HBO: The Newsroom

Yay!! I hope it makes it to series.

http://www.deadline.com/2011/01/aaron-sorkins-cable-news-drama-is-a-go-at-hbo-with-pilot-order/#more-101355

Aaron Sorkin's long-gestating drama set behind the scenes of a nightly cable news show is becoming a reality. HBO has closed a deal for a pilot order to the project, which reunites The Social Network writer with the movie's producer Scott Rudin. Both are executive producing the pilot, which will be filmed later this year.

In his research for the show, Sorkin spent time at Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews' MSNBC shows as well as at Fox News Channel and CNN programs, but the TV personalities he shadowed are not expected to be part of the HBO show. That includes Olbermann, who, despite Internet speculation, is not involved in the project.

Sorkin has been raking in accolades for his Social Network script and is considered a front-runner for the adapted screenplay Oscar. Meanwhile, Rudin, an Oscar winner for No Country For Old Men, is a double contender in the best picture category with The Social Network and True Grit, the latest film from the No Country duo of Ethan and Joel Cohen. On Tuesday, The Social Network netted a total of 8 Academy Award nominations, including best picture, best adapted screenplay, best director (David Fincher) and best lead actor (Jesse Eisenberg).

This marks a big return to TV for Rudin, whose only previous TV effort was the 1996 ABC comedy series Cluelsess based on the hit movie which he produced. It also marks Sorkin's first foray into cable. Sorkin's three previous series all aired on broadcast networks: Sports Night on ABC and The West Wing, a 4-time best drama series Emmy winner, and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip on NBC.

Series picked up!

http://www.deadline.com/2011/09/hbo-picks-up-aaron-sorkins-pilot-to-series/

Sorkin is very hit or miss for me, but I'll happily give this a chance. That said, the cynic in me can't help thinking that he's done similar territory, well, twice before anyway. Will we get his trademark dialogue just with more profanity?

I am excited about this but also feel the same way as Eric... It feels like he has done this before, like it's all he does! But, who knows?

Good interview with Aaron Sorkin: http://www.vulture.com/2012/06/aaron-sorkin-newsroom-interview.html

My goal has been to completely stop picking up new tv shows to watch, but this cast is making that incredibly hard.

I will be watching because I like the cast a lot, but I am not thrilled with the premise.

I absolutely love this show which has a great score too. It is a little over the top at times, but I like the characters and the acting is very good. I don't know what the media critics were complaining about. Of course, I am really curious to learn more about Will and McKenzie and why they broke up. They are adorable together even though she is a bit too young for him. I loved the end where we found out that it really was McKenzie in audience with the signs.

I love Jim and Maggie is a sweetheart. He and Maggie will be a great couple eventually. Neil is the smart guy and I hope he gets more airtime. Sam Waterson is great as the loopy supportive Charlie.

Edited June 25, 201213 yr by Ann_SS

I don't get HBO but I have enjoyed the reviews for this - Aaron Sorkin spent so many years reminding everyone how awesome it is to be up his ass, the critics just don't bother to hold back the hatred.

I don't get HBO but I have enjoyed the reviews for this - Aaron Sorkin spent so many years reminding everyone how awesome it is to be up his ass, the critics just don't bother to hold back the hatred.

Well, the critics got this one wrong, in my opinion. Yeah, there is a lot of Sorkin speechifying, but it is amazingly well done by talented actors. Sorkin might indeed have a big ego, but he damn sure earned it because he is one of the best screen writers of his generation. I have been re-watching season one and two of The West Wing and realized outside of Six Feet Under nothing has close to that quality of television since.

Edited June 25, 201213 yr by Ann_SS

I think he's a good screenwriter in the right element, but I was never as crazy about Sports Night as many were, and Studio 60 was a trainwreck. I think there are only so many times you can use the same characters with different names and actors.

I think he's a good screenwriter in the right element, but I was never as crazy about Sports Night as many were, and Studio 60 was a trainwreck. I think there are only so many times you can use the same characters with different names and actors.

So basically you are judging him on his failures? Being great does not mean that you always succeed, even the best writers have their stinkers. I can't imagine dismissing an amazing talent like Sorkin like you are doing here, but to each their own.

So basically you are judging him on his failures? Being great does not mean that you always succeed, even the best writers have their stinkers. I can't imagine dismissing an amazing talent like Sorkin like you are doing here, but to each their own.

Sports Night got his TV career started and is often seen as among his best, whether it was a ratings hit or not.

I think Sorkin is a talented writer who writes a very limited view and writes that over and over, similar to David Kelley. To me, it's a law of diminishing returns. I think he also spends too much time trying to show people something they already know, instead of really polishing the material.

One major criticisms that I have about Newsroom and Sorkin is the lack of major minority characters. He needs to do better with diversity. Alan Ball is much stronger when it comes to diversity.

Good interview with Aaron Sorkin: http://www.vulture.c...-interview.html

Great interview!

The thing that I worry about more is the media’s bias toward fairness. Nobody uses the word lie anymore. Suddenly, everything is “a difference of opinion.” If the entire House Republican caucus were to walk onto the floor one day and say “The Earth is flat,” the headline on the New York Times the next day would read “Democrats and Republicans Can’t Agree on Shape of Earth.” I don’t believe the truth always lies in the middle. I don’t believe there are two sides to every argument. I think the facts are the center. And watching the news abandon the facts in favor of “fairness” is what’s troubling to me.

But back to my point. It seems very important that if someone on the right in the news screws up in a really bad way, that the media find someone on the left who screwed up in some kind of way so that we can have a “One From Column A, One From Column B” kind of situation. And that if there are five from Column A, there can’t be only three from Column B, because then they’ll be accused of liberal bias.

So so true.