New drama from Aaron Sorkin creator of The West Wing and writer of The Social Network set to debut June 24 on HBO in the US and probably the week of June 25 on Sky Atlantic in the UK. The trailer debuted last night alongside the start of season two of Game of Thrones.
Newsroom aims to go behind the scenes of cable news with Jeff Daniels starring as an the outspoken anchor of a popular cable news show with Emily Mortimer, Alison Pill, John Gallagher Jr, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel and Thomas Sadoski as members of his staff. At first glance this seems to be a much better and more comfortable setting for what Sorkin wanted (and failed) to do with Studio 60 a couple of years ago.
Full Version: Newsroom
It's a shame Studio 60 doesn't get mentioned when Aaron is talked about 
loved that show.
loved that show.
I'll defo give this a look. Loved The West Wing. I felt that Studio 60 lost its way as the series went on. Still liked it though
QUOTE(Jonnycondom @ Apr 2 2012, 15:09) 
It's a shame Studio 60 doesn't get mentioned when Aaron is talked about
loved that show.I agree - I've actually liked most of Sorkins' output - from Sports Night right the way through to The Social Network. Definitely interested to see how Newsroom pans out.
Can't wait! Love the west wing, and hoping this'll be as good. Hope Dev's acting has improved. Love that it's on HBO too, much less chance of it getting cancelled.
Sorkin! *sqeeeeee* 
QUOTE(MOOO @ Apr 2 2012, 18:51)
I'll defo give this a look. Loved The West Wing. I felt that Studio 60 lost its way as the series went on. Still liked it though
I don't think Studio 60 every found its way. It started with a stunning opening sequence and then Sorkin never really worked out what the rest of the show was. It had fleeting glimpses of brilliance but mostly it was just lots of ideas and characters floating around looking for a narrative. To be honest looking at what Sorkin wanted to do with Studio 60 I think he would have been better off setting it behind the scenes of the fictional network rather than behind the scenes of an ailing sketch show.
QUOTE(Mister R @ Apr 3 2012, 00:51)
QUOTE(MOOO @ Apr 2 2012, 18:51)
I'll defo give this a look. Loved The West Wing. I felt that Studio 60 lost its way as the series went on. Still liked it though
I don't think Studio 60 every found its way. It started with a stunning opening sequence and then Sorkin never really worked out what the rest of the show was. It had fleeting glimpses of brilliance but mostly it was just lots of ideas and characters floating around looking for a narrative. To be honest looking at what Sorkin wanted to do with Studio 60 I think he would have been better off setting it behind the scenes of the fictional network rather than behind the scenes of an ailing sketch show.
I always thought Studio 60 felt like The West Wing in a different setting. It had the same style and pace etc which I know is a Sorkin trademark but it didn't feel different enough (probably didn't help having Bradley Whitford in a lead role). By the trailer above, The Newsroom seems different so I'm looking forward to giving it a go!
So I've seen a few episodes of this now and I'm not blown away...
My concern that it was just a rehash of Studio 60 appear to be founded. Only the problem is that Sorkin doesn't appear to have learnt from any of the mistakes he made in Studio 60 and has instead amplified them in Newsroom. And unlike Studio 60 Newsroom doesn't have two interesting and likeable lead characters anchoring it. That's not a criticism of Daniels or Mortimer but more the horrific material they've been given to work with. They both spend far too much time preaching and delivering lectures. Mortimer in particular barely has any dialogue that doesn't fall into this category. More interest can be found in the supporting cast I think. Although they've not been given a lot to wok with but the basics of them are much more interesting or would be if Sorkin would develop them.
Of course the major flaw with Newsroom is that if you've seen any (or worse yet all) of Sorkin's previous work you're going to instantly recognise 99% of these characters and far too much of the plot. There's an email subplot in the second episode which is painfully obvious to see where its going.
Equally (and this could be classed as a minor spoiler) the decision to set the show in the near past is odd. I can see why they did it. On paper the idea of the fictional news team covering actual stories allows the audience to see what Sorkin is preaching about in regards to his the news can be better lectures. The problem is that whilst it seems to work on paper it doesn't in reality. It just feels awkward and disconnected.
