The Second Season

Beth, feeling that the romantic flame is flickering with her ‘long distance’ boyfriend, decides to re-ignite the passion by sending nude photos of herself to her beau in London, which in turn starts a fiery argument between Lisa and Dave over their own amorous adventures. Meanwhile, Joe suspects that one of his WNYX co-workers is stealing his beloved frozen gelato from the office freezer every day.

Jennifer: Watching this episode is like hanging out with a bunch of good friends. NewsRadio found its rhythm in installments like these, where no guest stars or gimmicks were necessary, just good old office goings-on and the cast comfortably playing their parts. The main storyline is easily one of the most prominently risque that NewsRadio has done, and while I tend to think that sitcoms make far too much use of sex as an easy way to get laughs, the tired plotline of rejuvenating a familiar couple's sex life is actually given a creative spin here, namely Dave's complete inability to take Lisa's concerns seriously.

Adrian: A showstopper of an episode. By now you can sense that they really knew where they wanted to go with the show. Most importantly, it’s all so efficiently perpetrated that it is easy to underestimate the amazing wealth of invention here. There are so many standout moments but la crème de la crème:

a. Beth shows nudie photos of herself with a paper bag over her head to Bill
b. Lisa bursts into Dave’s office and asks, "Have you ever taken naked pictures of yourself?" — but whom is Dave talking to?
c. An elegant sight gag: In the middle of a conversation, Lisa and Beth open the freezer door, triggering an alarm that Joe has set; they nonchalantly put their hands up until Joe comes in to close the freezer door;
d. What really turns Dave on?

This and the following episode ("Goofy Ball") were written by Paul Simms, who, along with being the show's creator and visionary, really was the show's best writer. It was Simms' habit to write the first one or two episodes of each season, and this really set the tone for the other writers for the rest of the season. The standard he set included a stunning array of elegantly original and inventive gags, many of them visual. Simms' episodes also seemed to consistently ride closest to the edge, and yet they were still the most balanced. NewsRadio fans tend to nominate other episodes as their favorites, but I suspect that in the long run (i.e., years from now when we are watching NewsRadio episodes for the hundredth time) it will be Simms' episodes such as "Pilot," "Inappropriate," "No, This is Not...", "Goofy Ball," "The Breakup," "Injury," "President," "Daydream," "Jumper," "Pure Evil," "4:20" and "Bill Moves On" that hold up as the most fascinating.

Joe continues his attempts to find Dave a date in New York City, as he thinks that Dave hasn’t had any luck with romance since he arrived at WNYX. Much to Dave’s surprise and Lisa’s chagrin, Joe introduces Dave to some beautiful fashion models who are in the building for a photo shoot. Meanwhile, Bill thinks he’s being stalked by a crazed fan (guest star Dennis Miller of Dennis Miller Live) and Jimmy introduces the staffers to "the goofy ball," a new toy from a company he recently bought, which turns the office into a silly playground. Alison Brahe, Wendy Hamilton, Elisabeth Sjoli and John Pappas guest star.

Jennifer: It's a neat trick to see how the Goofy Ball of the title, a children's toy, is weaved into the background of the entire episode, adding to the comedy of an already solid set of laughs. Throwing the jealousy curveball into Dave and Lisa's relationship works well, and the scene where Beth sits in on their argument is a particular highlight. (So is Lisa telling a statuesque model to, "uh, leave.") Bill's stalker subplot is also good stuff, but runs out of steam when Dennis Miller shows up to resolve it. Not that I dislike Miller, but his cameo here is a little grating, a little distracting, and a little confusing.

Adrian: This episode has a very good plot for Bill, but its main strength is that it is one of the strongest of all Dave-Lisa episodes. There is incredible interplay between Dave, Lisa, the models, Joe and finally Mr. James. I make great mention of the Dave-Lisa-Bill triumvirate that was later developed, but the first great triumvirate was Dave-Lisa-Jimmy. This latter combination made use of the complexity of Stephen Root's comedic style, propels itself along with the efficiency of Maura Tierney's comedic style, and highlights itself with Dave Foley's psychological comedy to create sustained sequences of comedic brilliance. The Dave-Lisa-Jimmy sequence at the end of "Goofy Ball" is the first step in a long series that would have its high points in "The Trainer" and "Beep, Beep"

The WNYX staffers have grown attached to an office pet, a rat named Mike, but when rat traps are set up in the office the group is adamant about saving the life of their beloved pet. Later, when Mike’s lifeless corpse is found in a trap, the staff holds a funeral at the office with Bill delivering the eulogy. Meanwhile, since Dave is the only member of the staff who doesn’t have feelings for Mike, he feels like an outcast among the group and tries to examine why his staff perceives him as a cold and heartless person.

