Savage News

Former CNN Chief White House correspondent Yellin skewers the male-dominated world of network news in her feisty debut. ATN reporter Natalie Savage has finally gotten her chance to cover the White House, but a long-term gig isn’t a done deal. Natalie’s nemesis is the vapid Ryan McGreavy, an ATN colleague whose connections make him a golden boy destined for network greatness. A ratings competition—it’s all about the ratings—pitting her against Ryan is proposed by Natalie’s boss for the ultimate prize: ATN’s White House correspondent job. With the help of her slightly obnoxious producer, Matt Walsh, and delightfully droll camerawoman Dasha, Natalie must hold her nose and swim with the sharks like her womanizing boss, deputy bureau chief Hal Thomas, nicknamed Handsy Hal, and go to increasingly ridiculous lengths to get to the top while keeping her journalistic integrity intact. A salacious scoop about the first lady might be her ticket to the big time, or the setup for a spectacular fall. Yellin shines a light on the bad behavior of powerful men while thoroughly mining her insider knowledge of Washington, D.C.’s social and professional scene. A keen eye for the absurd—one scenario involves Natalie enacting a first lady kidnapping scenario right out of a Hollywood blockbuster—keep things from getting too serious. Fans of comic heroines like Stephanie Plum will find plenty to like in this sharp and funny satire. (Apr.)