This newsroom comedy from NBC was set behind the scenes at a Washington DC nightly newscast resembling ABC’s Nightline.
Al Freundlich (Al Franken) was the nerdy, clueless correspondent in horn-rimmed glasses who in his own mind represented the torch of journalistic integrity, while everyone around him considered him an idiot.
Others in the newsroom included Al’s savvy producer, Gale (Megyn Price) ; Vic Karp (Miguel Ferrer), their intense, sometimes sadistic executive producer; Pearce McKenzie (Robert Foxworth), the dapper, vain anchorman of Lateline; Pearce’s sycophantic assistant, Mona (Catherine Lloyd Burns); Briana (Sanaa Lathan), the wisecracking show booker; and Raji (Ajay Naidu), the unbelievably eager-to-please news intern.
Lending an air of reality were appearances by real Washington politicians as themselves, among them former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, gay rights proponent Candace Gingrich, consumer activist Ralph Nader, and the entire fractious McLaughlin Group.
Other guests playing themselves included Conan O’Brien, Regis Philbin, Kathie Lee Gifford, Jerry Falwell, and astronaut Jim Lovell
Al Freundlich
Al Franken Gale IngersoII
Megyn Price Vic Karp
Miguel Ferrer Pearce McKenzie
Robert Foxworth Mona Gullingsvard
Catherine Lloyd Burns Briana Gilliam
Sanaa Lathan Raji Bakshi
Ajay Naidu
Others in the newsroom included Al’s savvy producer, Gale (Megyn Price) ; Vic Karp (Miguel Ferrer), their intense, sometimes sadistic executive producer; Pearce McKenzie (Robert Foxworth), the dapper, vain anchorman of Lateline; Pearce’s sycophantic assistant, Mona (Catherine Lloyd Burns); Briana (Sanaa Lathan), the wisecracking show booker; and Raji (Ajay Naidu), the unbelievably eager-to-please news intern.
