Lateline
an Episode Guide
by psiongco
Last updated:
Thu, 25 Oct 2018 21:00
Latelinean Episode Guide
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| aired from: Mar 1998 to: Mar 1999 | 19 eps, 7 unaired | NBC | 30 min | stereo | closed captioned |
regulars:
In 1998, Dateline, a NBC newsmagazine show, became a success and at one time spanned four nights a week on NBC. Ironically, one of the mid-season's comedy shows was named Lateline. The show's idea was to create a satire of ABC's Nightline by creating a sitcom that showed some humorous late night in-depth stories and the show executives and staff that work for the show. Saturday Night Live writer and producer Al Franken co-created, executive produced and is featured in the half-hour comedy series.
One of the distinctive qualities of this sitcom was the famous Washington political guests and future stars that appeared on Lateline to make it look exactly like Nightline. With news humor and "Technical Difficulties" moments, Lateline was one of many shows, for example Murphy Brown, that poked fun of journalism and broadcasting a national network show.
The show premiered as a 1998 mid-season replacement then was renewed as a mid-season show for 1998-99. With lackluster numbers in its return, it was canceled almost a year to the day of its premiere. In the summer after NBC cancelled it, the series was entirely shown on Showtime including its UNAIRED episodes.
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Production Credits
A Markus/Franken Productions in association with Paramount Network Television
Executive producers: John Markus and Al Franken
Creators: Al Franken and John Markus
Producer: Andy Ackerman & Tom Lofaro
Creative consultant: Earl Pomerantz, Dave Hackel, Anne Flett-Giordano, Chuck Ranberg, Ken Levine & David Isaacs
Staff writers: Andy Munsey, Geoff Rodkey
Editor: Briana London
Director of photography: Lennie T. Evans
Production designer: Eugene Lee
Casting director: Allison Jones
When Pearce McKenzie, anchor of Lateline, decides to retire, everyone in the country tries to find out who's the new anchor. When Al Freundlich is appointed, the network decides to step in. All of which is Pearce's publicity stunt to become the anchor with the highest salary in the country.
b: 17 Mar 98 pc: 001 w: Al Franken, John Markus d: Andy AckermanThe network and the world is finds out that Al is rumored to be the author of the book "Tangled Banners," a very controversial book. Gale decides to produce Kidline, a Lateline kid spin-off. One problem, can Pearce be the new anchor?
b: 24 Mar 98 pc: 002 w: Steve O'Donnell d: Andy AckermanSince Al gets sick with the flu, Gale has more time to spend with her boyfriend. Pearce starts to fall in love with Gale.
b: 31 Mar 98 pc: 004 w: Marty Weiss d: Jeff MehlmanOne day before airtime, no one has a story for the show. From an Internet source, Vic finds out that Buddy Hackett passed away and has an idea to do a late-breaking tribute to him. Soon all of the show was dedicated to Buddy Hackett and Al's union story was cut off. All goes well until the next day, they all find out that Buddy Hackett did not die.
b: 7 Apr 98 pc: 003 w: Al Franken, John Markus, Earl Pomerantz s: Stevel Lookner d: Andy AckermanPearce tries to get Al to give him tickets to an event that Julia Roberts is attending. Feeling that there is no future in Lateline, Gale auditions for a job at MFNSN.
b: 14 Apr 98 pc: 006 w: Al Franken, John Markus, Earl Pomerantz d: Ken LevinePearce agrees to do a charity function at Al's synagogue.
b: 21 Apr 98 pc: 005 w: Al Franken, John Markus, Earl Pomerantz d: Jay Sandrich| Back to TOP of Page |
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While doing local affiliate promotions, Pierce has been forced to do a ten-second fake news skit on the show Late Night With Conan O'Brien. Even with the disapproval of Mona, Pierce decides to do more funny "fake news" causing him to not focus on Lateline. Realizing his embarrassment, Pierce halts a planned skit with Conan and his sidekick Andy. Conan and Andy retaliate by making a talking dummy picture of Pierce. Pierce tries to stop the humorous bits about him, but is humiliated once again. Meanwhile, Vic tries to full Raji that he is not getting the bonus because someone in the office disapproves of him.
b: 6 Jan 99 pc: 010 w: Steve O'Donnell d: Leonard R. Garner Jr. NOTE: In real life, the talking picture skit on Late Night With Conan O'Brien uses a picture of President Clinton instead of Pearce's. The news desk of Lateline has been changed since last year to look a more of a replica like the news show ABC's Nightline new set with it's circular desk. The show is now aired on at Wednesdays at 9 p.m, instead of Tuesdays at 9:30 a year ago.Al investigates a story that causes him to go to prison, if he does not reveal the source. After an accident, only Gale and Al know the source. Vic sacrifices himself to go to prison instead of Gale leaving Al and Vic spending time in maximum-security prison. Gale feels sorry for Vic and tries to get the source on Lateline to testify in front of the source's own boss.