Jennifer: There's a scene in this episode that makes it for me. In it, the staff (minus Mr. James) is sitting at a bar, reminiscing about their pets after having spent the day saying goodbye to the office rat(s). It's an effective way of incorporating most of the cast, which is always a treat, and it provides a rare peek at away-from-work bonding among the staff. Oh yeah, and for my money, it's the funniest scene in the half-hour. The rest of the episode has plenty of laughs, but it seems a little off. Perhaps it's the animal focus, which, call me cold and heartless, bores me, or perhaps it's the sudden insinuation that Dave is cold and heartless, which is mined for everything it's worth.

Adrian: There is strong Dave-Bill interaction here. The best turn is that it is Bill McNeal spouting humane erudition and Dave who is accused of being heartless. While not the deepest or most exciting of episodes, its position is more important in the context of the whole NewsRadio schema, for this is the first episode where we really get a sense of the WNYX ‘family.’

Dave and Lisa have a fight, and the staff finally finds out about their secret romance, leading to considerable embarrassment. Meanwhile, birthday-sensitive Catherine seeks revenge when Bill announces her special date on the air.

Jennifer: As much of a landmark episode as this is for Dave and Lisa (the staff finally finds out about their romance), it’s Catherine and Bill’s ongoing feud that catches fire and benefits from a lack of exploration thus far. Marvel in Khandi Alexander’s agility in switching from sweet to calculating in nanoseconds and Phil Hartman playing up Bill’s obvious joy in the game. I can’t think of anything to fault this one for.

Adrian: This is the episode where the rest of the staff finds out about Dave and Lisa. Their embarrassment at the revelation works especially well comedically through the strength of Maura Tierney’s moral turns and inevitably leads to Bill’s eloquent comment, "Oh my, how delicious!" As such, this will forever be a favorite episode for those who take particular delight in the Dave-Lisa relationship. The episode also features the Bill-Catherine relationship at its best — namely with an edge of danger. Matthew also has some very effective moments acting as a change-up in both storylines. Similarly, the subtlety of Joe Rogan’s performance in this episode in setting up the comedy for Dave and Lisa should not be overlooked.

When office tension among WNYX staffers hits an all time high, Jimmy brings in therapist Dr. Frank Westford (guest star John Ritter) to help revive group morale. However, it seems that Dr. Westford and Lisa have shared a past relationship, causing Dave to feel even more threatened by the doctor’s presence. Bill’s method of relaxing — constructing a private cubicle — upsets some of his co-workers.

Jennifer: A raucous episode featuring John Ritter as Dr. Frank, the shrink who is inordinately favoured by the staff much to Dave’s chagrin. While he plays the magic man, Dave experiences jealousy, frustration, resentment, and even a little bit of anger. In doing so the much-loved doctor is a very effective character for Dave to respond to. However, the episode eventually ends up in rather crude territory while attempting to provide Dave with some reassurance as it illogically turns Dr. Frank into a cartoonish lecher.

Adrian: Bill and Dave’s parts make this episode work. Although a good episode, the writers make one serious mistake here. Lisa having a sordid past affair with Dr. Frank Westford is an anti-moral move — it compromises the moral power of Lisa Miller. Sometimes not understanding the deepest nature of your art can be dangerous, and the writers’ mistake here is similar to the errors they made in season five. Wisely, when they were to deal more heavily with the Stewart plot line later in the season they never made even the faintest direct mention of Lisa and Stewart sleeping together (nor for that matter did that happen with Lisa and Johnny Johnson).

Dave hires a temp to help Beth with some work, but when Beth realizes that it is her childhood friend Sandi (guest star Bebe Neuwirth, formerly of "Cheers" and "Sweet Charity") she surprisingly asks Dave to immediately fire her. Meanwhile, a perplexed Bill runs into trouble with building security guards (guest stars Tone Loc and Toby Huss) when he repeatedly forgets to bring in his I.D. card.