Having said all that there is (as there always tends to be with Sorkin shows) something inherently watchable about Newsroom and all the pieces for a great show are just about here. It just lacks the whole recipe to pull it together. The cast are all working hard and they're mostly very good. It just needs a bit of work and tinkering. It already has a second season so hopefully that'll happen.
My concern that it was just a rehash of Studio 60 appear to be founded. Only the problem is that Sorkin doesn't appear to have learnt from any of the mistakes he made in Studio 60 and has instead amplified them in Newsroom. And unlike Studio 60 Newsroom doesn't have two interesting and likeable lead characters anchoring it. That's not a criticism of Daniels or Mortimer but more the horrific material they've been given to work with. They both spend far too much time preaching and delivering lectures. Mortimer in particular barely has any dialogue that doesn't fall into this category. More interest can be found in the supporting cast I think. Although they've not been given a lot to wok with but the basics of them are much more interesting or would be if Sorkin would develop them.
Of course the major flaw with Newsroom is that if you've seen any (or worse yet all) of Sorkin's previous work you're going to instantly recognise 99% of these characters and far too much of the plot. There's an email subplot in the second episode which is painfully obvious to see where its going.
Equally (and this could be classed as a minor spoiler) the decision to set the show in the near past is odd. I can see why they did it. On paper the idea of the fictional news team covering actual stories allows the audience to see what Sorkin is preaching about in regards to his the news can be better lectures. The problem is that whilst it seems to work on paper it doesn't in reality. It just feels awkward and disconnected.
Having said all that there is (as there always tends to be with Sorkin shows) something inherently watchable about Newsroom and all the pieces for a great show are just about here. It just lacks the whole recipe to pull it together. The cast are all working hard and they're mostly very good. It just needs a bit of work and tinkering. It already has a second season so hopefully that'll happen.
Starts on Sky Atlantic next Tuesday evening, UK peeps.
It's been picked up for a second season and only after two episodes have aired.
Really impressed so far, fast paced. Well written, classic Aaron Sorkin.
I watced the first episode on Sky Anytime today because I missed the ep earlier tis week.
I really loved it.
The script was fantastic and it really sucked me into it.
I also fell madly in love with the character Jim Harper
I really loved it.
The script was fantastic and it really sucked me into it.
I also fell madly in love with the character Jim Harper
Ok its taken a while but I think Newsroom has found its feet with episode 6 and 7.
As a whole episode 6 actually isn't a particularly good episode or at least not much better than the episodes that have come before it. The highlight comes because Sorkin gives Olivia Munn a chance to shine as Sloan and the series comes alive a little when she does. She breaths some much needed fire into the show and has some brilliant exchanges with other characters throughout the episode.
Episode 7 meanwhile is a genuinely good piece of television if a little heavy on the whole 'WOOOO USA' mentality but that can be forgiven because of the news event being covered. Its fast, its funny, the entire cast shines, characters develop, the behind the scenes insight into a news story feels electric and valuable and there's some strong plot developments. The only problem is this is pretty much a once in a lifetime news story so its hard to see how that momentum lasts for episode 8. I have a little more faith in Sorkin to pull something out of the bag though.
As a whole episode 6 actually isn't a particularly good episode or at least not much better than the episodes that have come before it. The highlight comes because Sorkin gives Olivia Munn a chance to shine as Sloan and the series comes alive a little when she does. She breaths some much needed fire into the show and has some brilliant exchanges with other characters throughout the episode.
Episode 7 meanwhile is a genuinely good piece of television if a little heavy on the whole 'WOOOO USA' mentality but that can be forgiven because of the news event being covered. Its fast, its funny, the entire cast shines, characters develop, the behind the scenes insight into a news story feels electric and valuable and there's some strong plot developments. The only problem is this is pretty much a once in a lifetime news story so its hard to see how that momentum lasts for episode 8. I have a little more faith in Sorkin to pull something out of the bag though.
Episode 7 is beautifully crafted.
I really love this programme.
I really love this programme.
Saw the advert for this the other day, gonna try and watch a few episodes in next few days, need a new drama to grip me.
