The Newsroom.

[Count Zero]

The show makes Americans look like idiots, because Sorkin has created a universe where most Americans are idiots that need these few exceptional people to train them not to be fuckups, which makes the rest of the world, in the real world, feel better about themselves because they're not Americans, either real Americans, or Sorkin's pretend Americans. I mean for sure, Sorkin is saying "look out world, you may be better than us now but I have faith in the future that we will up and be greatest country in the world again but... "

The show is based around a real problem, the low level of public political discourse in the US and the shifting of the news towards entertainment and sensationalism. The premise of the show actually isn't that Americans are idiots but that they don't get informed by the news anymore the way they used to be. Generally speaking, of course. Sorkin thinks they've grown complacent and have been fooled by the media into being little consumers who don't care about the world around them. But he also believes that they can be great again if they choose to be and if they grow aware of their situation.
Some of these tendencies can be found in other countries as well. Besides, many of us have witnessed the decline of the US news. We admired CNN for its coverage of the previous Iraq War but now it's all about reading tweets and e-mails by the audience out loud.
It's entirely possible that the show won't have mass appeal abroad. In my country, The West Wing flopped while it got lots of critical acclaim in the UK. These things are hard to predict.

Which country is the greatest country in the World?

This is a question mostly American seem to be concerned with. I don't think there is such a thing. There are many countries where one can live in freedom, peace and prosperity.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I set the ball up and you didn't spike it?

Q. "What's the greatest country in the world?"

A. "Pony Land"

 

[Count Zero]

It's called Equestria. It's also full of mythical monsters so I'm not so sure it's the greatest place to live.

 

[the G-man]

The show makes Americans look like idiots, because Sorkin has created a universe where most Americans are idiots that need these few exceptional people to train them not to be fuckups, which makes the rest of the world, in the real world, feel better about themselves because they're not Americans, either real Americans, or Sorkin's pretend Americans. I mean for sure, Sorkin is saying "look out world, you may be better than us now but I have faith in the future that we will up and be greatest country in the world again but... "

The show is based around a real problem, the low level of public political discourse in the US and the shifting of the news towards entertainment and sensationalism. The premise of the show actually isn't that Americans are idiots but that they don't get informed by the news anymore the way they used to be. Generally speaking, of course. Sorkin thinks they've grown complacent and have been fooled by the media ...

However, assuming Sorkin's correct about the quality of US news, the fact of the matter is that no one holds a gun to the American people's heads and forces them to watch infotainment.

As such, if anyone's at fault, it's as likely the viewing public that would rather watch "mainstream" news than stuff on (for example) PBS or CSPAN.

 

[Guy Gardener]

FOX news used to give me nightmares. They'd play it instead of a test pattern on one of the failing almost bankrupt channels which was only in competition with infomercials...

Did anyone else ever see Good Night Burbank?

A farce version of the Newsroom staring Laura Silverman among others.

 

[IndyJones]

Sorkin's greatest flaw is his tendency toward arrogance and self-satisfaction, and the pilot had dangerously high levels of both. We'll see how it goes.

That's my biggest problem with it. I don't really mind Sorkin's condescension, but acting that way about real news stories where we already know the outcomes makes it a bit much.

That said, I've enjoyed the first two episodes so we'll see what happens...

I found the pilot a bit condescending and i doubt it will find an UK audience. The notion of news and journalism is somewhat different here in the UK. Less hyperbolic perhaps.

The Daily Mail is still boasts the 2nd highest circulation in your country, right?

 

[Count Zero]

Tabloids always do well, in any country. But the BBC seems to be the embodiment of what Sorkin wants TV news to be. Of course, they aren't as dependent on ratings as US channels due to being publicly financed.

 

[Sci]

The show makes Americans look like idiots, because Sorkin has created a universe where most Americans are idiots that need these few exceptional people to train them not to be fuckups,

That's because, for all of his supposed left-leaning sentiments, Aaron Sorkin is a deeply condescending, arrogant elitist, and a sexist jerk to boot.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I tried to cover my bases so as not be offensive towards a country with that many nuclear weapons.

But Sorkin keeps making shows about how the exceptional few who will raise up the national character.

"Sports will make as a nation better people"

"Politics will make as a nation better people"

"Comedy will make as a nation better people."

And now...

"The News will make as a nation better people."

How many generations will Aaron keep trying to educate the children and the grand child and the great grand children of the idjits who ignored Sports Night.

