In a recent interview that ended for the Netflix sitcom Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, its co-creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock mentioned the premature cancellation of their other series, Great News. "That was heartbreaking great news review ," Fay said, "because Tracy Wigfield worked so hard in directing the show, the cast was so cute and funny, and we could run the show for seven seasons. , and it's going to be fun all the time."

Heartbreak is right. Because right now I'm stuck in big news purgatory watching 23 episodes of it over and over on Netflix. Why? because I like it? Why can't I have the heart to say goodbye? Because I hope my recurring viewings will somehow trigger the switch at Netflix HQ to bring it back to life? Yes all of the above.

I love big news. It's a slightly slower 30 Rock, a Kimmy Schmidt with the added bonus of internal logic. It's a show set behind the scenes of a cable news network just as cable news is eating itself. In Andrea Martin, it has one of the best sitcom performances of all time. This is awesome, I love it, and if it means we have new episodes, I'd love to sell my kidney to Netflix.

Executive producer Tina Fey provides us with a variety of comedians, and in fact, Martin's Carroll projects a no-nonsense feminine warmth that reads a bit like 25 years later. Liz Lemon. But compared to Lemon or Kimmy Schmidt (Ellie Kemper), Katie's role is harder to pin down and define. This ambiguity is also what sets "The Good News" apart: While "30 Rock" is an arc and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" remains obscure, "The Good News" is a bit vague. This is technically reflected in the clips, which are never sharp enough to be properly framed. "The Good News" has a bit of a multi-camera soul: the sets and content feel a little dated, and the show leans toward an '80s aesthetic with a bit of disorienting nostalgia and comfort (much like going back to visit your parents' house after you moved).

That said, once the show settles down, there's a lot of humor to flow. Higgins is a comedy treasure: Chuck works with Carroll as they are both (he feels) on the brink of being outdated, while he delivers raucous frustration with his decidedly empty and comical swagger. Richie as Portia, Jenna Moroney with unique enthusiasm: How many reality TV veterans can say "My mentor, Roger Ailes" with such grace? In one of the funniest moments on the show, Portia and Chuck hook up over lemonade, except when he talks about drinks, she talks about Beyoncé's album. Fortunately, they are all selfish and no one is smarter than them.

"The Good News" is a bit dated than the other shows Fey highlights, but it could get better. However, it goes against 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; among other things, "The Good News" has the feel of being shot in New York in the '90s but wasn't actually shot in New York, considering Fey's It's unpleasant how other shows use the cityscape so well. (A fake stone logo that says "CENTRAL PARK" is so hilariously designed that we're all back in time for the "Friends" pilot.) But it has a big warm ensemble that's starting to feel like a big family. Strange as the seasons progress. In the long run, that may be exactly what Big News hopes.