Didn't think episode 7 was very good. Not a lot actually happened, and I thought it was kind of silly for them to make the mistake that all those died on 9/11 were Americans, you'd have thought that someone might have picked up on that mistake at some point between writing and recording.
I also dislike the love thing going on between those 3 characters, it's boring and extremely stretched out. And just how perfect this news team is, they always get the scoop and are way ahead of everyone else, which is unrealistic.
When they try to do this serious moments with the big speeches from a cast member they just seem to come off a bit pretentious and very preachy.
A lot of this probably has to do with setting this series in the past.
I also dislike the love thing going on between those 3 characters, it's boring and extremely stretched out. And just how perfect this news team is, they always get the scoop and are way ahead of everyone else, which is unrealistic.
When they try to do this serious moments with the big speeches from a cast member they just seem to come off a bit pretentious and very preachy.
A lot of this probably has to do with setting this series in the past.
Watched episode 4 on Sky Atlantic tonight. It was probably the worst so far. The last couple of scenes were painful to watch.
I think I am going to have to give up on it soon - I would have already but there's nothing on tv these days. I don't buy a lot of the characters and their relationships and the idealism is wearing a bit thin.
I think I am going to have to give up on it soon - I would have already but there's nothing on tv these days. I don't buy a lot of the characters and their relationships and the idealism is wearing a bit thin.
Yeah the opening half of the season isn't good.
My advice would be to stick with it through to episode seven (although if you wanted to skip five you wouldn't lose a whole lot). If however you can't at least see light at the end of the tunnel after episodes six and seven then its worth calling it a day I think.
My advice would be to stick with it through to episode seven (although if you wanted to skip five you wouldn't lose a whole lot). If however you can't at least see light at the end of the tunnel after episodes six and seven then its worth calling it a day I think.
I'm up to episode 6 now and generally enjoying it. My criticism of Aaron Sorkin though is that Newsroom is a rehash of the West Wing in the same way Studio 60 was. An example is episode 6 which is very similar to the WW episode called Night Five.
watched first couple of eps, really liking it
Ok after seeing a pick-up with episode 6 and 7 I'm back to my previous position with Newsroom. Its clunky preachy speechifying that has occasional glimmers of something better.
There's a line of dialogue in episode 9 (in the middle of yet another big speech) where Mortimer's character says 'and we're starting to be not very pleasant people to be around' and it strikes you that the problem is that apart from when Will was high none of these characters are particularly pleasant to be around ever. Partly because every other line of dialogue tends to lead to someone making a big righteous speech and partly because they're all so paper thin. They're just props for Sorkin's rants. Its kind of like he was writing a blog about news coverage and someone has awkwardly shoehorned that into dialogue.
But despite all that there remains something oddly watchable about the whole thing. No idea what though.
Also can I just point that a staggeringly long period of time has passed over the course of this series. It started with the BP oil spill in April 2010 and now we're at Casey Anthony and Anthony Weiner which was June 2011. When you watch this show do you really believe that more than a year has passed for any of these characters? No one's lives appear to have moved on at all. No one seems to have undergone any changes in those 14 months.
There's a line of dialogue in episode 9 (in the middle of yet another big speech) where Mortimer's character says 'and we're starting to be not very pleasant people to be around' and it strikes you that the problem is that apart from when Will was high none of these characters are particularly pleasant to be around ever. Partly because every other line of dialogue tends to lead to someone making a big righteous speech and partly because they're all so paper thin. They're just props for Sorkin's rants. Its kind of like he was writing a blog about news coverage and someone has awkwardly shoehorned that into dialogue.
But despite all that there remains something oddly watchable about the whole thing. No idea what though.
Also can I just point that a staggeringly long period of time has passed over the course of this series. It started with the BP oil spill in April 2010 and now we're at Casey Anthony and Anthony Weiner which was June 2011. When you watch this show do you really believe that more than a year has passed for any of these characters? No one's lives appear to have moved on at all. No one seems to have undergone any changes in those 14 months.
QUOTE(Mister R @ Aug 20 2012, 14:19)
Also can I just point that a staggeringly long period of time has passed over the course of this series. It started with the BP oil spill in April 2010 and now we're at Casey Anthony and Anthony Weiner which was June 2011. When you watch this show do you really believe that more than a year has passed for any of these characters? No one's lives appear to have moved on at all. No one seems to have undergone any changes in those 14 months.
