By Mark Roberts

PITTSBURGH (September 24, 2004) Pittsburgh AFTRAns and Newspaper Guild members from the Post-Gazette got together at the Byham Theater last night and kicked some friendly butt. It was the fourth annual Off the Record presentation, and talk shows were the target.

	Martha Rial, Post-Gazette
	John Roell, playing Myron Cope, and other cast members rehearse the finale of the Newspaper Guild's satirical revue, "Off The Record IV." Visible from left are Laurie Klatscher, Marylynne Pitz, Samantha Bennett and Jane Vranish.

Talk Show Smackdown!
Fred Honsberger versus Lynne Cullen. Toe-to-toe, head-to-head, back-to-back, belly-to belly at the Byham. Personified by Tony Marino and Lisa Dapprich, the two went at it with great gusto, taking shots at Tom Murphy, Arlen Specter, George W. Bush, John Kerry, Teresa Heinz Kerry, the war in Iraq, city dwellers, suburbanites, Martha Stewart, the Steelers, the Pirates, the entire gaming industry and the Prothonotary. Who says the easy targets aren't the best?

The stellar cast outdid themselves this year, perhaps due to last-minute inspiration, or maybe divine intervention. As one cast member who wishes to remain anonymous said, "We really sucked in every rehearsal, including the run-through earlier this evening. But at the last minute, we pulled it off."

They didn't suck. They provided the packed house of media types, politicos and corporate bigwigs with a memorable night of satire, including show-stopping numbers by Harry O'Toole, Michael E. Moats and the entire ensemble.

The sometimes-biting, always-funny script was assembled by Gary Rotstein and Chris Rawson of the P-G, and AFTRAn Dan Kamin. Lyrics were scratched out by Sally Kalson, Mackenzie Carpenter, Cindi Lash, Mark Roth, Dan Kamin, Gary Rotstein, Dan Majors, Mark Roth and Chris Rawson. The show was directed by Mindi Rossi-Stabler, and produced by Chris Rawson.

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank benefited to an even greater extent that usual thanks to Linda Dickerson's exceptional fundraising abilities. AFTRA expects approximately $35,000 to be raised at this year's event.

KDKA's Ken Rice emceed, providing wit and wisdom and eyebrow jokes. No, he didn't say anything about Bob Barker and Jennifer Antkowiak. The real Chris Heinz, The real Lynn Cullen and the real Bill Green provided the rebuttal to the evening's buttage. I'd tell you more, but remember: It's Off the Record.