Not Necessarily the News
Encyclopedia
Not Necessarily the News was a satirical sketch comedy series that ran on HBO from 1983 to 1990. 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 sniglet
s.
It starred:
NNTN was Conan O'Brien
and Greg Daniels
' first professional television writing gig.
The show's theme song was the instrumental bridge of Eric Clapton
's cover of "Motherless Children".
The series also spawned two specialized episodes that aired as occasional specials: Not Necessarily the Year in Review, and Not Necessarily the Sniglets.
The series spawned a number of Sniglet
books.
Not the Nine O'Clock News
Not the Nine O'Clock News is a television comedy sketch show which was broadcast on BBC 2 from 1979 to 1982.Originally shown as a comedy "alternative" to the BBC Nine O'Clock News on BBC 1, it featured satirical sketches on current news stories and popular culture, as well as parody songs, comedy...
. Not Necessarily the News was also the birthplace of Rich Hall's sniglet
Sniglet
Sniglet is a neologism, popularized by comedian/actor Rich Hall during his tenure on the 1980s HBO comedy series Not Necessarily the News. Each episode of the monthly series featured a regular segment on sniglets, which Hall described as "any word that doesn't appear in the dictionary, but should"...
s.
It starred:
- Anne BloomAnne Bloom-Biography:Anne Bloom's television acting career began with an appearance on ABC's medical drama Marcus Welby, M.D. in 1974. A brief film career included the part of Peter Billingsley's mother in 1985's The Dirt Bike Kid, though she is probably best known for her role as television news...
(1983–1990), as Frosty Kimelman - Danny Breen (1983–1990), as Steve Casper
- Rich HallRich HallRichard "Rich" Hall is an American comedian, writer and musician.-Early life and career:Hall was born in Alexandria, Virginia and grew up in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He is part Cherokee Indian...
(1983–1990), who did a regular feature on "snigletSnigletSniglet is a neologism, popularized by comedian/actor Rich Hall during his tenure on the 1980s HBO comedy series Not Necessarily the News. Each episode of the monthly series featured a regular segment on sniglets, which Hall described as "any word that doesn't appear in the dictionary, but should"...
s". - Mitchell Laurance (1983–1990), as news reporter Pete Kimelman.
- Audrie J. NeenanAudrie J. NeenanAudrie J. Neenan is an American actress. She is best known on screen for her role as the raucous, abrasive madam Ray Parkins in the 1983 action film Sudden Impact and for playing judges in the TV series Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Lois Preston...
(1983–1985), as Jacqueline Pennell - Stuart PankinStuart PankinStuart Pankin is an American film and television actor.-Early life:Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.-Career:...
(1983–1985), as anchorman Bob Charles. - Lucy WebbLucy WebbLucy Webb is an American comedienne and actress, most famous for her work on the 1980s HBO series Not Necessarily the News.Webb has appeared in multiple films and television programs, including Corrina, Corrina, where she portrayed Shirl....
(1983–1990), as Helen St. Thomas - Jan HooksJan HooksJanet V. "Jan" Hooks is an American actress and comedienne best known for her work on NBC's Saturday Night Live , on which she appeared from 1986 to 1991...
(1983–1984) - Annabelle GurwitchAnnabelle GurwitchAnnabelle Gurwitch is an American comedic actress. She is best known as the original hostess of TBS's Dinner and a Movie. She is also a noted author and columnist and was most recently the host of Wa$ted! on Planet Green....
(1985–1990) - Tom Parks (1989–1990)
NNTN was Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
and Greg Daniels
Greg Daniels
Gregory Martin "Greg" Daniels is an American television comedy writer, producer, and director.-Life and career:...
' first professional television writing gig.
The show's theme song was the instrumental bridge of Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
's cover of "Motherless Children".
The series also spawned two specialized episodes that aired as occasional specials: Not Necessarily the Year in Review, and Not Necessarily the Sniglets.
The series spawned a number of Sniglet
Sniglet
Sniglet is a neologism, popularized by comedian/actor Rich Hall during his tenure on the 1980s HBO comedy series Not Necessarily the News. Each episode of the monthly series featured a regular segment on sniglets, which Hall described as "any word that doesn't appear in the dictionary, but should"...
books.