The Best NewsRadio Episode EVER

[Guest Mattdotcom]

Right, here we go. An offshoot of the ever popular "NEWSRADIO IS BACK!" thread, we had the idea to contest every episode against each other in order to find the best of the best. If you've ever heard of a Simpsons forum called No Homers, then you're familiar with the rules, which are as follows...

 

The voting for the poll will end after two days.

 

The episode that gains the highest ammount of votes will move on to the final poll.

 

In event of a tie, a tiebreaker will follow immediately on day two and voting will be closed at midnight.

 

Since only ten choices are allowed in a poll, the next seasons (which are full) will require two polls. The winners of each half-season poll will face off in one-on-one competition.

 

Those are the rules. And remember, the secret to voting successfully: "I'm with Stupid".

 

Episode Guide (From NewsRadio Art).

 

"Pilot" originally aired 3/21/95

 

Dave Nelson, a young man from Wisconsin moves to New York City to become the News Director of a radio station. Quickly, his first day turns chaotic. The first of his obstacles of the day is to deal with his eccentric boss Jimmy James, whose first assignment for Dave is to fire his predecessor. In the meantime Dave meets the other employees of the office. While meeting his new co-workers he must: settle arguments between the on-air talents Bill McNeal and Catherine Duke, gain the respect of his quirky secretary Beth and street reporter Matthew and confront a loyal and longtime station employee Lisa Miller, who thinks she is to be the next News Director.

 

(Note: Joe is not in this episode, but handyman Rick (Mike O'Malley) is. Catherine Duke is not played by Khandi Alexander.)

 

"Inappropriate" originally aired 3/28/95

 

 

A bickering Dave and Lisa set out for a dinner after work that inadvertently turns romantic. Returning to work the next day they confront each other. Realizing that they've made a mistake and feeling very awkward, they decide to keep their relationship secret from the WNYX staff. Meanwhile, during an on-air broadcast, Matthew badly mispronounces a name and worries that Dave will fire him.

 

"Smoking" originally aired 4/4/95

 

 

After Dave tries to enforce a "no smoking" ban at WNYX, Bill chooses not to acknowledge the new rules. To satisfy Bill, Dave agrees to give up his coffee if Bill will give up his cigarettes, thus sending them both to the edge. Meanwhile, Lisa thinks Joe may have seen her and Dave out on a date, and she thinks that Joe is a threat to expose their secret romance.

 

"The Crisis" originally aired 4/11/95

 

A subway train derailment has occurred, and Dave wants to show his abilities as News Director and jump on this breaking story. Dave tries to quickly bring the troops together to report the story. Unfortunately there is an issue much more pressing to the News Department: Matthew's new desk.

 

"Big Day" originally aired 4/18/95

 

It's the "big day." Everyone is excitedly awaiting the delivery of his or her individual bonus checks that Jimmy James gives every year. Jimmy has other ideas though. He has decided to let Dave give out the bonuses this year. Dave is then faced with deciding who should get "The Big Bonus" and who should get "The Shaft."

 

"Luncheon at the Waldorf" originally aired 5/2/95

 

Bill gets the office talking after asking Beth to a formal luncheon. At the same time, Dave looks into personal expenses at the station for Jimmy, eventually finding many curious expenses that everyone seems to be writing off.

 

"Sweeps Week" originally aired 5/9/95

 

Dave becomes jealous of Lisa's continual phone calls with her ex-boyfriend. In return Dave decides to give his ex-girlfriend a call. Unexpectedly, his ex-girlfriend, Nancy from Wisconsin (guest star Janeane Garofolo), comes to visit. Also, Dave meets "business visionary" Tom P. Baxter (guest star Bill Geisslinger) whom Jimmy thinks will make a great on-air guest to interview.

 

 

In two days time, we shall know the best of season one. Will it hold up against the onslaught of season two, three, four, or five? We shall see...

 

Oh, I voted for "Smoking".

[Guest areacode212]

Hmm, right now, I'm going through some Season 4 episodes ("Beep Beep" is playing on my Windows Media Player). I'm not so familiar with S1 since I haven't watched those in a while, but I guess I'll get started (after I finish studying for my calc test).

[Guest bob_barron]

Because just voting isn't enough- LET'S GO IN-DEPTH! (God I'm like Vince w/o the hot daughter)

 

Pilot: Eh. It's a funny episode but I can't vote for a show with no Joe Rogan. Bill is God as usual.

 

Inapproiate: Matthew: BUTT-a-fuco. BUTT-a-fuco. BUTT-a-fuco.

Jimmy James: Maybe if you had said it like that we wouldnt have lost three sponsors.

 

This episode also has great Lisa-Dave interaction, its the first time we ever got true Lisa-Dave arguing. Bill is God as usual.

