Any Sorkin fans watching HBO's The Newsroom?

[Deleted]

I'm dying to know what you all think.

I'm hooked, but considering my line of work, that's probably not surprising. I love all the preachy sermons about what journalism should be and all the disdain for what it's become.

Most nights, I watch and wake up in the morning, inspired to do my part to inform readers and provide a service. Then I open my inbox or a local website and am hit with the kind of crap Will and MacKenzie are constantly trying to knock down.

I know it's gotten mixed reviews from some of my coworkers, but most people are giving it a chance (while hoping Sorkin does a better job with the female characters. I mean, that scene in the second episode where Maggie loses an interview because she doesn't want to tell anyone the subject was an ex-boyfriend? Yikes. Talk about making her look stupid, spineless and irresponsible...)

[laladypoet]

I agree about the female characters. and I'm over the Will/Mac thing. let's just talk about the important stuff.

[Deleted]

Ditto both of you. I like the hard storylines, but think the love triangle storylines are eyeroll worthy.

[Deleted]

I have it DVRed but haven't seen it yet. I've heard mixed reviews so want to get a look at it myself.

[dev22]

I love it so far. LOVE.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

I LOVE love love it. I didn't watch The West Wing when it was on, so I have limited experience with Sorkin. I think his quick, witty dialogue is fabulous. I'm also a journalism romantic, so the monologues about what we should be doing and the way things were get me all verklempted.

I totally agree that the women on the show need some balls. Mac is so badass when she's doing the show, then becomes a puddle of goo when it comes to Will's flings. You can do an intriguing love story without puppy dog eyes and swooning damsels.

[y4m]

I liked the pilot, was lukewarm about episode 2, and deleted the season pass after this last episode, which I just found disrespectful and preachy. I loved West Wing, which yes was liberal, but with smart conservative characters and thinking thrown in too (Ainsley Hayes, Sam's the rich already pay their fair share speech, etc.).

Once a show recruits Jane Fonda to play a news executive foaming at the mouth about how the coverage needs to be slanted "to keep the Koch brothers on her side," I'm out.

I also think the show is somewhat dangerous, because it portrays real events as real, but then also fully makes other stuff up. There was a reference to a veterans bill in this last episode, and it gave a bill number and said that a GOP congressman or senator got voted out for cosponsoring it along with Dems. We looked up the bill, which did exist, but there were never any GOP cosponsors--it was just a partisan bill. Is it possible that someone watches that show and thinks that actually happened? Absolutely! That's scary.

[mishap]

I'm in editorial and love a good FUCK YEAH EDIT RULES storyline as much as the next person, but even I'm finding the sanctimony hard to handle at times.

I absolutely loathed the opening scene in the pilot. "Why is America great?" Give me a fucking break -- talk about pitching your own softballs.

[basilosaurus]

I'm trying. The pilot was ok, the 2nd ep was godawful. The 3rd was greatly improved over the 2nd, but I still hate every single character except the slumdog millionaire guy.

[laurenpetro]

i really really like it. call me sappy but i like the personal side, too.

[cookiemdough]

I like it. I am however bothered by the relationships on the show. They seem too messy for the workplace so I am having a hard time with the realism of it, especially since the show seems to want to use real events as a backdrop.

[One Girl In All The World]

Loved the first episode that we happened upon while on vacation. Unfortunately we don't have HBO though so I've not seen any more

[Deleted]

It surprises me that Jeff Daniel's character was supposedly the most liked anchor on TV, when it seems like he is smug and unlikeable even when they are on the air. Miscast?

[mysterons]

I need to start watching this. I have six months of HBO for free and I'm unemployed.

[soontobeka]

Jul 11, 2012 12:23:35 GMT -5 y4m said:

I liked the pilot, was lukewarm about episode 2, and deleted the season pass after this last episode, which I just found disrespectful and preachy. I loved West Wing, which yes was liberal, but with smart conservative characters and thinking thrown in too (Ainsley Hayes, Sam's the rich already pay their fair share speech, etc.).

Once a show recruits Jane Fonda to play a news executive foaming at the mouth about how the coverage needs to be slanted "to keep the Koch brothers on her side," I'm out.

I also think the show is somewhat dangerous, because it portrays real events as real, but then also fully makes other stuff up. There was a reference to a veterans bill in this last episode, and it gave a bill number and said that a GOP congressman or senator got voted out for cosponsoring it along with Dems. We looked up the bill, which did exist, but there were never any GOP cosponsors--it was just a partisan bill. Is it possible that someone watches that show and thinks that actually happened? Absolutely! That's scary.

Actually, there was one GOP cosponsor of the bill mentioned (HR 2559) www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2559
Thomas Rooney of Florida. However, he did not get voted out for cosponsoring the bill.

[jigsy]

Jul 11, 2012 12:23:35 GMT -5 y4m said:

I liked the pilot, was lukewarm about episode 2, and deleted the season pass after this last episode, which I just found disrespectful and preachy. I loved West Wing, which yes was liberal, but with smart conservative characters and thinking thrown in too (Ainsley Hayes, Sam's the rich already pay their fair share speech, etc.).

Once a show recruits Jane Fonda to play a news executive foaming at the mouth about how the coverage needs to be slanted "to keep the Koch brothers on her side," I'm out.

I also think the show is somewhat dangerous, because it portrays real events as real, but then also fully makes other stuff up. There was a reference to a veterans bill in this last episode, and it gave a bill number and said that a GOP congressman or senator got voted out for cosponsoring it along with Dems. We looked up the bill, which did exist, but there were never any GOP cosponsors--it was just a partisan bill. Is it possible that someone watches that show and thinks that actually happened? Absolutely! That's scary.

