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[Clevinger]

Is it any wonder that critics employed by the news media would hate this show? If the show is true to its marketing it is aimed directly at their failings as an industry. Of course they hate it, I'd be shocked if they didn't.

Why the hell would TV critics care about the failings of news reporters?

I was expecting a critical response like this.

It feels that people are dishing out some post Social Network backlash to Sorkin.

This excuse makes even less sense. It's much, much more likely that it's backlash from Studio 60, since this show's flaws sound exactly the same as that piece of shit. In fact, the main reason I was hyped for this show was because of The Social Network. I thought Sorkin might have got his groove back, but apparently not.

 

[LegendofJoe]

Because that worked exceedingly well on Studio 60.

Studio 60 was broadcast on NBC, this is on HBO. The audiences are completely different. Studio 60 would likely have done much better on HBO.

 

[ConfusingJazz]

This excuse makes even less sense. It's much, much more likely that it's backlash from Studio 60, since this show's flaws sound exactly the same as that piece of shit. In fact, the main reason I was hyped for this show was because of The Social Network. I thought Sorkin might have got his groove back, but apparently not.

I think its because he has a filter in The Social Network and Moneyball. He wasn't the most powerful man on set. He probably only got this shot because of those two movies.

Studio 60 was broadcast on NBC, this is on HBO. The audiences are completely different. Studio 60 would likely have done much better on HBO.

I don't get where you insult the critics like Sepinwall for disliking this though. He works on hitfix, not a major media company. He knows what he is talking about. I don't always agree with his assessments, but he isn't going to lie. Everything he said about the review reminded me of what I hated about Studio 60 and the worst excesses of The West Wing.

 

[LegendofJoe]

I don't get where you insult the critics like Sepinwall for disliking this though. He works on hitfix, not a major media company. He knows what he is talking about. I don't always agree with his assessments, but he isn't going to lie. Everything he said about the review reminded me of what I hated about Studio 60 and the worst excesses of The West Wing.

I shouldn't have written a blanket criticism like that, there probably are several legit issues with this show. I am just predisposed to expect worthless opinions from most critics and the media in general. Also the news media should be ripped to shreads for its failings as much as possible. If this show fails at doing that well as it could that will be disappointing, but I'll still be a fan if only because it tried.

 

[Cornballer]

- Sepinwall Interview: 'The Newsroom' star Jeff Daniels on cable news, movies vs. TV, and working with Aaron Sorkin

Jeff Daniels hasn't led a predictable career. He's done blockbusters ("Speed") and indies ("The Squid and the Whale"), has done highbrow ("The Purple Rose of Cairo") and lowbrow ("Dumb & Dumber"), mature Oscar winners ("Terms of Endearment") and unapologetic kiddie fare ("101 Dalmations"). The one thing he hasn’t done much of until now is television. He did a few episodic guest appearances as a new actor, did a voice cameo on "Frasier" once, and has done a couple of historical TV-movie and miniseries projects for cable, but has largely kept himself on the big screen.

That changes on Sunday night at 10 on HBO, when Daniels takes the lead role in Aaron Sorkin's new drama "The Newsroom." I spoke with Daniels about what his own take on the news media, the adjustments that come with doing television, and what it was like to be a rookie actor standing on a cliff in Hawaii with Jack Lord.

EDIT:

- THR: 'The Newsroom's' Aaron Sorkin on Idealism, Keith Olbermann and a Private New York Media Screening

 

[Cornballer]

Onion A|V Club:

- Early review of the pilot

In the best-case scenario, The Newsroom better integrates the passions of love and work; in the worst, it stands to be a lumpy mix of self-righteous blather and cutesy bullshit. The pilot mostly suggests the latter.

- Jeff Daniels, star of The Newsroom, on walking, talking, and not getting typecast.


A few more reviews:
- USA Today: Aaron Sorkin's 'Newsroom' buzzes with talk and big ideas

What works about the show outweighs what doesn't, but others will read the results differently.