 

Smoking: The first ever Bill McNeal centred episode!!! I liked the main plot but the subplot just didn't do it for me. Some great Bill quotes and Billisms. Bill is God as usual.

 

 

The Crisis: Matthew gets a desk! One of the first ever whole staff pissed at Dave things so its all like historic and stuff. Yay! Bill is God as usual.

 

Big Day: The scene where Bill and Joe sing Shaft to piss off Matthew is pure gold. Bill's arrogance really shines here and Lisa is awesome. Plus its got a great Jimmy-Dave scene at the end. Catherine outsmarting everyone was really funny. Bill is God as usual.

 

Luncheon at the Waldorf: I love that little blue dress. This episode started off fanstastic with Bill wooing Beth and him sparring with Lisa is always a classic. Dave questioning Catherine and Matthew also wins my vote. Beth kissing Bill just didnt work with me since they never really went anywhere with it. But Bill and Lisa bickering is always *****. Bill is God as usual.

 

Sweeps Week:

"Lisa- I got you a plain donut." Bill is God as usual. The second best episode of S1 by far. Janeane Garafalo as Nancy was a great guest star- she really jelled with the WNYX staff- wish they'd bring her back. It'd a triple shame she wasn't. The Dave-Lisa scenes are fantastic per the norm. Bill is God as usual.

 

 

Overall I'd rank them-

1.Inapproiate

2.Sweeps Week

3.Smoking

4.The Crisis

5.Luncheon at the Waldorf

6.Pilot

 

Bill is God as usual.

[Guest Mattdotcom]

Thanks, Bob. If you trade "Inapproiate" with "Smoking", you have my list.

[Guest bob_barron]

C'monnnnnn.

 

BUTT-a-fuco. BUTT-a-fuco.

[Guest C.H.U.D.]

I've never watched one episode.

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

I voted "Sweeps Week", on the strength of Tom P. Baxter's "computers are like magic" line and Bill's "wait, I want to hear about these com-poo-tors" line.

[Guest bob_barron]

Question- since all the other NR seasons had about 22 episodes isn't it a bit unfair that s1 episodes have it easier? Just wondering what we'll do about later seasons.

 

And vote Inapproitate. C'mon- just one more vote!

[Guest Mattdotcom]

Since only ten choices are allowed in a poll, the next seasons (which are full) will require two polls. The winners of each half-season poll will face off in one-on-one competition.

 

Make that "two" a "three" and I guess that's how we'll do it...

 

OR

 

I could draw two episodes from a season and do a special "Pot Luck" poll to determine a finalist....yes, that's delicious...that's how we'll do it. Thanks, Rob.

[Guest bob_barron]

Note to self: Learn to read.

 

(Must redeem embarassment)

 

Uhhh Undressed SUCKS!

[Guest The Fett]

Gotta go with the "Big Day". I love the scene where Matthew throws a hissy fit in Dave's office and takes a kleenex, crumbles it up, and throws it down like he's a badass.

[Guest Mattdotcom]

No, Bob! You can read just fine. I meant read the statement over and replace the "two" with "three". I guess that's what you meant...now, someone praise my idea!

[Guest bob_barron]

As Bill would say:

Is it cold in here or are you wearing an anatomically correct bra?

 

I mean uhhh

 

Kudos to you.

[Guest dreamer420]

i liked "sweeps week." garofalo rules.

[Guest bob_barron]

Oh come on.

 

BUTT-A-FUCO!

 

Oh bah- Sweeps Week was good too

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

i liked "sweeps week." garofalo rules.

And yet you didn't vote for that episode in the poll?

[Guest areacode212]

OK, so it looks like Bob and I were the only ones to vote for "Inappropriate".

[Guest bob_barron]

ONE MORE VOTE! ONE MORE VOTE! Someone c'mon.

[Guest Mattdotcom]

Less than thirty minutes...

 

Tomorrow: The Wild Card Poll!

[Guest bob_barron]

ooooooo Wild Card poll. Deliscious

 

Someone please vote Inapproiate.

[Guest Mattdotcom]

And voting is now closed on Season One, with "Smoking" becoming the first episode to advance to the finals. Thanks to all who voted, stoned or not.

[Guest bob_barron]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

[Guest dreamer420]

And voting is now closed on Season One, with "Smoking" becoming the first episode to advance to the finals. Thanks to all who voted, stoned or not.

was it wrong to vote stoned?

[Guest areacode212]

Man, I wouldn't have gone with "Smoking". "Big Day" would have been my #2 choice. In fact, it would have my top choice if it weren't for the "Buttafuoco" stuff in "Inappropriate".

[Guest Mattdotcom]

Was it wrong to vote stoned, you ask? No.

 

 

I ask...was it fun?

 

Don't answer...I'm off to make the Wild Card Poll!

[Guest dreamer420]

you know it was fun dude. i wish i would sit and watch all of these episodes before deciding though.