Jennifer: This episode has always been a personal favorite, due in no small part to a terrific performance by one of Broadway's finest, Vicki Lewis's pal Bebe Neuwirth as Sandi Angelini. Beth and Sandi's rivalry is divine, and escalates to a climax I won't spoil. Even the B-story, involving Bill being hassled by a couple of security guards (played by Tone Loc and Toby Huss), while slight, is hilarious. This is TV comedy at its finest.

Adrian: "Friends" is one of the best examples of a properly used guest star. Here, Bebe Neuwirth plays a fictional character and not herself, and her presence serves to highlight and develop one of the show’s main characters — in this case, Beth. With Sandi’s ties to Beth’s past, we get a sense for the first time of the genesis of Beth’s quirky mannerisms and outrageous fashion sense. The Tone Loc and Toby Huss cameos are adequat„·‡Ât much less fulfilling because they don’t reveal anything really interesting about the Bill McNeal character.

When Bill decides to write his autobiography, his over-inflated ego takes a beating when he realizes that he has never done anything of significance with his life. Meanwhile, Dave enlists the WNYX staffers to help lift the spirits of their depressed colleague.

Jennifer: Bill struggling with his autobiography is the obvious focus of the episode, but it’s really a great excuse to get the whole staff worked up in different ways. One of the best scenes involves the entire staff (minus Mr. James, who wasn’t yet worked into the day-to-day goings-on of the office) making misguided attempts at improving Bill’s spirits, and he in turn cuts down each of his co-workers with a single descriptive phrase. A solid entry with some great jokes.

Adrian: Now that the characteristics of Bill McNeal were well established, the time was ripe for a turn on the character to reveal his deeper contradictions. It is a sign of the greatness of Phil Hartman’s acting that he so easily draws our complete sympathy in this episode. The episode also provides insight on two other characters. Firstly, Lisa’s memorable ‘laughing on the inside’ moment reveals a playful but cold-hearted side of Lisa that would reappear later in "Presence" and other episodes. Secondly, in spite of all of Bill’s past torments, Dave magnanimously chooses to help Bill get out of his bind (in fact, he is the only one prepared to do so).

Jimmy decides that it’s time to find a wife. The object of his affections is a serious executive (guest star Natalija Nogulich), but as confident as Jimmy is at work, his romancing skills leave something to be desired. Meanwhile, a dispirited Lisa reflects on the success of her siblings, and she takes a temporary position at MTV and interviews Anthrax (Anthrax band members, John Bush, Scott Ian and Frank Bello guest star as themselves).

Jennifer: Of Mr. James' wife candidates, Natalija Nogulich as businesswoman Melanie Sanders is probably my favorite. Their "negotiation" is a great scene. Instead of playing it out in a completely businesslike manner, the two actors keep it as flirtatious as the rest of their moments together, and it's all the more fun because of it. Lisa's B-story is also strong, and she manages to show us that she might've been a convincing MTV VJ if she had just kept up with the popular music scene.

Adrian: Over time, "Negotiation" has risen considerably in my estimation, going from a middle-line episode to an extremely strong one. It is directed with a slacker comedic pacing than other episodes, but its virtues lie beyond its flaws and in the depth of its art. All three storylines actually work here. Mr. James’ businesslike marriage negotiation with Natalija Nogulich’s businesswoman has always been a favorite highlight of mine, and it is one of the best examples of the intrinsic complexity of Stephen Root’s comedic style. Matthew’s storyline is, along with "Coda," one of the best showcases for Matthew in season two, showing that Matthew was most interesting when he wasn’t completely divested of social power. He is given a great assist by the acuity of Bill’s tormenting here. However, the thing that now really sells me on this episode is the amazing depth of the Lisa storyline. This is a subtle type of art similar in vein to Leo McCarey’s Once Upon a Honeymoon. It was Jean Renoir himself who once said, "Leo McCarey is one of the few directors who understands human beings," and it is an astonishing demonstration of NewsRadio’s breadth that it could dabble in this extremely rare and striking brand of humanism. What are awe-inspiring are the delicate observations of human nature (expressed through the form of Lisa’s general languor complemented by discrepant bursts of energy) and the fragile tensions of conflicting desires set up in the episode (Lisa’s desire to be true to herself versus her ingrained and inculcated ambitiousness). Also, although they bear no superficial similarity, "Negotiation" seems like a rough precursor of "Beep, Beep" in the way that it positions all its characters.

