HBO's 'The Newsroom'

[It's Damn Real!]

This is fucking impressive. HBO is about to knock one out of the park again.

For those who are totally in the dark here, this is essentially a fast-paced drama based on the set of a news station employing a somewhat now-rogue (outspoken) news anchor who grew to popularity over his choice not to offend anyone by never picking sides who is at risk of losing his popularity over a heated diatribe spoken in front of hundreds of cell phones and cameras against the question "Why is America the greatest country in the world?"

[YOUTUBE]JM3nvATF-U8[/YOUTUBE]

That's the opening scene. If you can't get into it based off that, don't bother.

Remember here too — this is written by Aaron Sorkin. He's most renowned for A Few Good Men, as well as The Social Network, Moneyball, The West Wing and The American President. He's a dialogue king.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

I saw an advert for this yesterday and I got a distinct 'Network' tone from what I saw, which is a good thing. Unfortunately it doesn't air here until later on in July but it looks like I'll be able to plug the Game of Thrones shaped hole that I've been left with, with another great HBO production.

Jeff Daniels in a leading role isn't something I've seen too often so I'm looking forward to him being centre-stage (no pun intended) for a change.

 

[The Bearded One]

HBO has posted the pilot on YouTube. I was wanting to watch it when it aired, but this damn tropical storm that doesn't want to go away made the satellite not work, so I just finished watching it. I had been looking forward to this show for weeks, and I was kind of nervous going in after hearing some mixed reviews for it. But any reservations I may have had quickly vanished and I loved the show. I thought it was great. It really pulled me in and I can't wait to see where the show is going next week. It's not the usual HBO-type show that we're used to seeing: no violence, excessive foul language (although there was some), sex or anything along those lines. It didn't need any of those things to tell a great story, and I think that is a breath of fresh air. I loved the pilot episode of "The Newsroom," and if it keeps this up, I think I found my new obsession.

Also, as a journalism major, I wish newsroom were this exciting.

 

[jmt225]

Just watched the Pilot and it was as incredible as advertised. To compare it to that overrated piece of shit Network is an injustice. All you have to say is that it was written by the guy who wrote Social Network and Moneyball (the two best American films of the last two years IMO) and that it's set in a Newsroom and stars Jeff Daniels and that's it. It doesn't compare to anything if you ask me. It's its own show.

Aaron Sorkin is easily the best dialogue writer in film/television today, and he's somehow able to get his characters to speak at a rapid pace with complex and sometimes confusing dialogue, while still keeping your interest all the same. It's remarkable. And because of it's vastness, so much gets said and done in a such a short period of time. This pilot episode, just like Moneyball and the Social Network, flew by while still making you feel like you witnessed so much by the end of it.

I also loved how they just jumped into the Louisiana oil explosion without any hint. It's obvious this show is going to follow the news of the past couple years and go from there. And that's what is ultimately going to be brilliant about this show because everything about it will all still seem relevant today since it feels like it all just happened yesterday (it's seriously hard for me to grasp that the oil explosion happened over 2 years ago now). This was definitely the route to go instead of creating fake news stories.

And I can already tell that this character Will McAvoy was made for Jeff Daniels, just as Tony Soprano was made for James Gandolfini and Omar Little was made for Michael K. Williams. I see this show lasting for quite some time and Jeff Daniels turning this Will McAvoy into one of the best, most intriguing characters in television history. Jeff Daniels is a wonderful, highly underrated actor and as much as anything with this show, I'm looking forward to seeing him shine and start receiving all the praise and accolades he has long deserved. Bryan Cranston is finally about to have some competition come award season.

 

[akrassikauda]

Will McAvoy has replace Det. Jimmy McNulty as my favorite tv character because Jeff Daniels is that good in the role that's well written. Sam Watersons role is also brilliant as a father figure/mentor to McAvoy.

I like the format as you see the network report on past yet still current events and how the entire staff works to get the story right instead of being the first to get the story. I reccomend The Network if you love good acting great dialog and great story telling.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

This show is like a liberal/leftist wet dream. I have at least one mental orgasm between the hours of 10 and 11PM EST on Sunday nights because of it.

This past Sunday's episode, having centered around the death of Bin Laden, was amazing. I had totally forgotten that the Rock tweeted about Bin Laden's death before it was announced.

The entire ending sequence alone was well worth the cost of admission, so to speak.

 

[MrLamper]

I am incredibly interested in watching this and have downloaded each episode as they have come out.
Unfortunately I have resits to take for Uni, so have been unable to dedicate any time to anything other than studying.
Come friday, that all changes and I will have 7 or 8 episodes to watch!

West Wing is one of my all time favorite shows, and Studio 60 was fantastic too; though short-lived, unfortunately.

 

[Danger Burger]

Seen maybe the first four episodes on sky atlantic over here, its great and theres no signs of it slowing down.

The ad with the afore-linked scene came on two weeks before the show started and quickly became my favourite ad of the month. (and first ever favourite ad). I read some review on-line and they sounded like the show was gonna be a bit politically-pushy, which it is i guess, but fortunately i dont care for two great reasons. The show is done perfectly and I am not in anyway involved in american politics!

If youre not watching it, start watching it! Just do what I say. Watch it.

 

[akrassikauda]

Last weeks episode took you in to what happens when values are thrown out in favor of ratings and what the American people need to know is pushed aside for junk. Everything Will and Mac built had to be thrown out for Casey Anthony and Anthony Weiner. While Sloan needs to tell the people about the dire situation on the economy with real quotes from the people in the know. The line about how much America hates the Wall St. guys but this time they're right was spot on but only if my fellow Americans knew what their priorities where we may not be in this mess but they're more concerned about Casey Anthony than knowing how are they going to pay their bills with no job because the US credit defaulted.

I love this show for it's realism.