Lateline

Genre:
Comedy, TV Series

Cast:
Vanessa Williams (Gueststar), Robert Foxworth, Miguel Ferrer

Co-Creators and Executive Producers:
Al Franken, John Franken

Timeline:
Done at end of ´98 to be released in the US on NBC, Spring 1999

Vanessa´s appearance:
Vanessa appears at one episode as a guest star. She plays just herself.

What´s special about this one:
This season (1999), "Lateline" will feature such political luminaries as Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, Senator John Kerry, former Senators Paul Simon and Alan Simpson, attorney Bob Bennett, and a return appearance by G. Gordon Liddy. Also making appearances as themselves are NBC's Conan O'Brien and Andy Richter, and actors Vanessa Williams, Rob Reiner and Martin Sheen.

"Lateline" Links:
Official Site from NBC
Internet Movie DataBase

Background Info:
"Lateline," an edgy comedy series set behind the scenes at a fictitious TV network's late-night news program based in Washington, D.C., provides a look at the pressure-cooker world of contending egos and personalities, as envisioned by Emmy Award winners Al Franken (NBC's "Saturday Night Live") and John Markus ("The Cosby Show"), who are the co-creators and executive producers.

The half-hour series offers a peek into the fractious workplace of "Lateline," a nationally broadcast news show that requires its colorful team of career newshounds and harried production staff to formulate a different topical theme or react to breaking events each weeknight.

The ensemble cast includes Franken as well-meaning correspondent Al Freundlich, who envisions himself as the torchbearer of the Edward R. Murrow flame of journalistic integrity; Gale Ingersoll (Megyn Price, "Common Law"), Freundlich's talented and savvy producer; and Vic Karp (Miguel Ferrer, "Twin Peaks") is "Lateline's" forceful and manipulative executive producer who thrives on beating the competition. Anchoring the newscast is veteran newsman Pearce McKenzie (Robert Foxworth, "Falcon Crest"), a preening peacock whose romantic escapades are infamous; Mona (Catherine Lloyd Burns, "Partners") serves as McKenzie's long-suffering, devoted assistant; Briana (Sanaa Lathan, "Miracle in the Woods") is the program's sardonic show booker; and overeager news intern Raji (Ajay Naidu, "SubUrbia") is always anxious to please.

Guest stars from "Lateline's" first season (which started in March 1998) included a host of familiar politicians, opinionated newsmakers and celebrities, all playing themselves. They include consumer activist Ralph Nader, Congressman and House of Representatives Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, Congressman Barney Frank, former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, astronaut James Lovell, TV personality Joan Lunden, televangelist Jerry Falwell and the McLaughlin Group.

"Lateline" is a production of Markus/Franken Productions in association with Paramount Network Television.