Writer: Kirk J. Rudell
Director: Andy Cadiff

Episode Length: 21:46

Guest Stars:

Rating: n/a

Rating:  TV-14 - D

First Broadcast: October 29, 1997

Storyline #1: Getting Soaked in an Election
As with any other public figure, the Mayor has written a book to cash in on his recognizability:  Winston on Winston.  But at the scheduled book signing,   no one shows.  The crowds instead flock across the street to New York shock-jock Drew West and his book signing.  Drew takes the opportunity to invite the Mayor on his show and rib him about the poor performance.  Most of the Staff is skeptical:  Drew is known for his rough edge and harshness, and the Mayor is not known for being able to defend himself on the fly.  However, Mike bites because he thinks it's a great publicity stunt.  On the show, the Mayor makes a tremendous showing, turning the tables on West numerous times.  Feeling humiliated, Drew decides to up the stakes and hold a mock election between him and the Mayor.  Everyone thinks this is a REAL bad idea now, but Mike is sucked in by his competitive nature.  Mike sends the Mayor on multiple publicity trips to gain support for the mock vote, including Regis and Kathie Lee.  However, Mike soon comes to realize that nothing can really be gained by the election and he tries to take the high road with Drew.  But the DJ will have none of that:  He dares Mike and Mayor Winston to jump in the Hudson to prove how much they love New York.  The dynamic duo comply and win over both the crowd and the election, although they both get hypothermia for their troubles.

Storyline #2: Water Boys Everywhere, But not a Drop to Date
Still being new to the office, Stacey wonders aloud why Nikki and Jannelle seem to be made up more whenever there's a water delivery scheduled.  Then she sees why.   Apparently, the water delivery guy is a "hottie".  Even Carter takes notice in him.  The girls begin to request water more often so they can have visits more often as the guys crack wise off to the side about the shallowness of the girls.   Carter tries to talk the girls down, that they are ruining their fantasy man.   But when the girls make one too many requests, Brent the water boy has enough and quits his route.

Review: Radio Daze

Overall, a populist episode.  Just as last week's episode threw in some drama, this episode went straight for the laughs.  And for the most part, all of them hit.   By the Storyline recap above, one can see that this episode was far more event driven and detail oriented than most, but the show pulled it off.  One look at the synopsis and everyone who's been alive the past 5 years know Drew West is supposed to be Howard Stern.  I don't live in New York myself, but I can't imagine there are too many other loudmouth, book-writing, bad-reputation, stripper-loving DJ's on the air.   Most would question why Howard just didn't appear as himself.  And the answer's obvious.  The producers probably asked and Howard declined because Drew doesn't win at the end.  Stern would never get involved unless he knew that he would be portrayed as the winner.

As for the Mike angle, it was a new take that made sense.  Yes Mike has always been driven by his desire to win, and this was just the next logical step.  I had just a hint of criticism that Mike would not automatically look towards the big picture (like he did last week on Carter's arrest), but when Mike got personally challenged, he stopped caring about the Mayor and looked to win himself.   (Seeing Mike get sucked into a potentially harmful event just because someone dared him seemed oddly familiar.  Are you sure he didn't say "Nobody calls me chicken!"?)  -  For those of you who don't get it, this was the same plot as Back to the Future II and III.

As for the other tale of the week, it's about time they start paying more attention to Stacey.  She's been on the show for 3 weeks and she never has had a "welcome to the staff" plot.  This one served as one dutifully:  Stacey learning from the other Staff women that there were sights to see at work.  And it was also nice for Jannelle to get more than her usual 2 lines per week.  As can be seen by the costumes worn by Jennifer Esposito, Stacey is definitely turning up the sexy woman quotient in order to attract more guys.  But they keep listing her as a guest star instead of adding her to the cast.  It seems the producers are leaving the door open for someone else just in case the ratings ruse doesn't work.  That would be too bad, because Stacey is becoming a fresh, interesting character.

Rating [5 pt. scale]: 4.5

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