Maddy Madison never imagined that her Columbia University
journalism degree would lead her to five long years of "if
it bleeds, it leads" TV news on a local San Diego station.
Besides being assigned sensationalist and sometimes
fabricated stories about lipstick that kills and deadly
dishwashers, Maddy also must write segments for a
narcissistic news anchor.
As if work wasn't bad enough, when her parents separate and
face dual mid-life crises, Maddy is left to mentor her 16-
year-old sister, Lulu, who seems increasingly into skipping
school, wild parties and maybe even drugs. Following a tip,
Maddy discovers drug smugglers operating through a tunnel
from Mexico. With help from Jamie Hayes, the attractive
(but engaged) new photographer at the station, Maddy sets
off south of the border to investigate.
As Maddy's increasingly inappropriate relationship with
Jamie escalates, so does the wild behavior of her younger
sister. And even if Maddy gets the proof she needs for her
drug exposé, her network isn't interested in running the
story. Maddy went into television news to make a
difference, but now that she's got the NEWS BLUES,
something big is going to have to change.
This fascinating and fun look behind the scenes at
television news is straight from the imagination of a two-
time Emmy-award-winning news producer. Marianne
Mancusi creates some great characters; I would be glad
to work with any of them (if I was in television). The
balance of family and career in the story is both realistic
and entertaining. This light-hearted romance has a serious
side though, in addressing issues of drug addiction and in
revealing how our news and the advertising that supports
the news may be more closely related than we think!
Overall, NEWS BLUES gave me a glimpse of television news
production along with an intriguing investigation and a
satisfying romance.
TUNE IN
All 27-year-old Maddy Madison wants is a cute guy, a
designer handbag and to work at Newsline. What she has is a
dead-end job at News 9 San Diego, a psycho boss and a
counterfeit Kate Spade. One with a badly glued-on label.
Oh, and no guy.
TURN ON
Just when Maddy’s sure her days of producing
sensationalistic puff pieces will never end (“Perilous
Pets!” “Deadly Dishwashers!” “Clay that Kills!”) she’s
offered a promotion. She’s now an investigative producer —
and that’s not all; she’s also partnered with the station’s
newest photographer: sexy, motorcycle-riding bad boy and
former moviemaker Jamie Hayes. But every silver cloud has a
stormy lining. Her new job is with News 9’s narcissistic
anchor, Terrance Toller; Jamie’s getting married (not to
her); and reporting the truth is about as easy as watching
your divorced parents get remarried (not to each other).
TAKE OFF
So, how does Maddy get to produce real news, bag her boss
and win her man? Stay tuned. It’s the story of a lifetime.
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