When Bill brings a beloved cane to the office, Dave is driven crazy by what he feels is just a pretentious accessory and immature bid for attention. Also, when Dave finds Lisa fiercely competing with him for points from Jimmy during an office brainstorm session this triggers a spat between the two lovers. Meanwhile, Matthew and Joe’s friendship becomes strained when Matthew won’t give Joe any space.

Jennifer: Phil Hartman is at his absurdist best as Bill flaunts his new cane around the office. The way he manages to take throwaway lines like, "Everybody loves a cane," and get big laughs from them is a rare skill. Bill and Dave inevitably face off in an inspired battle of wits, but the real fireworks come from the brainstorming retreat that Mr. James involves the staff in, where everybody seems to be at each other's throats and they all have to sit on the floor.

Adrian: "The Cane" is best summarized by the relationships it plays upon: Bill versus Dave (fire-starter versus man of reaction), Lisa versus Dave (competitiveness ablaze with romantic attraction and repulsion), and Matthew versus Joe (weirdness versus straight man). Because it plays so well upon these three relationships, "The Cane" is one of the most enjoyable episodes of season two.

Excited WNYX staffers give Jimmy a thoughtful and expensive Christmas gift, but their collective holiday cheer is disrupted when they receive cheap token gifts from Jimmy. Meanwhile, Bill is terrified by an ‘evil’ Santa who threatens to kill him.

Jennifer: Some people treat Miracle on 34th Street or It’s a Wonderful Life as requisite holiday viewing. Me, I favor the charms of NewsRadio’s first (and, in my opinion, best) Christmas episode, in which the staff finds themselves disappointed by their gifts from Mr. James. Plotting just doesn’t get any better, and there are a lot of especially memorable lines. If you want to preserve the holiday spirit, though, you may want to shut off the set for the brief final scene. In fact, the whole B-story is a bit disconcerting when remembering Phil Hartman's passing.

Adrian: While practically every other show on network television resorts to cheap sentiment around Christmastime, NewsRadio decided to have the staff incited into abject greed over Mr. James’ gifts. Were the creators of NewsRadio anarchists? Perhaps, but then it is far better to be an anarchist than a cynicist, and NewsRadio’s art was never cynical nor dishonest.

(First new episode to air on a Sunday night 8:30 to 9:00 PM)

When Jimmy announces to the staff that he plans to sell WNYX to a large investment group, it sends the staff into a panic. However, Dave thinks he has the inside scoop about Jimmy’s motives.

Jennifer: The relationships between the characters are at their strongest as Mr. James announces that he's selling WNYX. The result is an episode that expertly subverts the potential pitfalls of a sitcom standard, the "Can the gang save the station in time?" plot. With a few unique twists, the episode actually offers surprises to the first-time viewer, even if there's hardly a doubt in anyone's mind that the station will remain unsold. The moment that defines this installment for me is the one in which Matthew announces that he has turned all the clocks back, and therefore Mr. James has missed the sale deadline. The audience applauds wildly, and we naturally assume that a typically outlandish sitcom conceit has saved the day…only to have Mr. James reply, "Matthew, this is a major corporation we're dealing with, not magical fairies." If I have any reservations about this episode, it's the fact that it was chosen as one of the two submitted to the Emmy Award voters in 1996. Presumably, this was done because it shows off the ensemble, but I don't consider it one of the best of the season.

When Dave employs a strict new code of office behavior for the WNYX staff he finds out the hard way how his colleagues truly feel about him as a boss. Meanwhile, Bill asks Joe to help him improve the sound of his radio voice.

Jennifer: One of my absolute favorite episodes. Not only is it incredibly funny, but it has a winning premise in Dave accidentally hearing his co-workers holding their regular bitch session about him. The personal conflicts that abound in this episode hit the viewer on a much more urgent level than an episode like "Station Sale," and seeing the staff switch gears from bitching about him to rallying to his defense is telling of the dynamics of workplace relationships. Did I mention how funny it is?

When Dave must introduce Bill at a local broadcast function he gets a case of jangled nerves, but Bill decides to help coach him through his fear of public speaking. Meanwhile, Matthew feels left out of the office 'guy talk' that revolves around sports and gambling and enlists Joe to teach him how to bet.

