‘News’ delivers
Mom interns at daughter’s station in Tina Fey-produced sitcom
What if Mary Richards’ mother came to the newsroom and never left? That’s sort of the premise of a loopy, likable new NBC comedy from creator Tracey Wigfield and executive producer Tina Fey.
Katie (Andover native Briga Heelan, “Undateable”) is a producer for a national news show, “The Breakdown,” but she’s sick of having to do all the fluff segments, such as her latest — Halloween costumes for obese pets.
She has no greater fan than her mother, Carol (Andrea Martin, “SCTV”). They’re total BFFs. Carol even went to every day of third grade with her. Maybe a mistake? In a time of helicopter moms, Carol might be better described as an aircraft carrier mom.
At a funeral for a family friend, the pastor struggles to find something nice to say about the deceased, calling her “a licensed driver and a dedicated doctor —” (pause) “— Phil viewer.” Katie hears his ultimate message — pursue your life dream — like a warrior cry.
So does her mom, who shows up at her office as the show’s new intern. Ooh. Awkward. Carol has decided it’s her dream as well to work in television, and at 60, there’s no better time to start.
Like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “30 Rock,” the office brims with loons.
There’s bombastic anchor Chuck Pierce (Boston native John Michael Higgins, “Wilfred”), a cross between Bill O’Reilly and Ted Baxter. Coanchor Portia (Nicole Richie — yes, that Nicole Richie, best known from “The Simple Life”) is a millennial ditz who suggests such segments as why bathroom water is sweeter than kitchen water. Justin (Horatio Sanz, “Saturday Night Live”) is the nice guy video editor who can’t get anyone to pay attention to his odd extracurricular activities. Greg (Adam Campbell, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) is the British executive producer who uses Carol’s employment and presence to torment Katie.
There’s just one thing: No intern has ever lasted more than a few weeks. As Justin’s highlight reel shows, Chuck has a habit of firing them for perfectly inane reasons.
In another episode, Greg tries to get Chuck and Portia to banter on air, you know, like other coanchors. These two buffoons can’t even admit to breathing the same oxygen. Katie, meanwhile, chases down a story about an escaped bear all the while trying to keep her mom at bay.
There’s one more cast member worth noting. Wigfield recurs on her own show as meteorologist Beth, and she’s terrifying and hilarious. In one segment, she promotes a weather segment for 2018 in which climate change has turned the country into a roasted peanut.
Martin is a comedy treasure, and it’s a treat to see her have a showcase for her special crazy. “I can’t come in tomorrow. Two gays on my soap are getting married.”
Heelan brings a winsome quality to the role of a woman determined to make a career mark. One of the great threads running through “Great News” is that while Katie can become exasperated by her mother, she loves her dearly. Their moments range from silly to tender, but they are never nasty.
This just in: “Great News” is worth your time.