 

[Count Zero]

I haven't finished watching the latest episode, yet, but this has to be one of the best TV quotes ever: "I've been sitting here for two and a half hours and I still don't know why. It's like being in the cast of a Fellini film." I love Fellini's films but it's kind of true.

 

[Mr. B]

I decided to give the second episode a shot after reading the reviews here. I watched the pilot when it premiered and hated it for the reasons most reviews mentioned... preachy, ridiculous dialog. I was also annoyed by other little absurdities like color-coded AP stories. I work in a newsroom, they aren't color coded.

Halfway through the second episode I had to turn it off, the dialog was making my ears hurt. People don't talk like that. I see enough speeches at work.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Well, it's not for you. Now you know.

Some people like meth and some people like crack.

Every one is different.

Don't feel like less of a man.

Now.

Where was I?

Episode 3 broke formula.

Instead of one night focussing on one story, we get their first 6 months as they crusade against the Tea Party taking over America.

Though I'm just happy to see Dev's character getting some.

And is it me, but does Allison Pill like she's about to start going bald?

Which is what happens to women when they abuse their hair at the hairdresser.

 

[Harvey]

Halfway through the second episode I had to turn it off, the dialog was making my ears hurt. People don't talk like that. I see enough speeches at work.

People laud Sorkin's dialogue all the time, but nobody has ever claimed it was naturalistic. Personally, I find it more pleasing on the ears compared to something like David Mamet, which is equally stylized, but YMMV.

 

[Count Zero]

I thought it was interesting not only in the way the format was changed (which was good) but also that our fictional news crew has hit a serious obstacle, though at the moment almost all of them are unaware of that. Then end of the conversation between the news boss and the network boss was quite chilling.
I loved Will's apology at the beginning and kind of expected him to say, "Who are we to make that decision? The best fucking news team, that's who." But then, this isn't the Daily Show.
It was also interesting to see them basically lose because despite their best efforts, the Tea Party candidates won (or most of them). I hope the next couple of episodes will follow up on that. How long will they be able to keep up their morale in the face of stupid winning?

 

[Guy Gardener]

Oh. The Daily Show!

You'd think that the Daily Show, and Coberts thing would be brought up?

As signs of the end of days at least.

Remember when CNN used to run the daily Show after they got a taste of John Stewart?

 

[Count Zero]

No, it just made me think of the news segment the Daily Show had that was called "the best fucking news team ever". They often had a lead-in by Jon Stewart. So I kind of expected Will to say that.

Not sure whether Sorkin has quite that sense of humour to bring Stewart or Colbert up, although they all make similar points about the media. It wouldn't fit the tone of the show, though.


ETA: The best fucking news team ever in action

 

[TheGodBen]

People don't talk like that.

Modern people also don't talk like the characters in a Shakespeare play, yet the popularity of his work endures.

You're right, people don't talk like the way Sorkin writes them, but I almost wish we did. There's a musical element to Sorkin's dialogue, there's a rhythm to it that some of us find appealing. He spells it out in this scene from TWW. Of course, it helps that it's Martin Sheen that's reading those lines because he's Martin Sheen, he can sell almost anything with the strength of his charisma, even some of those awful 5th season scripts.

That being said, I haven't bothered to watch The Newsroom. As appealing as I found Sorkin's writing on TWW, Studio 60 was an extravagant mess of a show and a lot of the reviews suggest that The Newsroom has the same problems, sadly.

 

[Guy Gardener]

The Elizabethans didn't talk like that either.

It's poetry.

 

[MacLeod]

Well we'll find out if the UK takes to it or not as it gets it's UK premiere in a little over 5 hours.

 

[Data Holmes]

People don't talk like that.

Modern people also don't talk like the characters in a Shakespeare play, yet the popularity of his work endures.

People should talk like that, though.

You're right, people don't talk like the way Sorkin writes them, but I almost wish we did. There's a musical element to Sorkin's dialogue, there's a rhythm to it that some of us find appealing. He spells it out in this scene from TWW. Of course, it helps that it's Martin Sheen that's reading those lines because he's Martin Sheen, he can sell almost anything with the strength of his charisma, even some of those awful 5th season scripts.

It's more than that. I mean the rhythm is one thing, but it is also about intelligence. About not being afraid of it. About not talking down to the masses.

That being said, I haven't bothered to watch The Newsroom. As appealing as I found Sorkin's writing on TWW, Studio 60 was an extravagant mess of a show and a lot of the reviews suggest that The Newsroom has the same problems, sadly.

I don't think it suffers as much as S60. The news is better fitting for the message Sorkin is trying to put out than late night comedy/talk.