b: 13 Jan 99 pc: 009 w: John Markus, Earl Pomerantz s: Al Franken d: Leonard R. Garner Jr.Raji hides his buddy, an African revolutionary's son, in his apartment. When the African revolutionary's son cancels his appointment on Lateline, Raji is fired. Raji's replacement is a woman who happens to have a crush on Al.
b: 14 Jan 99 pc: 017 w: John Markus, Al Franken s: Steve O' Donnell, Earl Pomerantz d: Ken LevineAl and Raji go undercover to buy an illegal gun to show on Lateline. Unfortunately, the camera was not on. So they go undercover live and try to buy and show numerous illegal guns on the air. After the sellers find out that Al is undercover, G. Gordon Liddy helps Al out when the probe of gun control goes sour. Meanwhile, Vic's daughter mentions to Gale that Vic says he loves her.
b: 20 Jan 99 pc: 013 w: Cindy Collins, Billy Kimball d: Tom MoorePearce's mistress seeks revenge after catching him cheating. The mistress seeks revenge by seeing Raji in secret. As gossip goes around the newsroom, everyone tries anything to keep the news from spreading to the head anchor Pearce.
b: 27 Jan 99 pc: 007 w: Al Franken, John Markus, Earl Pomerantz d: Andy AckermanGale forces Vic to admit to having no social life, and convinces him to go on a date while she executive produces Lateline. For her show, she sends Al to an old age home and Raji to a college dorm to produce a show on Social Security. Problems occur including Pearce refusing to anchor the show because Vic is not running it. Can she pull everything together at the last minute, even without an anchor?
b: 16 Mar 99 pc: 012 w: Kimberly Hill d: Tom Moore NOTE: Since they debuted World's Amazing Videos on Wednesday, NBC moved Lateline to Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m.When Al prepares a news piece on the Moral Coalition's annual "Road to Victory Celebration," Pearce insists that Vic and Brianna book media savvy Grant Kendall (Brian Van Holt), the wunderkind of the Coalition. Vic assigns the story to Gale and suggests she "use her womanly charm" to book Kendall on the show. Gale not only falls for his charm, but uncovers some damaging information that could ultimately destroy his image.
b: UNAIRED pc: 008 w: ______________ d: ______________ NOTE: This episode was planned for 23 Mar 99. NBC has cancelled the show and has no plans on renewing it.Pearce is disconcerted when he finds his assistant Mona dating his financial adviser and mixing in his elite social circle.
b: UNAIRED pc: 011 w: Cindy Collins d: Leonard R. Garner Jr.Handsome newcomer Ken Pruitt has his eye on Pearce's anchor chair.
b: UNAIRED pc: 014 w: ______________ d: ______________After accidentally killing Pearcešs favorite horse Paycheck during a weekend stay at his country home, Gayle is determined to get Pearce to grieve. Al argues with an audience focus group that wants him to change his "scowling owl" image.
b: UNAIRED pc: 015 w: Chris Downey, Steve O'Donnell d: Ken LevinePearce wants to secure the services of hotshot agent Connie Davis and tells Victor to get him on the show. When Connie takes a shine to Brianna, Victor persuades her to date Connie, a decision he feels increasingly guilty about. Al gets caught up in the manhunt for a meat factory bomber.
b: UNAIRED pc: 016 w: Marty Weiss d: Ken LevineVictor is forced to hire Pearce's spoilt Euro-bimbo girlfriend Ulli. While she's supposed to be looking after the show's guests, Ulli manages to alienate all the staff and the evening's interviewees which leaves Pearce having to fill time with Al discussing the demise of Al's favorite raisin nut roll.
b: UNAIRED pc: 018 w: Al Franken, Earl Pomerantz s: John Markus d: Barton DeanA Lateline special tells how Al was hired to play a correspondent in a blockbuster disaster movie directed by Rob Reiner but, due to his constant interruptions about the accuracy of the script, manages to shut down the picture.
b: UNAIRED pc: 019 w: Al Franken, John Markus, Earl Pomerantz d: Bob Balaban| Back to TOP of Page |
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Thanks to chriszme for titles and production codes for the remaining unaired episodes.
Thank you to Ian Johns (im.johns@virgin.net) for making this a better complete guide by submitting additional information and corrections to every single show. In my defense, in 1998, NBC started showing credits at the edge of the screen and the letters blurred together. Ian Johns was even able to get all of the UNAIRED episodes that were shown on cable.