Jennifer: Dave and Bill feud once again and Matthew wears his ignorance on his sleeve. Second Season NewsRadio was uniformly good, with every episode reaching, at the very least, excellence, and many managing to surpass this bar. So I hope you'll forgive me when I say that this episode is extremely funny, but unexceptional.

Adrian: This is a fine episode to show off NewsRadio's skill for folding gags into each other. There are numerous examples of the arcing construction of this episode. A simple one involves Matthew betting against Joe that the next song on the radio will be a really good song. The punch line is that the song is expectedly lame and Matthew has to admit that "It sucks," and it flows into the next gag - Dave, overhearing the song from his office, wistfully says, "I love that song." Another example involves the gag where Matthew and Joe are throwing paper into a garbage bin. The next gag involves Bill advising Dave to imagine his audience naked while paper balls are flying in the foreground. We then return to the paper-throwing gag when Dave looks up and catches Lisa red-handed in the act of throwing paper and blames her for the mess. Some of the gags employ particularly long arcs. Later in the episode, Catherine reprises a former gag when she asks Dave, "You weren't undressing me with your eyes were you?" Similarly, a great gag involving Bill haranguing Dave to "Speak up!" has its final variation near the end of the episode when Bill ends up losing his voice and a rowdy member of the audience calls out for him to "Speak up!" Very skillfully done.

Jimmy James brings his weird nephew Theo (guest star David Cross) to Dave hoping to get him a job at the station. Beth then ends up falling for Theo after finding out that he performs magic tricks. Also, Catherine is out sick, and Bill decides to replace her with Joe, who shocks everyone by being very good.

Jennifer: This is another top-notch second season episode, featuring Joe's on-air debut and Mr. James' weird nephew Theo (David Cross), whom Beth takes a liking to. The comfort level is high, with all the actors doing good things with their familiar roles, and Cross making a very funny guest appearance that gives the show an extra spark. There's also a plethora of great lines here, more so than usual, so pay attention. (I'll quiz you later.) Extra props to Joe Rogan, who shows us a new side to his character.

Adrian: This is one of my favorites from season two. This is also one of the few episodes where the original syndication version cut out a gag that I wish was retained. For those who still have not seen the complete episode, after Beth reveals to Lisa where the quarter has been Lisa calls out to Beth that she forgot her "magic mouth coin." Upon hearing this an excited Matthew asks for the coin, and not knowing what to do with it, he puts the "magic mouth coin" into his mouth. Lisa silently shakes her head.

While Jimmy decides to celebrate April Fool’s Day early by pulling a series of pranks on the staff, Bill tries to rise above the office antics in order to give an interview to a reporter from a prestigious newspaper. Meanwhile, the staff implies that Lisa gets special treatment from Dave, who must then decide who to send to the New Hampshire Primaries — Lisa or Matthew. Beth discovers that a former employee harbored a secret obsession for her.

When Beth decides to present one of her funky clothing designs to a shady fashion executive (guest star George Hamilton) she practices the art of negotiation with Jimmy. Meanwhile, Lisa decides to ask Dave for a raise, and he keeps turning her down. Also, Bill brings his new girlfriend to the office. There’s just one hitch — she thinks he’s British.

Jennifer: Nothing against George Hamilton, but I have no idea what he's doing in this episode. Bizarre stunt-casting aside, there's a lot to like about this one. Vicki Lewis and Maura Tierney show off their comedic talents with aplomb, and the rather ridiculous subplot about Bill's girlfriend thinking he's British somehow works. Nothing groundbreaking, but like the rest of Season Two, very much worth watching.

When Lisa’s ex-boyfriend, Stewart (guest star Wallace Langhan of The Larry Sanders Show), visits New York, a jealous Dave feels threatened by the possibility of Stewart and Lisa rekindling their romance. Meanwhile, Bill and Catherine are in the throes of a huge argument, and to further exacerbate the situation, Joe uses his knowledge of technology to fuel the fire.

Jennifer: I was rather surprised when I learned that the part of Lisa's much-spoken-of ex-boyfriend Stewart would be played by Wallace Langham, best known for his work as a sitcom lothario (on The Larry Sanders Show and, more recently, What About Joan). It ends up being such a small part that he fails to make an impact on me one way or the other. The same could be said about this episode, which contains a nice little Bill-Catherine B-story and the breakup scene to end all breakup scenes, but just too much unmemorable Dave and Lisa bickering.

