The first episode is crammed with characters and stories. Beginning with former network anchor Neal Frazier (Harris Yulin), making more than $1 million and grabbing any nearby woman's thigh; Phil Morris as an overtly ambitious reporter; Dick Van Patten as a folksy weatherman; a job-hungry intern; a penny-pinching station boss; and Mariette Hartley as the superefficient executive producer, increasingly frustrated that she's being passed over for the news director slot. WNDY-TV is nicknamed "WIOU" by staffers who have seen ratings plunge. To the rescue is news director Hank Zaret (John Shea), who arrives just as an anchorman's death leaves three hopefuls vying for the job.