The first season of any television show has its ups and downs. It can be difficult to introduce the characters and their background while creating an interesting storyline moving forward. Great News shows promise in its first season but has some room for improvement. Here are the highs and lows of season 1.
Highs
The best part of the show so far has been the supporting cast. Nicole Richie and John Michael Higgins steal the show as the high maintenance hosts. Richie plays Portia, a self obsessed, oblivious television personality. Higgins plays Chuck, the aging co-host of Portia who is fighting to stay relevant.
Other supporting cast members include Horatio Sanz, Tracey Wigfield, and Brad Morris. Their characters are a positive addition to the wacky work environment at The Breakdown.
Andrea Martin is fabulous as Carol. Her storyline has also been fun to watch. Carol begins the season by going back to school and getting an internship at The Breakdown where her daughter works. Throughout the season Carol has overcame challenges during her internship and tried to balance being a mother and co-worker to Katie. It’s clear that Carol has big dreams for her future and it will be fun to see where they lead her in season 2.
Lows
It’s not 30 Rock. I know I shouldn’t compare the two, but it’s difficult. After all, Tina Fey is an executive producer, the show’s creator Tracey Wigfield wrote for 30 Rock and the background music even sounds the same thanks to Jeff Richmond composing. Even the plot is similar. A 30 something female struggles to run a show with two difficult celebrities. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, Great News isn’t exactly in the same league with 30 Rock…yet. Despite getting picked up for a second season, Great News still has some soul searching to do.
My main issue with the show is that I’m not completely invested in Katie’s storyline. I want her to succeed but there is something about her character that doesn’t feel genuine. Also, the whole “will they?” or “won’t they?” between Katie and Greg isn’t too suspenseful.
Bottom line, I’m rooting for this show. With a great supporting cast and plenty of opportunities for cameos, I’m hoping that the second season picks up the pace and that Great News finds its story.
