Newsroom. Anyone watching?
 

First episode looks promising. I love excellent TV writing.

Got it on the DVR. Didn't have a chance to watch it yet
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I enjoyed it.

It has been hit pretty hard in a lot of reviews but I like it a whole lot.

Can't wait for the next episode.

I would definitely watch it if I had HBO or had friends who had HBO.

Me too.

It was very good. But not a "long run" type of show. Has too much of a cinema feel. But for 2-3 seasons it's going to be pretty great.

We were talking about this at work. Sorkin wrote this episode. He can be a little liberal preachy in his story telling. Some of the dialogue in the negotiation between Jeff Daniels and his ex-girlfriend/Executive Producer chick comes off like a high school commencement address.

Also, the camera on tracks following people as they walk down hallways -ala West Wing- gets a little annoying when it's over done. Sorkin loves this effect for some reason, I think he over-does it.

Otherwise, thought the show was OK, but didn't have the authentic feel of The West Wing. I love Jeff Daniels as an actor. He was outstanding as Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in "Gettysburg." Pit that against his part in "Dumb and Dumber" and that shows his crazy range.

And the chicks were hot.

I thought it was great, and it should lean left. It is a show about a newsroom that isn't Faux News.

I loved it.

Its better than 90% of TV already. **** the reviewers.

Me too. I can't wait for next Sunday.

Also, Sam Waterston was a Marine and will kick the shit out of you. He doesn't care how many energy bars you eat.

Is he trying to play a drunk or did he just get really old?

I can't tell.

I suspect both.

Alison Pill being on my screen is never a bad thing

Yes

Just watched the first episode. Pretty good.

I take it back. This show sucks.

Haven't watched the 2nd one yet, but that Aaron Sorkin-style writing, where is sounds like two people having a conversation that only Aaron Sorkin would write--I just find that grating.

I've been a big Sorkin fan in the past. Sports Night was great, the West Wing was brilliant. But so far, Newsroom isn't working. It could be renamed Aaron Sorkin's Civic Lessons Hour.

The West Wing, even as as a show about politics, never was this in your face. It was always about the characters. The dialogue was better too. Still typical Sorkin, but not so obviously fake and forced.

I'll give it time though. I've heard the writing gets better over the next couple episodes.

I LOATHE the type of dialogue that was used in last night's episode. We all know what it's trying to be...quick, witty and smart with a dash of humor.

It's very little of that. I found none of it funny or charming. Instead felt over acted and self-important.

I predict some grudge ****ing will go on soon.

If it makes a second season I'll be surprised.

Sports night and West Wing were not that great our of the gate either. They both had to find their footing. I'm sure they see what we see. Some stuff is not working, some is etc.

WTF?:shake:

What did you expect? Thats classic Sorkin, thats what he does.

So skip this? Haven't tuned in yet, but it's easy to catch up.

I really liked Social Network. It was the same schtick but felt natural and not forced.

Emily Mortimer isn't a complete failure but whats up with all the body swaying expressions. It's a bit comical.

Newsroom gets picked up for 2nd season.

http://media.avclub.com/images/408/408649/16x9/627.jpg

http://www.avclub.com/articles/hbo-r...e-blood,82041/

Doesn't surprise me.

LMAO

For once I agree with you on something. I do not enjoy his style of writing.

Had no idea they decided after one episode to pickup new shows for a second season unless they were obvious hits.

HBO usually gets out in front of things. They also seem more likely to give things time based on their investments. I was pleasantly surprised to see that news though didn't expect it so soon.

I would be, if I weren't standing in a field in the middle of AFGANISTAN!!!!!*


* - I don't get 'who's on first' either.

QUICK! Somebody do a Gilbert & Sullivan parody!

Also, the first episode of Newsroom was pretty bad. I've heard the second episode is even worse. I can't wait to watch it all!!!

I thought the first one was pretty good, but yeah, the second was decidedly less so.

'Less so' meaning 'too Sorkin-ey' or just plain blah?

Blah, weak story, poor direction, acting was sub par. First episode was great in those respects.

YES

I thought it was ok last night, too much propaganda to be good. Much better than the second episode, but still not as good as the first one.

Agreed, was better.

Why do you say propaganda? Do you not think news organizations such as this aren't basically run by big business?

I may like this show alright but I haven't watched a cable news channel in years.

I am an anti tea party independent who leans slightly right, although moving left more and more. About half of the show last night was talking about how dumb the tea party is and how their elected officials are a threat to our country. I agree with most of the sentiment, but I don't need to have politics thrown in my face for an hour when watching a HBO drama series.

I get that some of it is realistic in that all but one cable news show leans way left. The "news show" stated that they aren't going to push an agenda, but instead focus solely on the issues. That this "news show" is above all of that and the new direction is concentrating on the middle. Clearly over the 6-10 months in 2010 that the show covered there would be some things to criticize the left for, but all they did was pump anti right messages all night. It was the exact opposite of concentrating on the middle. Keith Olberman might as well have been the news anchor last night.

Although theoretically I agree with what you're saying it's becoming harder and harder not to see that this "tea party" movement is in fact a real threat to the country's liberties.

