intended to be a ReunionShow for ''Series/TheKidsInTheHall'', but never came to fruition. So it became a ReunionShow for ''Series/MrShow'' instead (both shows were co-produced by Brillstein-Grey).

** The episode "Chock" was originally intended to be a ReunionShow for ''Series/TheKidsInTheHall'', but never came to fruition. So it became a ReunionShow for ''Series/MrShow'' instead.

* TheCharacterDiedWithHim: Creator/PhilHartman/Bill [=McNeal=]. As [[FunnyAneurysmMoment coincidence would have it]], Hartman's final episode concluded with everyone but Dave surviving the Titanic episode. In the tribute episode to Hartman, however, it's stated that Bill merely died of a heart attack. While a great gesture by the cast and crew, the somber tone of Bill's death didn't ring true for a show as ironic and cynical as this one; particularly since most the mourners would have (in-universe, at least) been jubilant over Bill's demise.

--> '''Lisa:''' "Dave, truthfully Bill wasn't always the easiest person to like. I mean we loved him, but a lot of people found him kind of abrasive."

* ActorAllusion:
** Dave dressing up as a woman for a Halloween episode was no surprise to anyone who knew of the many convincing female characters Dave Foley had played as a member of the all-male comedy troupe ''Series/TheKidsInTheHall''.
** In "The Trainer", the staff is shocked to find out that Dave is actually [[CanadaEh Canadian]]. Dave Foley is from Canada.
** "Bill's Autobiography" has a scene where Bill is given a tape recorder to write his thoughts for his autobiography, which includes a tape of Dave singing the song "A Horse with No Name" by Music/{{America}}. Creator/PhilHartman, during his time working as a graphic artist, designed three of that group's album covers; while his brother John was the band's manager.
** Joe Garrelli continually espoused his beliefs in conspiracy theories, such as man never landing on the moon; Joe Rogan is similarly known for his comments on conspiracy theories. In addition, Joe and Matthew once faced each other in a no-holds-barred ultimate fighting match and Joe would later attempt to teach Matthew and Max his homemade martial art, "Joe-Jitsu"; Rogan has been a martial artist for most of his life and started working for UltimateFightingChampionship in 1997, a year before [=NewsRadio=] went off the air.
** Lisa is revealed to originally be from Boston and has a strong Boston accent that she worked with a speech therapist to suppress; Maura Tierney is originally from Boston.
* {{Blooper}}: Dave once referenced the lyric "Doobie in your funk" as being from the [[Music/GeorgeClinton Parliament-Funkadelic]] song "Chocolate City." It's actually from Parliament's "P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)" from their 1975 album ''Mothership Connection.''
* TheCharacterDiedWithHim: Phil Hartman/Bill [=McNeal=]. As [[FunnyAneurysmMoment coincidence would have it]], Hartman's final episode concluded with everyone but Dave surviving the Titanic episode. In the tribute episode to Hartman, however, it's stated that Bill merely died of a heart attack. While a great gesture by the cast and crew, the somber tone of Bill's death didn't ring true for a show as ironic and cynical as this one; particularly since most the mourners would have (in-universe, at least) been jubilant over Bill's demise.

* TheDanza: Dave Foley/Nelson & Joe Rogan/Garelli. Phil Hartman's character was named Bill purely to [[AvertedTrope avert]] this trope.
** Also notable is the episode "Chock", in which [[Series/MrShow David Cross, Bob Odenkirk]], and Brian Posehn show up playing characters named David, Bob, and Brian, respectively.

** NBC wanted there to be some WillTheyOrWontThey between Dave and Lisa; the writers responded by having the two hook up only a couple episodes in, and then having them deal with the consequences of having an affair in the office.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/RayRomano was originally cast as Joe Garelli but was fired because his particular brand of comedy didn't mesh well with the tone and pace of the rest of the show.

* HostilityOnTheSet: When Creator/JonLovitz joined the cast following Creator/PhilHartman's death, he took an instant hatred to Andy Dick, blaming him for Hartman's death for introducing Hartman's wife Brynn Omdahl to cocaine, which resulted in the murder-suicide that resulted in the deaths of Hartman and Omdahl.

* CreatorBacklash: [[http://www.avclub.com/article/jon-lovitz-49464 Jon Lovitz does not like to talk about his role on the show]], largely because he replaced a character whose actor (and close friend in real life) was murdered.
** On top of that, Lovitz and Andy Dick had a very negative relationship stemming from issues involving Hartman's murder (which are best not discussed here).

* HostilityOnTheSet: When Creator/JonLovitz joined the cast following Creator/PhilHartman's death, he took an instant hatred to Andy Dick, blaming him for Hartman's death by introducing Hartman's wife Brynn Omdahl to cocaine, which resulted in the murder-suicide that resulted in the deaths of Hartman and Omdahl.

* HostilityOnTheSet: There are numerous reports that Creator/JonLovitz really hated Andy Dick, with Lovitz blaming Dick for Creator/PhilHartman's death by getting Hartman's wife Brynn Omdahl hooked on cocaine.

** NBC wanted a "femme fatale" character, which is how we ended up with efficiency expert Andrea. She only lasted a few episodes at the start of season 4.

** The second episode of the series was intended to be a love letter to Howard Stern, with a plot involving various crank callers phoning Bill on the air and saying "Baba booey!" The script was never filmed because the table read was lukewarm, with only the writers finding it amusing.

** The Halloween episode when Dave dressed up as a woman was no surprise to anyone who knew of the many convincing female characters Dave Foley played as a member of the all-male comedy troupe Series/TheKidsInTheHall.

--> '''Lisa:''' "Dave truthfully Bill wasn't always the easiest person to like. I mean we loved him, but a lot of people found him kind of abrasive."