Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie Review

In 1974, Ron Burgundy is the famous anchorman for the fictional KVWN channel 4, a local San Diego television station. On the news team, Burgundy works alongside Veronica Corningstone, KVWN's first female reporter and anchor, and his childhood friends: lead field reporter Brian Fantana, sportscaster Champion "Champ" Kind, and meteorologist Brick Tamland. Burgundy, Fantana, Kind, and Tamland host KVWN's 6 o'clock newscast, then attend a party with anchors from other stations.

The next morning, Mouse, Kanshasha X, Malcolm Y, and Paul Hauser, a group of terrorists calling themselves 'The Alarm Clock', rob a bank. Later that day, Ed Harken, the KVWN station manager, informs Burgundy, Fantana, Kind, Tamland, Corningstone, and other KVWN employees of this, stating that it is the Alarm Clock's third bank robbery.

The members of the Alarm Clock celebrate their latest robbery, the money from which they intend to use as funding for 'the revolution'. The revolution, however, does not have a clear goal; Hauser, who is responsible for writing 'the maifesto', a document explaining the revolution, has not yet done so after an increasingly long time. Hauser receives criticism for this from the other members of the group, and, in panic, states that the group's mission is eliminating propaganda from television, showing a public service announcement of Burgundy denouncing illicit drugs as an example of such propaganda. The group expresses uniform contempt for Burgundy after watching him, and taking over television broadcasts becomes the goal of the revolution.

That night, Burgundy gives Corningstone a tour of San Diego. While doing so, Burgundy points out the fictional San Diego Observatory to Corningstone, and expresses a desire to broadcast news from there. Burgundy marvels over the number of viewers that he believes such a broadcast would be able to reach.

The next day, Corningstone reports on a fashion show composed of cats. While doing so, Hauser, not revealing himself as a member of the Alarm Clock, introduces himself to Corningstone. He asks Corningstone various questions regarding television broadcasting, as part of the Alarm Clock's plan to take over television. Hauser recites a motto of the Alarm Clock to Corningstone, then leaves.

Later, the Alarm Clock attempts to rob another bank, but the teller, after questioning the group's masks, refuses to give them money. When entering the bank, however, Hauser yells the same motto he declaimed to Corningstone. Corningstone, after watching a closed-circuit television video of the robbery, recalls having heard the motto from Hauser, thereby identifying him as the person in the video and a member of the Alarm Clock.

Burgundy, wanting to investigate the Alarm Clock himself, gets permission from Harken to be a field reporter. He then steals information from Corningstone that she had gathered about Hauser. Using an address found by Corningstone, Burgundy, Fantana, Kind, and Tamland attempt to interview Hauser. After initially going to the wrong house, they find Hauser at his home. At first, he denies evidence of his involvement in the Alarm Clock, but then an alarm sounds. As this happens, Hauser admits involvement in the group and, after running outside, steals the news team's van, of which doors had been left open.

After the events of his interview with Hauser, Burgundy is fired from KVWN. His reputation drops quickly, and Corningstone becomes KVWN's lead anchor. Burgundy visits his mentor Jess Moondragon, to whom he reiterates his desire to broadcast news from the San Francisco Observatory; repeating his belief that such a broadcast would reach a vast audience.

Corningstone arrives at her apartment to be kidnapped at gunpoint by Hauser and Kanshasha X. Garth Holiday, a KVWN employee, informs Harken of Corningstone's kidnapping, interrupting Harken's reprimanding of his son Chris in doing so.

Wes Mantooth, lead anchor at rival KQHS channel 9 news, reports on Corningstone's kidnapping, catching Burgundy's attention. Mantooth reports that police believe the Alarm Clock kidnapped Corningstone to broadcast the message of their revolution, but the location from which they want to deliver this broadcast is unknown. Burgundy, however, realizes that the group has gone to the San Diego Observatory, because of his belief that a broadcast made from the observatory would be able to reach a large audience. Burgundy is reemployed at KVWN, and him, Fantana, Kind, and Tamland set to rescue Corningstone.

At the observatory, the Alarm Clock is preparing for their broadcast. Hauser remarks at the number of people they will reach. In the distance, Burgundy, Fantana, Kind, and Tamland are greeted by Moondragon, who provides them with transportation to the observatory. After getting lossed and briefly considering the cannibalism of Fantana, the group reaches the observatory.

Burgundy enters the observatory, but is captured by the Alarm Clock and handcuffed next to Corningstone. Hauser then orders Corningstone to read the Alarm Clock's manifesto on air, but she refuses on account of her integrity, even after Kanshasha X threatens to kill her. Burgundy, however, volunteers to read the manifesto. Hauser reveals the mainfesto to be an advocacy for recycling, electric cars, and personal computers, concepts which the other members of the Alarm Clock and Burgundy consider absurd. Malcolm Y then demands Burgundy to improvise promotion for the Alarm Clock on air. The highly teleprompter dependent Burgundy is initially speechless, but then equates improvising on air to jazz and reveals their location. The members of the Alarm Clock realize this, prompting Burgundy to call out for the news team; Fantana, Kind, and Tamland then rappel into the observatory. The news team now easily overpowers the Alarm Clock.

Fantana, Kind, Burgundy, and Corningstone return to a cheering crowd in San Diego. A network reporter offers Burgundy a position on an upcoming network show documenting news anchors themselves. Burgundy responds by offering the position to Corningstone. Mantooth sees Burgundy and, although he hates Burgundy, proclaims respect for him.

The members of the Alarm Clock were incarcerated for five years. After being released, they invented the Macintosh, from which they made US$6 billion.