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May 26, 2012

Action News -- A look at the pilot script

by Anna Johns, posted Apr 11th 2007 12:37PM

patricia heaton; kelsey grammer; action newsI used to work in a television newsroom, which is why I was interested in getting a sneak peek at the script for Action News. Fox has picked up the pilot for the fall season and has attached stars Fred Willard, Patricia Heaton, and Kelsey Grammer (and possibly Nate Corddry, but I'll get to that in a minute). The premise for the multi-camera sitcom is that egotistical anchorman Chuck Tatham (Grammer) has returned to his old stomping grounds of Buffalo, NY to reunite on-air with his former co-anchor, Patty Carr (Heaton).

I found some of the characters to be rather stereotypical but, sadly, also reminiscent of people with whom I have worked (so I guess there's a reason for that stereotype). For example, main anchor Chuck Tatham has the usual big ego, the womanizing ways, and the boisterous attitude around the newsroom. The veteran reporter character reminds me of Albert Brooks' character in the movie, Broadcast News, because he wants so badly to sit in the anchor chair. There's also the hot-but-not-so-smart weather chick who is somewhat stereotypical, but something happens to her in the pilot that makes her stand out a bit.

The writers break out of the stereotypes, I think, with supporting characters like Marsh McGinley (Willard), the sports anchor who never learned about political correctness. You can see that role is specifically written for Willard, and I found myself laughing out loud at a few of his lines. Also, there's the young News Director, Nate Resnick, who gets walked all over by his newsroom staff. The role is listed as Nate Corddry, but appears to just be wishful thinking on the writers' part.

The pilot definitely reads well-- better than the actual pilot of 'Til Death and that's still on the air. I'm just not so sure about sitcoms and laugh tracks these days. I prefer my comedy single-camera style.

*UPDATE: Fox has changed the title of this sitcom from Action News to Back to You. Makes sense, actually.

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Mike

I thought this show was going to be set in Pittsburgh?

April 11 2007 at 5:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
erroneous_nick

I'm really hoping this is a good show and also hoping an overdone laugh track doesn' t kill the enjoyment. I'm keeping an open mind and a wait-and-see attitude.

April 11 2007 at 2:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave

How I Met Your Mother has the laugh track going and it's an excellent show, but it has always seemed to me (especially at the beginning) as a pretty subdued laugh track. Maybe that's just me hearing what I think I want to hear...or maybe it's true. Anyone else get that impression?

April 11 2007 at 2:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
justin

After reading the I'm in Hell script early today, and reading this headline, I was looking forward to actually getting a look at his script, but I guess we'll just have to take your word for it.

As far as laugh tracks vs. single camera style, I think they can both be done well, we just don't see enough good sitcoms these days to display how enjoyable laughing, alone along with a studio audience, can be.

April 11 2007 at 1:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jimmy

I'm playing the wait-and-see game with this one. I think both Grammer and Heaton are great actors and realy good in comedy. Even though I grew to dislike both of their previous characters both are talented at what they do. Where I think the show will fail is if the characters themselves are just Frasier Crane and Debra Barone transplanted to a newsroom. If Heaton is going to be playing another ball-busting shrew I'll get bored quick.

April 11 2007 at 1:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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