- LA Times: HBO's 'The Newsroom' delivers lots of opinion

That transcendent mixture of confidence and fear, of humility and clear-eyed self-assessment, evident in so much of Sorkin's other work, is what turns a sermon into a work of art. And that is precisely what is missing here.

- NY Times: So Sayeth the Anchorman

At its best, and that doesn't come into full view until the third and fourth episodes, The Newsroom has a wit, sophistication and manic energy that recalls James L. Brooks's classic movie "Broadcast News." But at its worst, the show chokes on its own sanctimony.

- Newsday: Aaron Sorkin's 'The Newsroom' on HBO

At times, "The Newsroom" can be gaseous, softheaded, pretentious, hokey, ham-fisted, misguided, and maddeningly smug. And yet this is the rarest of TV shows -- one that actually cares deeply and passionately about the soul of an institution, in this case TV news. There's plenty of heart here -- and some very sharp writing and acting, too.

 

[ThisWreckage]

That's what I feared. Sorkin and his dialogue is insufferable.

 

[madkiller]

The Newsroom has a wit, sophistication and manic energy that recalls James L. Brooks's classic movie "Broadcast News

I like the sound of this.

 

[Meier]

Gotta say, I'm incredibly disappointed by the poor to middling reviews. I'm not necessarily a huge Sorkin fan, but I am a huge HBO drama fan and this thing has a helluva cast (outside of Olivia Munn... really, HBO?). I hope I like it more than the critics do.

 

[Cornballer]

- Matt Zoller Seitz: Sorkin’s The Newsroom — Corny, But Inspiring

The Newsroom is the worst of Aaron Sorkin and the best of Aaron Sorkin; you can't have one without the other, and I'll wager that anyone who's ever enjoyed his work must know that. Set at the fictional, New York–based cable network ACN, the show is part of an unofficial triptych of shows about how TV is watched and consumed. Like its predecessors — the mostly fondly remembered Sports Night and the train wreck Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip — it's equal parts screwball comedy, workplace drama, and polemic about what's wrong with America and American media and how they could be fixed if we'd just find our moral compass, or what's left of it, and quit being slaves to ratings, profits, and cheap cynicism.

 

[James Woods]

Not even Olivia Munn getting doggy-styled can save this for me.

 

[charsace]

Chances we get Olivia Munn titties? I know I'm not the only one thinking about it.

 

[FStop7]

Sorkin's achilles heel is that he can't resist using his characters as delivery vehicles for his personal rants. And seems to think he has to set everyone straight and tell everyone how it is about pretty much everything. Studio 60 was so bad about this and it sounds like The Newsroom is the same.

 

[Ohwiseone]

It isn't as bad as Studio 60,but its isn't the brilliance of West Wing or Sports night.

Its in the middle. I like it, then again I am a huge fan of the way he writes, this show has potential, if HBO gives it a season or two, it will be worth it.

 

[Clevinger]

Sorkin's achilles heel is that he can't resist using his characters as delivery vehicles for his personal rants. And seems to think he has to set everyone straight and tell everyone how it is about pretty much everything. Studio 60 was so bad about this and it sounds like The Newsroom is the same.

My favorite of those was in Studio 60 where his cokehead character lectured an alcoholic about how at least his addiction doesn't cause car accidents or some bullshit like that.

 

[FStop7]

My favorite of those was in Studio 60 where his cokehead character lectured an alcoholic about how at least his addiction doesn't cause car accidents or some bullshit like that.

I liked the horribly contrived storyline about the dude's brother the soldier being taken hostage just so Sorkin could shoehorn some political drama into a show that was supposed to be about Saturday Night Live.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Gotta say, I'm incredibly disappointed by the poor to middling reviews. I'm not necessarily a huge Sorkin fan, but I am a huge HBO drama fan and this thing has a helluva cast (outside of Olivia Munn... really, HBO?).

Same here. I generally expect great things from HBO's dramas, so these reviews are very surprising and disappointing. I hope I like it.

 

[Cornballer]

- TV Guide: Weekend TV: The Newsroom, Falling Skies, The Great Escape

There's no question The Newsroom is eye-rollingly full of itself. But it's also recklessly full of wit, passion, anger and humor — and timely purpose. When's the last time you saw all that wrapped up in a single TV show? The West Wing, maybe?

