The Newsroom: Season 01 (1996)

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The first trial season of the satirical Canadian comedy series The Newsroom consists of six episodes, firmly establishing Toronto TV news director George Findlay (Ken Finkleman) as the top fly on the broadcast dungheap--a man who will do literally anything to get high ratings. In the opener, George auditions several hopefuls to be his personal assistant, with a girl named Kris (Lisa Ryder) emerging as the winner--or at least that's what she thinks until she spends a little time with her new boss. In subsequent weeks, dunderheaded news anchor Jim Walcott (Peter Keleghan) becomes fiercely protective of his turf when George hires a co-anchor; after promising to defend his coworkers against network budget cuts, George characteristically stabs everyone in the back to save his own hide; a movie writer attempts suicide, whereupon George manages to convert the tragedy into a 5-part news special; and a not-so-harmless remark aimed at a female talk show guest threatens to cost George his job. In the last of the six episodes, George not only insults actress Cynthia Dale, but also turns the newsroom inside out in his obsessive quest for the perfect bran muffin. Also appearing on The Newsroom this season are Jeremy Hotz as news-segment producer Jeremy, David Huband as weatherman Bruce Moffatt, and Julie Kahner as Sydney Dernhoff, the first in a long line of nominal bosses who try but fail to keep George in line. And in addition to the aforementioned Cynthia Dale, several other prominent Canada-based media personalities show up in cameo roles, among them actor Daniel Richter, columnist Linda McQuaig and Conservative pundit Hugh Segal. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi