The Newsroom

[bearxor]

I actually wish it would cover made-up news stories as opposed to trying to say how the media should have handled x story.

It's easy to stand up and say "This is what should have happened". I would just prefer it to not deal with RL topics in the way that it is. You can still deal with them, but do it in the reality of the show, ot real reality.

Overall though, I think it's well acted more than anything. Although the only thing I can hear whenever Emily Mortimer speaks is "Careful, my bones!"

 

[allisolm]

It was picked up for a second season after just the 2 episodes, so hopefully it will continue to entertain. Husband and I both enjoyed the first 2, laughing aloud several times during each.

Jeff Daniels character "Why didn't you tell me?"
Sam Waterston's character: "I couldn't. There was only one person in the world who knew how to get hold of you."
Jeff Daniels character: "But YOU were that person!"

Above is the gist of what was said but not the exact words.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Picked up for a second season already? OK then, the first episode wasn't THAT good, the beginning rant was awesome but then it just kind of wallowed for me.

 

[slayer202]

Out of curiousity I turned it on last night in the middle of an episode. It was the part where Olivia Munn is taping a quick segment and then the English woman who I believe is the new boss introduces herself and they go into her office.

LOL wow. Every single line was Sorkin-tastic, I could barely contain myself. To make it even better, The Social Network was on another channel so I switched straight over to that. I got to see Eisenberg's "you have the minimum amount of my attention" rant. Priceless

I flipped back to Newsroom and it's not always as bad as the first scene I saw, but that scene was REALLY bad and I can see why it's getting poor reviews.

 

[LightRider]

Loved the second episode. I never buy that these are real people engaging in real conversations, but I do love the idea that it's possible.

 

[dagamer34]

I actually wish it would cover made-up news stories as opposed to trying to say how the media should have handled x story.

It's easy to stand up and say "This is what should have happened". I would just prefer it to not deal with RL topics in the way that it is. You can still deal with them, but do it in the reality of the show, ot real reality.

Overall though, I think it's well acted more than anything. Although the only thing I can hear whenever Emily Mortimer speaks is "Careful, my bones!"

Sorkin already talked about that in relation to SportsNight, one of his previous shows. It's easy to fake real sounding sports. It's hard to fake real sounding news. There's no doubt that some of this stuff will hit close to home. That's kind of the point. There's no avoiding that. I just want good TV.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I really like it. The foreshadowing is extremely heavy-handed; oh, they just changed the e-mail system, someone is going to accidentally send a private e-mail to the whole company. And just in case you didn't get it, here's someone accidentally sending a meaningless e-mail to the whole company just to fully set up future events. But the dialog, even for its over-the-top, completely unrealistic nature, is smart, witty and well-written. I don't understand reviewers who complain that most television is stupid, and then turn around and say that a smart show is "unrealistic." Uh, in the real world, people generally sound like morons; just watch reality TV for 20 minutes for a sample. Something doesn't need to be "real" to be engaging.

But seriously, some of the plot points can be seen coming from outer space. Sorkin has an odd way of making his dialog vaguely inaccessible to make it sound smart while simultaneously writing the most transparent plot that you can accurately predict the course of the entire show from the first 5 minutes. I still like it, it's just frustrating getting the "big reveal" when you've been pretty sure that's what the last 40 minutes were grinding towards.

 

[bearxor]

Sorkin already talked about that in relation to SportsNight, one of his previous shows. It's easy to fake real sounding sports. It's hard to fake real sounding news. There's no doubt that some of this stuff will hit close to home. That's kind of the point. There's no avoiding that. I just want good TV.

It's not hard to fake real sounding news. I did t even say that he shouldn't be talking about RL events. What I'm saying is that the real news can be massaged in to a fictional story line setup that still lets Sorkin have the debate, but provides less of a "I'm smarter than you" feel to it.

And if you want to watch good tv, you shouldnt be crazy about this show. Here's why:

I really like it. The foreshadowing is extremely heavy-handed; oh, they just changed the e-mail system, someone is going to accidentally send a private e-mail to the whole company. And just in case you didn't get it, here's someone accidentally sending a meaningless e-mail to the whole company just to fully set up future events. But the dialog, even for its over-the-top, completely unrealistic nature, is smart, witty and well-written. I don't understand reviewers who complain that most television is stupid, and then turn around and say that a smart show is "unrealistic." Uh, in the real world, people generally sound like morons; just watch reality TV for 20 minutes for a sample. Something doesn't need to be "real" to be engaging.

