Not Necessarily the News Season 1 Episodes

Episode 0

Not Necessarily the News

Mon, Feb 22, 1982

Episode 1

January Edition

Mon, Jan 3, 1983

First regular episode with the familiar original cast (Anne Bloom, Danny Breen, Rich Hall, Mitchell Laurance, Audrie Neenan and Stuart Pankin). Introduces popular features of the show including: sight gags in the lavatory, highway slapstick with background music, funny footage with politicians and the introduction of SNIGLETS (Words that should be in the dictionary but aren't). Audrie Neenan introduces her news anchor character Jacqueline Pennel, and Stuart Pankin introduces his character, the chief anchorman of NNTN; Bob Charles. Additionally, Stuart does his first skit as "Lenny Slatkin", the president's joke writer.

Episode 2

February Edition

Tue, Feb 1, 1983

Includes "Those Healing Bloopers", "Crowded Hospitals," funny politically dubbed footage from a B-movie called "Tennessee's Partner" starring Ronald Reagan and a spoof of the mini-series "The Winds Of War." First broadcast in February, 1983. The tunes "Roll On Down The Highway" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive and "Whammer Jammer (Live)" by The J. Geils Band appear in the gag sequences.

Episode 3

March Edition

Wed, Mar 2, 1983

Plenty of gags featuring politicians like Richard Nixon, Tip O'Neill and of course; Ronald Reagan. Also included are "Sniglets" (a regular feature of the show). Series regulars were Anne Bloom, Danny Breen, Rich Hall, Mitchell Laurance, Audrie Neenan, and Stuart Pankin. During the gag sequence where President Reagan is swimming as the secret service bumble around, the music playing is "I'll Just Pick" by The Dregs. This track is included on their 1981 album "Unsung Heroes" (yes, they were formerly called The Dixie Dregs, the same band led by guitarist Steve Morse).

Episode 4

April Edition

Fri, Apr 1, 1983

Some gags featuring cardboard motorcycle cops; a running gag showing two young lovers running towards each other on the shore and never quite following through. Audrie Neenan introduces her tough-as-nails anti-environmentalist "Dioxin Dolly." Some airplane humor. Unofficial regular cast member-writer Ron Richards appears as the frightened man on the plane. There are two unusual features: First, Stuart Pankin does not portray his iconic Bob Charles (at least, on camera), and, perhaps most surprisingly, there are no SNIGLETS presented. However, each regular cast member has their fair share of time.

Episode 5

May Edition

Sun, May 15, 1983

Stuart Pankin plays an airline pilot as if he were a cab driver, and there are some funny SNIGLETS on this one. More footage from NNTN's favorite Reagan movie ("Tennessee's Partner") and one of the funniest press conferences of the whole series. Series regulars are: Anne Bloom, Danny Breen, Rich Hall, Mitchell Laurance, Audrie Neenan and Stuart Pankin.

Episode 6

June Edition

Sun, Jun 5, 1983

Funny gimmicks featuring religious and political figures of the early 1980's; and a funny little bit about Margaret Thatcher. At least 3 airline gags, a retrograde satire set to a song by Peter Allen, and a hilarious sketch where Danny Breen auditions to be a Richard Nixon impersonator. Series Regulars are: Anne Bloom, Danny Breen, Rich Hall, Mitchell Laurance, Audrie Neenan and Stuart Pankin. Note that the music playing while Anne Bloom flirts with Reagan is "Broad Street Strut" by The Dixie Dregs, from their 1980 album "Dregs Of The Earth."

Episode 7

Episode #1.7

Fri, Jul 1, 1983

Episode 8

Episode #1.8

Mon, Aug 1, 1983

Episode 9

Episode #1.9

Thu, Sep 1, 1983

Episode 10

Episode #1.10

Sat, Oct 1, 1983

Episode 11

Episode #1.11

Tue, Nov 1, 1983

Episode 12

Episode #1.12

Thu, Dec 1, 1983

Episode 13

Episode #1.13

Thu, Dec 1, 1983

1983 - the Year in Review