Ken Finkleman
Director
The Newsroom (1996)
Season 1
The half-hour comedy is set in the tumultuous TV newsroom world of George Findlay. The overbearing regional news director is solely motivated by casualty statistics which will improve his ratings.
Released Oct. 21, 1996
Episode 24 min
17+
Keywords: imdb.running-gag, imdb.news-satire, imdb.malcontent, imdb.news-anchor, imdb.vulgarity, imdb.muffin, imdb.canadian + 5 more, imdb.canadian-stereotype, imdb.intern, imdb.satire, imdb.satire-comedy, imdb.dark-comedy
Production Companies: CBC
Network: CBC Television
S1E1 - The Walking Shoe Incident
George needs to hire an assistant to take care of such pressing matters as returning his shoes and fetching bran muffins. But he faces a dilemma; should he hire the qualified African-Canadian lesbian or the inexperienced yet attractive ski bunny?
Oct. 21, 1996, midnight
S1E2 - Dinner at Eight
When a sexy new co-anchor is hired to bring life back to the show, Jim feels threatened. He turns to George, who supports him pharmaceutically. However, when the ensuing power shift starts to affect George, it's time to fight dirty.
Oct. 28, 1996, midnight
S1E3 - Deeper, Deeper
Cutbacks are coming to the network; but who will it be? George vows to 'go to the wall' to save jobs but everyone knows someone has to go. Back-stabbing, clandestine job hunts, prostitutes and religious conversions prevail.
Nov. 4, 1996, midnight
S1E4 - The Kevorkian Joke
When failed screenwriter Shane threatens suicide on tape, George turns it into a ratings booster. Also, a killer virus in Zaire could be hitting town - maybe even the newsroom.
Nov. 11, 1996, midnight
S1E5 - A Bad Day
George is having a bad day: he’s in trouble for hitting on a woman half his age, he made derogatory comments about Mr.Dressup, he offends Linda McQuaig (as herself) and she walks off the show, suicidal Shane is back, his BMW needs a new muffler, and Jim tells more than he should to a documentary crew (led by Dan Redican).
Nov. 18, 1996, midnight
S1E6 - Petty Tyranny
George's quest for the perfect bran muffin leads him to the cafeteria where he starts a fight with the cook. Later, he offends one of the country's top stars, Cynthia Dale (as herself), who is observing the newsroom as research for a role in a film.
Nov. 25, 1996, midnight
S1E7 - Dis and Dat
George's quest for an indoor parking spot is thwarted when the Corporation hires Gillian Soros (Elisa Moolecherry) as the new head of regional programming. Gillian has definite ideas about George and the Toronto News.
Feb. 10, 1997, midnight
S1E8 - Unity
George is annoyed when his name is left off the Globe and Mail list of government employees who make over $100,000 per year. Lise Leger (Guylaine St. Onge) appears on Toronto News with Linda McQuaig (as herself) to discuss the Canadian unity situation. Lise is inexplicably attracted to Jim.
Feb. 17, 1997, midnight
S1E9 - Parking
George’s crusade for an indoor parking space continues, George’s paranoia surfaces after he receives a mysterious and vague voicemail and his office couch disappears. He immediately assumes the worst: the Corporation wants him gone.
Feb. 24, 1997, midnight
S1E10 - Meltdown (1)
When there is a potential nuclear accident only hours away, each of the newsroom staff react in their own way. David Cronenberg (as himself) is a guest on Toronto News to promote his latest film 'Crash’.
March 3, 1997, midnight
S1E11 - Meltdown (2)
With the potential nuclear meltdown approaching, George’s priority is finding the right experts and analysts while trying to make them real but entertaining.
March 17, 1997, midnight
S1E12 - Meltdown (3)
Unable to deal with the potential of how own death, George goes to into denial and can't cover the impending nuclear meltdown story.
March 24, 1997, midnight
S1E13 - Campaign
After the collapse of public broadcasting, Jim runs for political office in a provincial election, George and some of the newsroom staff manage the campaign in this one hour series finale.
March 31, 1997, midnight
CBC Television
24 min/ep
772 min
Oct. 21, 1996
March 28, 2005, midnight
Ended
TV-MA / 17+
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