- Boston Globe

Fans of Sorkin’s work, especially his previous shows “Sports Night,” “The West Wing,” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” will be pleased to see “The Newsroom” has all the hallmarks of its predecessors. It is a behind-the-scenes look at an interesting, hectic professional environment — in this case the fictional 24-hour cable news network Atlantis Cable News — with a strong ensemble cast who must navigate gushing waterfalls of dialogue. And that dialogue is clever, impassioned, well-researched, funny, inspiring, and, honestly, frequently exhausting.

- Slate.com: Extra! Extra! EXTRA!!!!!!

The Newsroom's focus is on putting on a show, and because its weak points are howlers and it will be a hoot to laugh not with but at them.

- Atlantic: The Pretentious Condescension of 'The Newsroom'
- Grantland: Hot Air: Aaron Sorkin's Underwhelming Newsroom

 

[BertramCooper]

Aaron Sorkin has a super-punchable face.

"Punch me! Right in the fucking teeth!"

 

[dead souls]

Same here. I generally expect great things from HBO's dramas, so these reviews are very surprising and disappointing. I hope I like it.

I don't get this at all. Historically sure, that's a reasonable expectation, but HBO isn't that strong in dramas anymore. Luck was great, but it's dead. Treme is great but only has two years left at most. True Blood, Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire are all mediocre.

When I think of the best dramas on television HBO isn't the network that comes to my mind first, or even second.

 

[madkiller]

Jeff Daniels was on Craig Ferguson.
http://youtu.be/3zr5SeRDaPs?t=18m

 

[Emerson]

I don't get this at all. Historically sure, that's a reasonable expectation, but HBO isn't that strong in dramas anymore. Luck was great, but it's dead. Treme is great but only has two years left at most. True Blood, Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire are all mediocre.

When I think of the best dramas on television HBO isn't the network that comes to my mind first, or even second.

I was right there with you until this. Sure, HBO isn't what it used to be in that regard. And Game of Thrones doesn't match up to their past juggernauts. But it and BE especially are certainly not mediocre.

And who has a better overall offering than HBO?

 

[Dachande]

Hmm. I've finished The West Wing fairly recently and enjoyed it, especially the Sorkin-written parts, and liked some of the movie stuff he's done, but I haven't seen either of these other series you guys talk about. I'm hoping this'll be good, but...

 

[Ohwiseone]

Hmm. I've finished The West Wing fairly recently and enjoyed it, especially the Sorkin-written parts, and liked some of the movie stuff he's done, but I haven't seen either of these other series you guys talk about. I'm hoping this'll be good, but...

Sports night is on Netflix if you have it, Watch it..Its only 2 seasons, and ignore the terrible laughing track on the first.

From what i have seen, This is like Sportsnight with West wing thrown in, With more cursing as well.

 

[gabbo]

Wonder if Sorkin is familiar with this The Newsroom

 

[RatskyWatsky]

I don't get this at all. Historically sure, that's a reasonable expectation, but HBO isn't that strong in dramas anymore. Luck was great, but it's dead. Treme is great but only has two years left at most. True Blood, Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire are all mediocre.

When I think of the best dramas on television HBO isn't the network that comes to my mind first, or even second.

Luck was a really great show. The fact that it was cancelled does nothing to diminish the overall greatness of HBO's dramas.

By all accounts Treme (which I haven't seen) is a also very good show and the fact that it only has two seasons left doesn't diminish anything either.

And, despite what your personal opinions are, Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones are very well regarded critically. True Blood is an entirely different beast.

I'd say HBO has had a near flawless track record with their dramas. (The Newsroom notwithstanding) What was their last critically panned drama? John from Cincinnati?

 

[Cornballer]

- Sepinwall Interview: 'The Newsroom' star Emily Mortimer on becoming American and learning to speak Sorkin

 

[Ohwiseone]

Shame this show isn't being Critically received, I really want this to do well.

I've seen a bit of the Pilot, and I like it a lot.