But seriously, some of the plot points can be seen coming from outer space. Sorkin has an odd way of making his dialog vaguely inaccessible to make it sound smart while simultaneously writing the most transparent plot that you can accurately predict the course of the entire show from the first 5 minutes. I still like it, it's just frustrating getting the "big reveal" when you've been pretty sure that's what the last 40 minutes were grinding towards.

Totally agree and the second episode was a lot worse about this than the first.

I still think its an extremely well-acted show though, and if there's one thing Sorkin can do really well, he can at least keep the show moving so that the grinding isn't TOO grinding.

 

[Printer Bandit]

is the fictional ACN trying to be like the real life RT?

 

[LightRider]

is the fictional ACN trying to be like the real life RT?

I'm just glad the real RT exists. The Zeitgeist Movement gets good coverage on that network.

 

[rockyct]

I think this last episode was pretty good. I still think it's a bit weird that they are doing what a perfect news show should do but I understand why they are doing it like that. I think this episode actually made me think that Olivia Munn can act as well.

 

[Spineshank]

I am in love with this show. That is all.

 

[benzylic]

I love this show. I realize its easy to look back and say this is how the story should have been reported but apart from that I feel like it systematically touches on everything thats wrong with todays new media.

 

[Craig234]

As far as the news, this show is outstanding. As far as the relationship stories included to make the show more marketable to a broader audience, they're typical.

I think the show does a great job illustrating important political news issues, just as West Wing reminded the country of some good things about a President when needed.

 

[LightRider]

Part of me always wonders if we can actually support and sustain a 4th 24 hour news network. I doubt it.

 

[rockyct]

Part of me always wonders if we can actually support and sustain a 4th 24 hour news network. I doubt it.

We can't even sustain one real 24 hour news network. CNN tried to at one point but it could never really make it work once Fox News really took off. They try to be a balanced network but news needs to have a point of view with many issues. Without it, the result ends up being a spine-less mess.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

This show is phenomenal and the lead character really strikes a chord with me as a long standing conservative who has been turned off by the current state of the party. Of course it doesn't hurt that my favorite hotty in the world, Olivia Munn, is part of the cast. I was skeptical going in because I was unsure that Dumber would be able to pull off a serious newsman, but he's done a great job. The many subplots are interesting and the general premise is engaging, which is basically a newcast that chooses to no longer chase ratings but to give the people the information they need to make the right choices.

I'm sure they will cancel it within a season or two because this country is awash in bipartisan sheep, but more people should watch this to gain a better understanding of what our news should be and what has happened to our country. Tonight Munn gave an economics lesson to the producer of the show that was very insightful and enlightening, and sounded exactly like what I have been saying for years now. Do yourself a favor and give this show a chance, it's worth the hour you'll spend each week.

 

[Phoenix86]

I'd listen to economic primers from her all day. :wub:

 

[NeoV]

just watched first 2 episodes on a few flights yesterday - love, love, love the show, looking forward to catching up

That rant he gives in the first episode should be required viewing for everyone in the P&N forum IMO...

 

[Pr0d1gy]

just watched first 2 episodes on a few flights yesterday - love, love, love the show, looking forward to catching up

That rant he gives in the first episode should be required viewing for everyone in the P&N forum IMO...

It should be required viewing for the entire country at this point. So true.

I'd listen to economic primers from her all day. :wub:

Yeah, she could talk about man on man sex all day and I would still listen....lol She is my #1 favorite hotty so I was very happy to see her on this show. Plus, she is really doing a great job playing the ubernerdy emotionless girl.

 

[slayer202]

:awe:

 

[cronos]

Episode 5 was fantastic. It's my favorite so far.

I actually didn't care much for Olivia Munn, but she's doing great in this series.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Another great episode. I love that they put Munn front and center on this one. Some people are born to be a star, Munn is one of them. This was absolutely my favorite episode since the first one and I love that they got OG triple OG to be Will's bodyguard. He might be the funniest big scary dude around.

 

[pyonir]

Sam Waterston was incredible in last night's episode. He's always incredible but it's always nice to see a reminder of why he's such a great (underrated?) actor.

 

[rockyct]

It was another great episode. The therapy scene seems like it was a rehash of the ones in the West Wing, but still worked very well. Munn is continuing to gain my respect for her right now. It's the first real "acting" role I've seen of her so I've been really quite surprised. Even if this show gets canceled next year, it really could get her some real acting roles in the future.