History Film / BroadcastNews

* {{Foreshadowing}}: During the Sandinista piece, Jane is upset at the idea that they might be staging a soldier putting on his boots (which the soldier thinks is ridiculous since it was half on anyway.) It foreshadows Jane's reaction to that Tom staging his tears for the interview.

'''Aaron:''' ''(on the mass firing at the news studio)'' This is one story they are not gonna cover. Of course, the network doesn't cover it then t must not be important. So, why worry?

'''Aaron:''' ''(on the mass firing at the news studio)'' This is one story they are not gonna cover. Of course, the network doesn't cover it. It must not be important so why worry?

-->''(on [[spoiler:faking tears for a news item]])''

-->'''Jane:''' You can get fired for things like that.
-->'''Tom:''' I've been ''promoted'' for things like that.

-->'''Aaron:''' ''(shocked0'' London?\\

* RankUp: When the news station has a mass firing, Paul tells Tom he's being shipped out to London. Tom thinks he's been ReassignedToAntarctica. GenrySavvy Aaron knows better.

* RankUp: When the news station has a mass firing, Paul tells Tom he's being shipped out to London. Tom thinks it's a ReassignmentToAntarctica. GenrySavvy Aaron knows better.

* ClusterFBombs: A mercenary who does not want to be interviewed by Aaron unleashes a string of f-bombs, followed by:

* PrecisionFStrike: A mercenary who does not want to be interviewed by Aaron unleashes a string of f-bombs, followed by:
-->'''Mercenary:''' You going to use that?.
-->'''Aaron:''' It depends on how slow a news day it is.

-->'''Aaron's Son:''' ''(which asked if he recognizes Tom)'' The Big Joke?

* KarmaHoudini: Even after the other main characters discover it, Tom never suffers any negative consequences from [[spoiler:manipulating a rape victim and orchestrating a piece to get himself promoted]]. Even Aaron and Jane [[EasilyForgiven seem pretty quick to pardon him.]]

* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: {{Lampshaded}} by Aaron in ''Film/BroadcastNews'' when Tom starts alliterating.

-->'''Jane:''' ''(scoffs)'' It's not a date! It's coworkers going to a professional conclave! [takes a box of condoms out of a paper bag and slips it into her purse]

-->'''Jane:''' [scoffs] It's not a date! It's coworkers going to a professional conclave! [takes a box of condoms out of a paper bag and slips it into her purse]

* InsufferableGenius: Aaron and Jane. Jane is aware of her pushiness, however. Well, mostly, anyway - though it could be her acknowledging she has an ego problem.

** An unbilled Creator/JackNicholson appears as Bill Rorish, the network's lead news anchor.

** An unbilled Creator/JackNicholson as Bill Rorish, the network's lead news anchor.

** An Creator/JackNicholson appears as the network's lead news anchor Bill Rorish.

* TheCameo: Creator/JohnCusack can be seen very briefly as a mail clerk.

A 1987 comedy-drama written, directed, and produced by Creator/JamesLBrooks, ''Broadcast News'' tells the tale of three television news people who get tangled in a LoveTriangle.

A 1987 comedy-drama written, directed, and produced by Creator/JamesLBrooks, ''Broadcast News'' tells the tale of three television newspeople who get tangled in a LoveTriangle.

A 1987 comedy-drama written, directed, and produced by Creator/JamesLBrooks, ''Broadcast News'' tells the tale of three television newspeople who get tangled in a LoveTriangle. At one vertex, producer Jane Craig (Creator/HollyHunter) leads her life in chronic emotional meltdown because of her obsessive-compulsive character. She's sexually attracted to but professionally repulsed by Tom Grunick (Creator/WilliamHurt), a simple reporter who landed his job solely on good looks and charisma. He only survives on live TV because Jane feeds him everything he needs to say through an earpiece. Meanwhile, the brilliant Aaron Altman (Creator/AlbertBrooks) dreams of reporting evening news but his un-telegenic looks hold him back both from his ambitions and his crush on Jane.