NewsRadio season 5

This is a detailed list of "NewsRadio" episodes from the fifth and final season. See List of NewsRadio episodes for a complete list of all NewsRadio episodes.

Bill Moves On

* Episode No.: 5-1 (76)
* Production No.: 501
* US Airdate: September 23, 1998
* Written by: Paul Simms
* Directed by: Tom Cherones
* Recurring characters: Khandi Alexander as Catherine Duke

ummary

The staff members mourn Bill's death.
*Note: The cast could barely get through reading the script due to Phil Hartman's death. They broke down in tears several times while taping the episode.

Meet The Max Louis

* Episode No.: 5-2 (77)
* Production No.: 502
* US Airdate: October 7, 1998
* Written by: Josh Lieb
* Directed by: Tom Cherones

ummary

Dave hires Max Louis (Jon Lovitz) as Bill's replacement.

Lucky Burger

* Episode No.: 5-3 (78)
* Production No.: 503
* US Airdate: October 14, 1998
* Written by: Alan J. Higgins
* Directed by: Tom Cherones
* Guest stars: David Anthony Higgins as The Manager

ummary

Matthew determines to prove Max a fraud, while Lisa takes a job at a fast food restaurant to ferret out corruption.

Noise

* Episode No.: 5-4 (79)
* Production No.: 504
* US Airdate: October 21, 1998
* Written by: Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil
* Directed by: Tom Cherones

ummary

David and Jimmy become addicted to Joe's white noise box. Matthew comes to terms with Max, while Lisa feuds with him over "This Day in History."

Flowers for Matthew

* Episode No.: 5-5 (80)
* Production No.: 505
* US Airdate: October 28, 1998
* Written by: Mark O'Keefe and Ron Weiner
* Directed by: Tom Cherones

ummary

Joe's smart drink actually makes Matthew smart, but it can't last forever.

Notes

* The show previously referenced Flowers for Algernon in the episode "Arcade."

Jail (1)

* Episode No.: 5-6 (81)
* Production No.: 506
* US Airdate: November 4, 1998
* Written by: Tom Saunders and Kell Cahoon
* Directed by: Tom Cherones
* Guest stars: Patrick Warburton as Johnny Johnson, Langon Bensing as FBI Agent, David Basulto as Guard #1, Jeff Greenwald as Security Guard, Aaron Knight as Guard #1
* Recurring characters: Johnny Johnson

ummary

Jimmy is arrested as infamous hijacker D. B. Cooper. Johnny Johnson temporarily replaces Jimmy, but looks to make it permanent.

The Lam (2)

* Episode No.: 5-7 (82)
* Production No.: 507
* US Airdate: November 11, 1998
* Written by: Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil
* Directed by: Tom Cherones
* Guest stars: Patrick Warburton as Johnny Johnson, Spencer Garrett as G-Man
* Recurring characters: Johnny Johnson

ummary

Fugitive Jimmy hides out with Dave's parents. Johnny offers to stop being evil if Lisa will marry him.

Clash of the Titans (3)

* Episode No.: 5-8 (83)
* Production No.: 508
* US Airdate: November 24, 1998
* Written by: Josh Lieb
* Directed by: Tom Cherones
* Guest stars: Patrick Warburton as Johnny Johnson, Casey Sander as Prosecutor, Julius Tennon as Judge, Adam West as Himself
* Recurring characters: Johnny Johnson

ummary

Jimmy is cleared of all charges when Adam West confesses to the crime, but now has to fight to get his company back from Johnny.

Boston

* Episode No.: 5-9 (84)
* Production No.: 509
* US Airdate: December 9, 1998
* Written by: Alan J. Higgins
* Directed by: Tom Cherones

ummary

Max accidentally restores Lisa's Boston accent; Dave records an inspirational message for his high school.

Notes

Maura Tierney really was born in Hyde Park, Boston, like her character Lisa Miller.

Spooky Rapping Crypt

* Episode No.: 5-10 (85)
* Production No.: 510
* US Airdate: December 15, 1998
* Written by: Mark O'Keefe
* Directed by: Tom Cherones

ummary

Beth demands a profit sharing plan; Matthew discovers Lisa's Satanic cult through recovered memory therapy.

Stinkbutt

* Episode No.: 5-11 (86)
* Production No.: 511
* US Airdate: January 5, 1999
* Written by: Drake Sather
* Directed by: Tom Cherones
* Guest stars: Toby Huss as Jack Frost

ummary

Joe and Beth paint a mural; Lisa and Matthew wear the same outfit; Max fights with Jimmy's new security consultant.