I guess its nice to see Sorkin being Sorkin, and Jeff Daniels is really fucking good.

 

[Matt]

I consider Sports Night and West Wing (the first 4 seasons) to be among the greatest TV shows ever made. Studio 60 almost broke my fucking heart at how horrible it was. I really, really hope this ends up being more the former and not the later.

 

[Clevinger]

Shame this show isn't being Critically received, I really want this to do well.

I've seen a bit of the Pilot, and I like it a lot.

I guess its nice to see Sorkin being Sorkin, and Jeff Daniels is really fucking good.

Most of these reviews seem to be saying the pilot is good, but it goes downhill fast from there.

 

[Cornballer]

- NPR: Sorkin's 'Newsroom' Is No Place For Optimism

Aaron Sorkin remains my favorite writer of dialogue in American television and film. His workplace-banter scenes are like perfect little songs; there are times when I think he is as good at playing with words and rhythm as Cole Porter. Stretching back to A Few Good Men and the way it teased out a playfulness in Tom Cruise that I had never seen, I have believed he has an almost unmatched ability to build sentences and scenes that hit you like the Rube Goldberg machines in OK Go videos: You look at them in wonder and almost want to clap your hands when they're over, simply because they have been executed with such love, energy and style.

- SF Chronicle: 'The Newsroom' review: Sorkin takes on cable news

The series is kind of a mess, but one you can't really look away from.

- WSJ: Sorkin's New Show: Pomp and Prattle

It's clear that Mr. Sorkin's main interest in The Newsroom runs to concerns other than characters and storytelling.

- Boston Globe: Sorkin's fast-paced drama 'The Newsroom' delivers the goods

Fans of Sorkin's work, especially his previous shows "Sports Night," "The West Wing," and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," will be pleased to see The Newsroom has all the hallmarks of its predecessors.

 

[Dr Prob]

*engage Cornballer format *

- Dude from Grantland: Hot Air: Aaron Sorkin's Underwhelming Newsroom

Despite what The Newsroom would have us believe, it requires no bravery to stand athwart history yelling “I told you so.”

Really liked The West Wing and a lot of his stuff (and these are all just early reviews so who knows), but I get the sense that Sorkin, left to his own devices would just keep telling the same story again and again. He's very talented, just maybe even more so outside of his comfort zone.

 

[Cornballer]

Series premiere tonight:

We Just Decided To

Spoiler

After a meltdown, Will McAvoy returns to work to find most of the staff are leaving his show; Will's new executive producer is also his ex-girlfriend; Will and his new staff face a challenge.

*engage Cornballer format *

 

[RatskyWatsky]

I no longer have any sort of expectation for this show. Hopefully I'll like it, but if not, maybe I can at least enjoy hate watching it.

 

[Cornballer]

It's on now.

 

[Tucah]

Main character is a Jets fan? Sold.

 

[Tamanon]

He's pretty Sorkiny, that's for sure.

 

[Somnia]

Sad to see its not panning out critically, but I'm giving it a shot for sure.

 

[krameriffic]

I don't want to get off on a rant here...

 

[Sanjuro]

Nobody likes the Jets.

 

[besada]

If I get more of that from Waterston and Daniels, the rest of the show can suck for all I care.

 

[Ohwiseone]

Fucking love the opening rant, yay for a Sorkin
soliloquy.

 

[xbhaskarx]

Fucking love the opening rant, yay for a Sorkin solloyque.

Que?

 

[Ohwiseone]

Que?

iPhone autocorrect, it has a mind of its own.

 

[ezekial45]

This is pretty good.

 

[firehawk12]

I guess the real test is whether episode 2 is the massive wank that critics seem to think it is.

 

[ChiTownBuffalo]

I like it.

And, the clips I've seen of O. Munn look good. So take that GAF!

 

[Somnia]

Really liking this. Don't get the reviews honestly.

 

[ezekial45]

Really liking this. Don't get the reviews honestly.

They said the first episode was strong, but it dips afterwards.

 

[Somnia]

They said the first episode was strong, but it dips afterwards.

Ah ok, either way I'm in for now at least.