So much of a threat that even Republicans all over the spectrum have no realistic outlook towards future that is viable. Many are trying to voice that but don't want to come out as "pro-Obama" or something....even though the tea party is an issue that doesn't even involve Democrats.

I'll agree though that I find it a bit hard to believe that Jeff Daniels character is Republican.

LMAO

How scary!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/S78RzZr3IwI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

? Does he recycle lines for different shows?

His dialogue always seems like, "Oh, look how clever I am!" to me.

What I'm trying to figure out is if Sorkin is smart enough to make Will look like a dope for correcting McKenzie on the Quixote/Horse/Donkey thing [Don actually did ride a horse, Sancho rode the donkey], or dumb enough to not know the difference.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_EDMddeVAyz...0/image004.png

I agree. the cutesy-clever dialogue with rapid-fire delivery is fun to watch, but it doesn't sound natural at all.

Great review

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2...e-for-optimism

Again, thats classic Sorkin. Thats what he does. It's clever not natural. Still its fun in its own way. No one does that. Like it or not, its orginal.

Dude, Did you not watch an episode of West Wing? He puts his politics in his art.

BTW, my new favorite phrase is "Speak truth to stupid".

You just restated everything I said.

That's kind of the thing. Like it or not. I choose not.

The last episode was the best so far, but I still find the parts where he's doing "the news" incredibly boring and annoying. And none of the characters are interesting yet. And since it's HBO and you're not talking about a long season, is there any time left to make them interesting?

Of course just need some nudity and sex.

I have never seen an episode of West Wing (I was in college at that time and didn't watch many prime time drama shows). I did watch a little bit of Sports Night and enjoyed it and he has made some pretty good movies like A Few Good Men, Charlie Wilson's War, The Social Network, and Moneyball.

Looking forward to the next one.

Original, but inferior to Mamet. :p

Mamet is so far above Sorkin in class thats not a fair fight. He's one of my favorite modern writers.

yeah, like some Olivia Munn

Possible NSFW:
http://skirtday.files.wordpress.com/...ivia-munn1.jpg

Definetly NSFW Cell phone hacked pics:
http://robarnieanddawn.com/index.php?q=node/5253
http://robarnieanddawn.com/index.php?q=node/5242

http://rekotrill.com/wp-content/gall...axim-mag-5.jpg
http://www.popcrunch.com/wp-content/...via-munn-4.jpg

So, did anybody watch tonight?

The end of last nights episode was great. That last 15 mins or so was their best so far. Loving it.

Episodes 1, 3, and 4 have been quite entertaining. Particularly the end of yesterday's episode. This show has some promise.

This show kicks ass.

I cried. That ****ing newsman Don.

yeah it has its moments where it really is top quality TV. When he is in the chair broadcasting and some event is occuring, the writing and acting just gets sharper.

Olivia Munn is showing some promise as an actress.

Olivia Munn might be great in certain roles, but she doesn't handle the rhythm and emphasis of Sorkin dialogue too well. She has her moments, but there are several points when she says a line and I think, "she missed". For contrast, see Sam Waterson and Jeff Daniels scenes.

All I know her from is the Daily Show. I thought she was a stupid comedian who happens to be hot also. Not a lot going on upstairs.

Is she trying to play kinda dumb or is that just her acting?

This show is pretty good. My biggest knock on the show, and something that needs to be changed before I will consider it great, is the god awful music. Just terrible.

I agree. Maybe they are so focused on snappy dialog they forget that you need quality music to prodcue a quality TV show.

Just started watching this a couple of weeks ago. I like what I've seen so far.

No. She is playing a character with two PHDs and no social skills whatsoever. I think she is nailing it. And it cracks me up the way this board believes that it knows what an Emmy winning writer should do to make his show better.

Sure, there are things that we wish would be different, but we have become TV snobs, believing we could improve Breaking Bad, or The Walking Dead, etc. We give ourselves too much credit, and believe ourselves to be smarter than we are.

We need to stick to things that we can actually do better than the people doing the job, and that's running the Kansas City Chiefs.

Another really strong episode.

On the other hand, TV executives recently green-lit another sitcom for Rob Schneider, so maybe they could take a few lessons from some everymans.

I gave up the day they cancelled Sarah Connor Chronicles.

There's a problem marrying up the interpersonal stuff with the 'ripped from the headlines' stuff.
We've been with these characters for 7 weeks, but events have transpired over several months. Meanwhile, these characters are in stasis, Will and Mac's 'lurve' continues to simmer, the Maggie, Lisa, Jim triangle continues to be a more urgent issue than the death of the likes of OBL, heck Jim and Lisa have dated for months and the age old 'someone said ILY too soon' trope pops up TONIGHT? Nobody's moved on, gotten a promotion, changed their hairstyle, burnt out, . . . nothing?

If it helps I don't even pay attention to the "events" in chronological order. They more serve as a backdrop from my point of view. Yes there are overall implications in how the characters act....especially all the "TMI" nonsense that keeps going on.

Last night got kinda silly at points. Come on, he's eating pot brownies and everyone's joking around with it? Yea right. Then he just snaps into "broadcaster mode".