Apartment

* Episode No.: 5-12 (87)
* Production No.: 512
* US Airdate: January 12, 1999
* Written by:
** Teleplay: Tom Saunders and Kell Cahoon
** Story: Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil
* Directed by: Skip Collector

ummary

Dave and Lisa fight over a new apartment. Joe puts up a webcam.

Towers

* Episode No.: 5-13 (88)
* Production No.: 513
* US Airdate: February 2, 1999
* Written by:
** Teleplay: Alan J. Higgins
** Story: Cliff Schoenberg
* Directed by: Judi Elterman

ummary

Jimmy plans to build gigantic J-shaped twin towers; Matthew transforms into a 70s punk to avoid dealing with his 30th birthday.

Hair

* Episode No.: 5-14 (89)
* Production No.: 514
* US Airdate: February 9, 1999
* Written by: Josh Lieb
* Directed by: Tom Cherones

ummary

Joe hypnotises Jimmy to cure his fear of hippies; Beth kidnaps Lisa's puppy.

Assistant

* Episode No.: 5-15 (90)
* Production No.: 515
* US Airdate: February 16, 1999
* Written by: Ron Weiner
* Directed by: Tom Cherones
* Guest stars: Tiffani-Amber Thiessen as Foxy Jackson

ummary

Dave and Joe fight over Lisa's new assistant; Jimmy redecorates the men's room and Beth fights for access to it.

Wino (1)

* Episode No.: 5-16 (91)
* Production No.: 516
* US Airdate: February 23, 1999
* Written by: Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil
* Directed by: Tom Cherones
* Guest stars: Patrick Warburton as Johnny Johnson, Alan Frazier as Bum
* Recurring characters: Johnny Johnson

ummary

Johnny Johnson returns--no longer evil, but now a wino--to ask for Lisa's hand in marriage.

Wedding (2)

* Episode No.: 5-17 (92)
* Production No.: 517
* US Airdate: March 2, 1999
* Written by: Tom Saunders and Kell Cahoon
* Directed by: Tom Cherones
* Guest stars: Patrick Warburton as Johnny Johnson, Alan Frazier as Bum, Paul F. Tompkins as Justice of the Peace, Jeb Barrows as Man in Black
* Recurring characters: Johnny Johnson

ummary

Dave tries to prevent Lisa from marrying Johnny.

Notes

* When NewsRadio finally gave NBC the wedding episode they'd been demanding, NBC made it their "spotlight show of the week."

Ploy

* Episode No.: 5-18 (93)
* Production No.: 518
* US Airdate: March 9, 1999
* Written by: Mark O'Keefe
* Directed by: Tom Cherones

ummary

Lisa hyphenates her last name; Max quits to get Beth's attention.

Padded Suit

* Episode No.: 5-19 (94)
* Production No.: 519
* US Airdate: April 13, 1999
* Written by:
** Teleplay: Ron Weiner
** Story: Mike Preister
* Directed by: Dave Foley

ummary

Matthew and Max learn Joe-jitsu, with the help of a padded suit. Meanwhile, Dave plans to fire someone, while Jimmy starts a crusade against Mother's Day.

Freaky Friday

* Episode No.: 5-20 (95)
* Production No.: 520
* US Airdate: April 20, 1999
* Written by:
** Teleplay: Josh Lieb
** Story: Brad Copeland
* Directed by: Skip Collector
* Guest stars: Wayne Federman as Randy Stark

ummary

Jimmy and Matthew switch places for a day; Beth is caught cheating a CD club; Max is banned from the break room.

Retirement (1)

* Episode No.: 5-21 (96)
* Production No.: 521
* US Airdate: April 27, 1999
* Written by:
** Teleplay: Joe Furey and Brian Kelley
** Story: Paul Simms
* Directed by: Judi Elterman

ummary

Jimmy announces he's selling the station to retire to New Hampshire.

New Hampshire (2)

* Episode No.: 5-22 (97)
* Production No.: 522
* US Airdate: May 4, 1999
* Written by:
** Teleplay: Sam Johnson and Chris Marcil
** Story: Josh Lieb and Paul Simms
* Directed by: Tom Cherones

ummary

Jimmy sells the station and retires to New Hampshire, and tries to take the WNYX staff with him.

Notes

* Paul Simms planned a sixth season built around Jimmy's new radio station and newspaper in New Hampshire, but the show was not renewed.

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