Onion News Empire

Onion News Empire is a fast-paced, humorous television show produced by Amazon Studios and debuted in 2013. Produced by the renowned satirical institution The Onion, the series makes a bold departure from the usual news satire format. Instead of direct comedic news skits, Onion News Empire takes its viewers behind-the-scenes of a fictional television news network. You might call it a satirical drama behind a satirical news organization. It's a bit like a myriad of backstage TV dramas, except everything is a farcical rendition of the world of broadcast news.

The series takes place within the bustling environment of the Onion News Network (ONN), a pretend global television news powerhouse with a reputation for delivering “fair and balanced” news, much like real-world industry giants. ONN is depicted as an all-controlling, gigantic news empire that operates under the motto "Dominating the World’s Information." The show's premise is a scathing commentary on the corporate controlled mass media.

Throughout Onion News Empire's narrative arcs, viewers are introduced to a richly diverse cast of characters, each brilliantly lampooning specific archetypes in the world of television news journalism. The main protagonist, played by Jeffrey Tambor, is an ambitious, hard-nosed veteran journalist who is somewhat past his prime. Tambor plays the wise and jaded Gray Salinger, a Pulitzer-winning reporter who seethes with resentment over his younger, less experienced, but prettier counterparts.

Then there is a fresh-faced journalism intern, represented as being naïve and idealistic when--to his initial horror--he discovers the farcical reality of the news world. The show presents an ominously aggressive executive, a charming but clueless anchor who is more concerned about his hair than the news he delivers, and an overly ambitious female journalist who is willing to go to any lengths to get a good story. The characters are exaggerated versions of new room archetypes, allowing for an added element of parody and critique.

Throughout its duration, Onion News Empire brilliantly utilizes the underlying concept of legitimate news broadcasting, using it as a platform to satirize not only the contentious global media industry but also general worldwide phenomena. The series does not flinch in addressing the ethical dilemmas and stresses journalists often face in their desire for ratings, viewer engagement, and scoops, addressing in a satirical manner how these can lead to the compromise of journalistic integrity in favor of sensationalism, a reflection of some real-world trends.

Despite being a comedy, Onion News Empire takes its mimicked universe seriously. It presents each episode as though mimicking the format and aesthetics of a drama series. It's not about punch lines or gags, but more about the situation and irony it presents. The show allows its biting humor and stinging commentary to naturally emerge from the authentic-seeming seriousness of its plot, characters, and scenery design. It builds up a significantly distinct environment that is instantly recognizable, yet subversively absurd.

The well-crafted dialogues and the exceptional performances by the cast lend verisimilitude to the Onion News Empire’s representation of the broadcast news industry. Adopting the same conventions as political dramas, but to comedic effect, the show finds absurd humour in the mundane and commonplace, be it the rivalry between news programs or the lengths a reporter will go to for a juicy scoop. It offers a unique blend of comedy and drama that has the potential to keep its audience entertained, engaged, and, most importantly, amused.

Furthermore, the sleek look, impressive production values, stylised cinematographic techniques, the dramatic music, and the outlandishly amusing graphics treat the viewers to a visually and sonically stimulating experience. This unique combination of biting wit, sharp visual styling, and thoughtful commentary on the news media industry is exactly what makes Onion News Empire a must-watch.

In essence, Onion News Empire is an exploration of news media satire to its fullest. It's clever, hilarious, thought-provoking, and an unflinching satirical take on the corporatization and sensationalism of news. For those who appreciate satire and a fresh perspective on the behind-the-scenes world of news broadcasting, the Onion News Empire offers an amusing and insightful viewing experience.