Not Necessarily the News
| Not Necessarily the News | |
|---|---|
| Created by | John Moffitt |
| Country of origin | USA |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | HBO |
| Original release | August 1983 – August 26, 1990 |
Not Necessarily the News (shortened as NNTN) is an American satirical sketch comedy series that first aired on HBO in September 1982 as a comedy special, and then ran as a series from 1983 to 1990. It was Conan O'Brien and Greg Daniels's first professional television writing gig. The show was considered an inspiration and a predecessor to future news satirical programs like The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Last Week Tonight, among others.
Synopsis
It featured sketches, parody news items, commercial parodies, and humorous bits made from overdubbing or editing actual news footage. It was based on the British series, Not the Nine O'Clock News. Not Necessarily the News was also the birthplace of Rich Hall's sniglets with a number of books that was also spawned.
Cast
- Anne Bloom (1982–1990), as Frosty Kimelman
- Rich Hall (1982–1990), who did a regular feature on "sniglets".
- Tommy Koenig (1982)
- Sam McMurray (1982)
- Audrie J. Neenan (1982–1985), as Jacqueline Pennell
- Danny Breen (1983–1990), as Steve Casper
- Mitchell Laurance (1983–1990), as news reporter Pete Kimelman.
- Stuart Pankin (1983–1990), as anchorman Bob Charles.
- Lucy Webb (1983–1990), as Helen St. Thomas
- Jan Hooks (1983–1984)
- Annabelle Gurwitch (1985–1990)
- Tom Parks (1989–1990)
Theme and episodes
The show's first theme song was the instrumental bridge of Eric Clapton's cover of "Motherless Children". It was switched to "Hooray For The City" by Jack Mack & The Heart Attack in 1985.
The series also spawned two specialized episodes that aired as occasional specials: Not Necessarily the Year in Review, and Not Necessarily the Sniglets.