Product Details

• Actors: Ken Finkleman, Mark Farrell, Tanya Allen, Peter Keleghan, Jeremy Hotz
• Writers: Ken Finkleman
• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 4
• Studio: Acorn Media
• VHS Release Date: September 14, 1999
• Run Time: 325 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1569382832
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #330,881 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the same vein as The Larry Sanders Show, The Newsroom exploits the foibles behind the scenes of a television program (this time a Canadian public newsroom rather than a talk show), using dark humor and incredible wit. Ken Finkleman stars as George Findlay, a news director with few morals, an affection for bran muffins, and a BMW constantly in need of repair. (One of the funniest running jokes of the series is his quarrels with his BMW dealer, who must submit to George's tasteless anti-German remarks; when the dealer refuses to send someone to pick up George's car in order to fix a broken window, George retorts, "Well, listen, you had no trouble sending people over to Poland.") Finkleman is supported by a wonderful cast, including a less-than-submissive intern (she refuses to run his errands), two producers who are happy to "alter" the news, and a somewhat clichéd anchorman who makes bubbleheaded on-air faux pas. This set contains all 13 episodes of the show. For those lucky enough to have seen The Newsroom on television, this is a wonderful chance to relive the hilarious moments. For those who have yet to see the program, this is the perfect opportunity to discover one of the most intelligent and clever television shows made. --Jenny Brown

From the Back Cover

When it comes to black humor, no show in television history has delivered more dark wit than The Newsroom, the critically acclaimed satire about network newsrooms from Ken Finkleman. In this 13-part series, Finkleman stars as the morally ambiguous news director George Findlay, who spends most of his time battling with his BMW dealer or sending a sullen intern in search of the perfect bran muffin. But this newsroom wouldn't be complete without its hilarious crew - the two comic, stand- up type producers, the self-absorbed anchor with the perfect coiffure - and a little office politics... oh, and there's even some fabrication of the news. "Ken Finkleman has become the brightest spot on Canadian television - and an American cult favorite." - Vanity Fair

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Newsroom" is sophisticated and wickedly funny satire., September 30, 2000

By 

C Ruiz-Esparza "PharOueste" (San Francisco, left of Albuquerque) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Newsroom, Vol. 1-4 Boxed Set [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If you love writing, acting and overall production like "Sports Night," "SCTV," and "Northern Exposure," you should feel your intelligence and funny bone rewarded with "Newsroom." What is it about Canadians that makes them so talented at very urbane parody and satire? They really know how to hit their target with just the right characterizations. Well, they got my attention big time with this series, which is now a part of my entertainment library.

Note: Somebody from Chicago told me that her cousin worked in the actual newsroom and offices where the series was filmed during working hours. I have this image of these stories being played out in the middle of the characters that inspired them. Funny is as funny does.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, March 7, 1999

By 

Jim Uomini (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Newsroom, Vol. 1-4 Boxed Set [VHS] (VHS Tape)

One of the best sitcoms of all time. Canadian television at its best. Excellent satire of tv news.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Series Ever, August 24, 2005

By 

all100accounts (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Newsroom - The Complete Series (DVD)

There's no good way to explain how brilliant the first season of The Newsroom is. It's sort of like The Larry Sanders Show meets The Office (BBC version).

It's a behind-the-scenes show -- the creator/writer/director/star is Ken Finkleman who plays the news director of a local Canadian TV station. The excellent supporting cast includes an anchor who out-Teds Ted Knight and some backstabbing writers and producers. These characters make the Seinfeld characters look like the cast of Full House. Their pettiness is sheer heaven to watch.

It's not a fast-paced show like Friends. It's deliberate and subtle. But it's also the best single-camera comedy ever put on TV. The shame of it is, it was only ever on Canadian TV. The second season is airing in the US (on PBS), but it's vastly inferior to this incredible first season.