Good point - I'd not noticed that until you pointed it out but it's obvious now!
I'm enjoying Newsroom greatly. Still not a patch on The West Wing. I think anything else Sorkin will do will just be a lesser version. But I am prefering it to Studio 60.
The timeline is moving very quickly but I don't care too much. I really liked the episode where they found out about that Democratic Senator that got shot, didn't realise that some news channels has pronounced her dead.
The timeline is moving very quickly but I don't care too much. I really liked the episode where they found out about that Democratic Senator that got shot, didn't realise that some news channels has pronounced her dead.
I assumed that the time-line moving quickly was an attempt to bring the show up to the current date by season 2 or to do the presidential elections.
I think setting the series in reality was probably a mistake, considering it limits what they can do by a great amount. They could never have a debate because they'd have to get actors to play the real people which wouldn't work.
They really do need to stop dragging out the boring story lines too, no one cares about the love interests between these characters, which actually feel like they've been going on forever but with nothing actually happening.
I think setting the series in reality was probably a mistake, considering it limits what they can do by a great amount. They could never have a debate because they'd have to get actors to play the real people which wouldn't work.
They really do need to stop dragging out the boring story lines too, no one cares about the love interests between these characters, which actually feel like they've been going on forever but with nothing actually happening.
QUOTE(tole @ Aug 21 2012, 20:38)
I assumed that the time-line moving quickly was an attempt to bring the show up to the current date by season 2 or to do the presidential elections.
Nope. Sorkin has said he wants to keep the show about 18 months to a year behind current events as a minimum (so the election will be the main thrust of season two). In some respects that makes sense – he doesn't have to make up fake news stories which would just be variations on actual news stories anyway plus he gets to riff on how everyone actually covered the story and rant about how they did it wrong. Its a difficult road to tread with the real stories though because Sorkin is writing them with hindsight that always creeps in. Plus it tends to undermine the work that actual journalists did because the Newsnight team are always a step ahead and breaking stories. Seriously its absurd how connected every staffer on that show is and half of the time that connection doesn't even make sense.
What continues to disappoint/annoy me about Newsroom though is how brilliant tiny elements of the show are because if Sorkin could just pull those threads together it would be such a good show but he becomes so obsessed with his righteous rants and the tedious romance plots that the stuff that works just gets completely derailed.
Personally I find the whole thing very "preachy". Having to listen to lectures about the media constantly becomes unbearable.
Emily Mortimer ranting week by week is not entertaining. If I want a sermon I'll go to mass.
Emily Mortimer ranting week by week is not entertaining. If I want a sermon I'll go to mass.
Just got around to watching the season finale. It made me angry for all the wrong reasons. The really horribly sad thing is that I'll still watch the second season and hate absolutely every second of it I imagine...
It was a bizarre season finale, I do enjoy the show though and will be tuning in for season 2.
I didn't even realise last weeks episode was the finale. What a let down. The hacking thing coming to an end was done really poorly it seemed, there was no epic moment when the guys confronted their bosses.
It just failed on every level.
As a piece of drama it didn't work. It just lurched from one poorly executed and anti-climactic moment to the next. That bait and switch with the hackings in the big meeting was particularly poor. Also its remarkable how quickly journalistic integrity goes out of the window when the self-interest of these characters is involved. After a season of speechifying about journalism and reporting the news they get a huge news story about hacking and decide that rather than report it they're going to use it to blackmail their boss so they can keep their jobs and continue to take pot shots at the Tea Party (more on that in a moment).
The troll story bugs me. A lot. And helps to sum up one of the major flaws of this series. Its all written from hindsight. And not just hindsight but self righteous hindsight.
Also the romance subplots are hideous. In large part this is because all of this people are horrific and I don't actually want any of them to be happy and also because all these people are fucking stupid. Has anyone stopped to follow the path of the Maggie/Jim/Don love triangle that seems to now involve about half the cast? Its mind numbing. Also I think I'm supposed to like Maggie but why would I? She destroys the relationship of her best friend (a relationship she pushed them into in the first place) kisses Jim and then moves in with her boyfriend who she doesn't like. This woman is a complete bitch.