Adrian: The Dave and Lisa breaking up storyline can be considered a narrative necessity. There are some good if unsettling parts, such as the degree of hurt Dave reveals in the restroom. But let's face it - the most memorable thing about this storyline is that this is one of two occasions where we see Lisa in a black bra. For any who still have doubts that Maura Tierney provided the fuel for the show's sublimated sexual energy, consider the fact that while the characters of Catherine and Beth often dressed sexily and Lisa dressed conservatively, only Lisa ever ended up in a state of embarrassing undress (twice)!

Dave and Lisa make their break-up official. Bill seizes the opportunity to bond with Dave by sharing his own relationship problems, and Matthew tries to get Dave and Lisa back together again. Also, Jimmy’s wife search continues.

Jennifer: The staff finds out that Dave and Lisa have broken up, and the result is my least favorite episode of the season. Nothing wrong with the craftsmanship or the comedy, but I can't tell you how uninteresting Dave and Lisa are to me here. When Paul Simms said that he wish he'd focused less on their relationship, I gather he meant episodes like this.

Adrian: After this season the writers decided that Dave-Lisa anguish was not where they wanted to go. Dave and Lisa tension was one of most important aspects of the show, but Dave and Lisa conflict did not contribute anything to the show artistically. Their conflict also had the side effect of draining energy from other plotlines. The Jimmy wife search plotline seemed especially anemic amidst the torrid emotions of Dave-Lisa anguish.

During a poker game with some wealthy friends, Jimmy loses the office coffee machine and Bill McNeal. In an attempt to win back his on-air talent, he allows Lisa to take over. Meanwhile, Bill prepares for his impeding departure by saying goodbye to his fellow employees and returning the office supplies he has stolen from them.

Jennifer: I have six favorite episodes from Season Two. They are, in no particular order: "Friends," "Xmas Story," "Bitch Session," "Houses of the Holy," "Coda," and this one. (Honourable mention: "Negotiation.") The last couple of breakup-centric episodes seem like such a drag compared to this installment's energetic comedy, with scenes like Dave gossiping with a bunch of call girls and Catherine, Beth, and Joe goofing off in a hotel room. The whole thing is just so much fun and funny to boot. Trivia: Andy Dick's The Ben Stiller Show co-star John F. O'Donohue guests as a rich station owner buddy of Jimmy's.

Adrian: This is also one of my NewsRadio episodes - so inventive, so brilliantly executed, and so enjoyable. Everything here worked, so it is hard identify the episode's highlights. A few examples: the way they find out that Jimmy lost Bill in a poker game, Joe's reaction to the Boba Fett doll taking a fall, Lisa's mercenary approach to the poker game (and bluffing in particular), and Dave's interactions with the call girls. I have chosen my personal favorite moment on the basis that the scene required such a demanding level of comedic timing that I believe only a handful of actors are capable of pulling it off. A short while after Dave accuses Lisa of lying, Jimmy has to choose his proxy poker player and declares Lisa to be the much better liar. Almost under his breath, Dave says something to the effect of "You don't know the half of it." Lisa doesn't wait for him to finish and tries to silence him with several cries of "Hey!"

When Matthew enthusiastically decides that it’s time to get the WNYX gang together for some summer fun, he becomes overwhelmed by the responsibility of collecting funds from the staff to rent his dream beach house. Meanwhile, Bill and Dave clash over a baseball promo that Bill has recorded, and Jimmy steps in to referee. Also, a nervous Joe must take an electrical engineering exam to legally practice his profession in the radio industry, and he enlists Lisa’s help as a study partner.

When security cameras are installed at WNYX, Joe tries to override the new system, but his plan goes up in smoke when he sets the building ablaze. Meanwhile, the life-threatening situation ignites passion between Dave and Lisa.

When Matthew and Joe play a risky game of ‘who can get the coffee cup off the light fixture,’ Matthews injures himself and is rushed to the hospital. But when Jimmy finds out that Matthew is without insurance he fears a lawsuit and hires his slick personal lawyer to investigate. Meanwhile, Bill gets WNYX in trouble when he repeatedly utters a word describing a private part of the male anatomy on the air.