I was pretty surprised by this as well. The west wing was all about a liberal white house, and sure, they poked fun at some of the right wing opposition at times (like my favorite Barlett solique made to the conservative radio talking head who didn't stand when he entered the room...good shit right there). But it was always countered with the smart right to, like you said, Ainsley was kick ass.

Maybe it's because the show isn't on network TV sorkin doesn't feel like he needs to be as fair...IDK. Then again, Will is supposed to be a "conservative" newsman, right? So I guess it would make sense that he needs to stay right.

I do dislike that they are using real life situations. I prefer that they just make stuff up like in the West Wing. Sure, real life has plenty of drama to draw from, but it's just too easy for them to do the right news when they know where the story is going essentially. I guess if they were making up the world, they would know it just as much too, but it feels different.

I liked that they gave a shout out to Bob Bennett losing to Mike Lee. That shit blew my mind when it happened.

[Deleted]

I freaking love it.

And Will is a Republican, and I think he is a smart/witty character. He doesn't attack conservatives, just the crazy wing of the tea party.

[dev22]

Jul 11, 2012 18:34:36 GMT -5 @irishbride said:

I freaking love it.

And Will is a Republican, and I think he is a smart/witty character. He doesn't attack conservatives, just the crazy wing of the tea party.

Exactly. He has said many times he is a registered R, but that he thinks the Tea Party has hijacked the right. So I think there will be a lot of good, intelligent discourse in the future.

[basilosaurus]

Ainsley was only in 12 episodes and didn't even show up until season 2 (thanks, imdb), so to be miffed there's no character like her in the 1st 3 episodes of the newsroom is a little ridiculous and romanticizing the past.

There's no reason they have to have all the female characters stupid to begin with, though. I'm fine with Will being a resident ass, but have some intelligent people I can like to balance it out.

[teflep]

Jul 11, 2012 19:55:55 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Ainsley was only in 12 episodes and didn't even show up until season 2 (thanks, imdb), so to be miffed there's no character like her in the 1st 3 episodes of the newsroom is a little ridiculous and romanticizing the past.

There's no reason they have to have all the female characters stupid to begin with, though. I'm fine with Will being a resident ass, but have some intelligent people I can like to balance it out.

But was ww so preachy 3 episodes in? I am guessing that is why the reference. I don't remember it being so.

[basilosaurus]

I don't know, tef. I'll have to rewatch

Wasn't one of the first few episodes the one in which Bartlett rips Not!Dr Laura a new one? I'd say that's kinda preachy even if it's awesome. It's just something most of us agree with. Although, I did once see an article from a conservative christian site get all huffy and attempt to debunk it. They definitely thought it was smug and preachy.

[teflep]

Hmm, maybe. It has been a very long time. I think dr. Laura, though, is fair game.

[basilosaurus]

OK, I had to look it up. Synopses of first season here www.imdb.com/title/tt0200276/episodes?season=1

From my memory, not a lot of preaching, but ep 2 introduced the obnoxious Mandy, so, similar to the shitty female characters in newsroom.

And now I'm going to have to dig up my old ww files b/c rewatching that show will be infinitely more rewarding than anything on tv now.

[y4m]

In what way has Will shown himself to be a conservative, other than mentioning it once in the pilot? His supposed conservative leanings have been a convenient plotpoint at best so far. And at worst, I think he's more a liberal conception of what an acceptable conservative might be.

At such point as he makes a good conservative argument in a thoughtful way, I'll could reconsider. Bet I'll be waiting awhile.

[y4m]

Jul 11, 2012 18:20:37 GMT -5 soontobeka said:

Actually, there was one GOP cosponsor of the bill mentioned (HR 2559) www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr2559
Thomas Rooney of Florida. However, he did not get voted out for cosponsoring the bill.

I stand corrected, and yet my point still stands. I think if the show is 95% true, it's downright irresponsible to just make up the other 5% because people are also going to take those things as facts.

[Deleted]

Wait, what main female characters are dumb? I can think of one that acts weak, not dumb (the girl dating don). The others are strong and intelligent. The econ lady (who according to IMDB is going to be a major character long term) and the producer lady (can you tell I'm bad with names?)

[cookiemdough]

You can't be a conservative and question why certain people were candidates put forth by the Tea Party?

But then again I watch Morning Joe and everyone calls him a RINO so maybe I am biased.

[y4m]

Jul 12, 2012 8:18:25 GMT -5 cookiemdough said:

You can't be a conservative and question why certain people were candidates put forth by the Tea Party?

I'm not saying you can't. But through three episodes (and 6+ months of timeline on the show) now, there's been zero evidence he's conservative in any way, aside from him saying he's a registered Republican once. That makes me think his republican registration is not much more than a plot device. Maybe I'll be proven wrong? But using Jane Fonda in a show like this makes me think I will not be.

[Deleted]

I don't know if the female characters are dumb as much as they don't seem to have any backbone or take anything more than a supporting role on the show.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

Jul 11, 2012 12:23:35 GMT -5 y4m said:

Once a show recruits Jane Fonda to play a news executive foaming at the mouth about how the coverage needs to be slanted "to keep the Koch brothers on her side," I'm out.

Are you mad that it's Jane Fonda or that you think that scenario wouldn't happen? Anyone who thinks big tv isn't creating content with their advertisers, owners, and ANYONE who could give them well-publicized flak in mind, they're probably high.