But then there's the political rhetoric. I don't know if you're aware of this but Will McAvoy is a Republican. I know he's a Republican because Aaron Sorkin hits me over the head with this fact at every chance he gets (short of having McAvoy do a big 'I'm a Republican' song and dance number every week) presumably so that he can take some kind of fictional cover behind whilst relentlessly attacking the right – 'but McAvoy's a Republican'. Can anyone remember any criticism of Democrats covered on the show other than the Weiner story, which we were repeatedly told wasn't really news and shouldn't have been treated as such so doesn't really count anyway? The whole thing is just so heavy handed and clunking.
As a piece of drama it didn't work. It just lurched from one poorly executed and anti-climactic moment to the next. That bait and switch with the hackings in the big meeting was particularly poor. Also its remarkable how quickly journalistic integrity goes out of the window when the self-interest of these characters is involved. After a season of speechifying about journalism and reporting the news they get a huge news story about hacking and decide that rather than report it they're going to use it to blackmail their boss so they can keep their jobs and continue to take pot shots at the Tea Party (more on that in a moment).
The troll story bugs me. A lot. And helps to sum up one of the major flaws of this series. Its all written from hindsight. And not just hindsight but self righteous hindsight.
Also the romance subplots are hideous. In large part this is because all of this people are horrific and I don't actually want any of them to be happy and also because all these people are fucking stupid. Has anyone stopped to follow the path of the Maggie/Jim/Don love triangle that seems to now involve about half the cast? Its mind numbing. Also I think I'm supposed to like Maggie but why would I? She destroys the relationship of her best friend (a relationship she pushed them into in the first place) kisses Jim and then moves in with her boyfriend who she doesn't like. This woman is a complete bitch.
But then there's the political rhetoric. I don't know if you're aware of this but Will McAvoy is a Republican. I know he's a Republican because Aaron Sorkin hits me over the head with this fact at every chance he gets (short of having McAvoy do a big 'I'm a Republican' song and dance number every week) presumably so that he can take some kind of fictional cover behind whilst relentlessly attacking the right – 'but McAvoy's a Republican'. Can anyone remember any criticism of Democrats covered on the show other than the Weiner story, which we were repeatedly told wasn't really news and shouldn't have been treated as such so doesn't really count anyway? The whole thing is just so heavy handed and clunking.
The BBC ought to do a version. I'm seeing it set in the mid 70s with a man bringing news to a new, untapped audience.
My vision is called "John Craven's Newsroom". Should be a winner, I think.
My vision is called "John Craven's Newsroom". Should be a winner, I think.
I also forgot that they annoyingly brought back the college girl from the pilot so they could redeem Will on that as well. That might have been the single most annoying part of the entire finale.
QUOTE(Mister R @ Sep 10 2012, 15:23)
I also forgot that they annoyingly brought back the college girl from the pilot so they could redeem Will on that as well. That might have been the single most annoying part of the entire finale.
That was cliche.
However generally I really quite liked it. I find it fluid and uncompromising. Its well acted and I personally really like the script. I don't generally dislike any of the charaters. It has maintained a pretty good, fast paced storyline(s)
I don't think it was fantastic television, but very watchable. Awaiting season 2.
QUOTE(Mister R @ Sep 4 2012, 17:26)
It just failed on every level.
As a piece of drama it didn't work. It just lurched from one poorly executed and anti-climactic moment to the next. That bait and switch with the hackings in the big meeting was particularly poor. Also its remarkable how quickly journalistic integrity goes out of the window when the self-interest of these characters is involved. After a season of speechifying about journalism and reporting the news they get a huge news story about hacking and decide that rather than report it they're going to use it to blackmail their boss so they can keep their jobs and continue to take pot shots at the Tea Party (more on that in a moment).
The troll story bugs me. A lot. And helps to sum up one of the major flaws of this series. Its all written from hindsight. And not just hindsight but self righteous hindsight.
Also the romance subplots are hideous. In large part this is because all of this people are horrific and I don't actually want any of them to be happy and also because all these people are fucking stupid. Has anyone stopped to follow the path of the Maggie/Jim/Don love triangle that seems to now involve about half the cast? Its mind numbing. Also I think I'm supposed to like Maggie but why would I? She destroys the relationship of her best friend (a relationship she pushed them into in the first place) kisses Jim and then moves in with her boyfriend who she doesn't like. This woman is a complete bitch.
But then there's the political rhetoric. I don't know if you're aware of this but Will McAvoy is a Republican. I know he's a Republican because Aaron Sorkin hits me over the head with this fact at every chance he gets (short of having McAvoy do a big 'I'm a Republican' song and dance number every week) presumably so that he can take some kind of fictional cover behind whilst relentlessly attacking the right – 'but McAvoy's a Republican'. Can anyone remember any criticism of Democrats covered on the show other than the Weiner story, which we were repeatedly told wasn't really news and shouldn't have been treated as such so doesn't really count anyway? The whole thing is just so heavy handed and clunking.
Must say I agree with ALL these points.
1 - The relationships suck, Maggie isn't likeable just stupid and no way would Sloan want that guy, plus it is not at all believable that Sloan is some socially awkward chick who has issues with guys, not just cause she's hot but her whole demeanor. Plus the casting of her friend is terrible, that chick is too tall for most of the other cast members.
2 - Agree that Sorkin is blatantly a democrat not an independent, like what about the mountains of Democrats who have sold out over the years. The show clearly has an anti-republican bias.
3 - The whole show seems so unrealistic, its ok to challenge the establishment but calling the tea party the "American Taliban" is just as sensationalist as FOX calling Obama "Un-American".
4 - Bringing back the college chick was stupid too, maybe next season do something like that but here it just seemed slotted in to give the series some level of symmetry or some shit.
QUOTE(sexyy1010 @ Sep 12 2012, 00:36)
However generally I really quite liked it. I find it fluid and uncompromising. Its well acted and I personally really like the script. I don't generally dislike any of the charaters. It has maintained a pretty good, fast paced storyline(s)
I don't think it was fantastic television, but very watchable. Awaiting season 2.
I'm with you on this verdict. Enjoyed it and actually disappointed it was only 10 episodes.
I've got to say I did quite like it, sure it wasn't a patch on The West Wing, but it was never going to be and nothing Sorkin does will top that because it was great television.
As simple entertainment I thought it worked well enough that I'll watch Season 2. Some things could have been done better. What show can we say is perfect? And yes, some political bias was very evident, but I think as an outsider that didn't really matter.
I think one of the few real problems I had with the series is that it is set in the real world and has such a spread out time scale. I think it would have been better to do like the West Wing where they changed history a little, have fictional politicians and enemies for the most part, etc, but use real problems and storylines, but in a fictional context, so the oil spill, Bin Laden being caught, things like that could have been used but in the world they created, with characters and events sufficiently changed to match.
As simple entertainment I thought it worked well enough that I'll watch Season 2. Some things could have been done better. What show can we say is perfect? And yes, some political bias was very evident, but I think as an outsider that didn't really matter.
I think one of the few real problems I had with the series is that it is set in the real world and has such a spread out time scale. I think it would have been better to do like the West Wing where they changed history a little, have fictional politicians and enemies for the most part, etc, but use real problems and storylines, but in a fictional context, so the oil spill, Bin Laden being caught, things like that could have been used but in the world they created, with characters and events sufficiently changed to match.
Little update -
The Newsroom Season 1 will be released on DVD in June.
Season 2 will also premiere on HBO also in June.
The Newsroom Season 1 will be released on DVD in June.
Season 2 will also premiere on HBO also in June.
Season two trailer
Loved the trailer very much looking forward to Season 2 and getting first season on DVD.
http://blogbypaul.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/stop-the-press/
http://blogbypaul.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/stop-the-press/
Enjoyed season 1...mostly, so will be checking out season 2.
On the recommendation of Jonny I watched a couple of episodes of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip another Sorkin creation, really enjoying it so far.
OK, just read about it and will also give that one a go...thanks to you both!
Not sure if it's been mentioned but Series 2 will be on in the UK in August
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