Entertainment
Sponsored by

HBO/Aaron Sorkins "The Newsroom"

31,855 Views | 449 Replies | Last: 12 yr ago by cone
MarathonAg03
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
The entire story is one big hypocritical hit piece.


It's not really a hit piece at all. It's more of a television program. The show itself is not a news piece. It does not report the news or break news. It's an HBO dramatic series that is historical fiction. You disagree with the political perspective, as do many of us here. Yet, we continue to watch because it's entertaining.

I'm entertained. You're mad. And Aaron Sorkin is laughing all the way to the bank.
aggie93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
The good thing I have found in the political talk now is it is so over the top I just laugh. I don't know how anyone could take it seriously at this point. You have to love some of the unintended humor like having Hanoi Jane trying to protect conservatives and keep the conversation more moderate. I actually think now it does Sorkin's liberal cause more harm than good. Last night it was really just more annoying than anything. The liberal blather doesn't really help the show develop much, now it is more like "ok, so I have to sit through another 30 seconds of blah before they get back to the story". I mean really, does Sorkin think that people are so stupid as to go "OMG! The Republicans really are going to stop Granny from voting!" or "Oh Noes! The Tea Party really is The American Taliban! How could I not see it before!" Those are the end of season "Wow" moments?

I agree story wise they are overdoing it with the multiple star crossed lovers and too many "so close but so far away" moments. Nothing is really happening. I also used to really like the Mac character but now she is just annoying me, that chick is just BSC.

Also, it's an HBO show that doesn't really use much of the advantages of being on HBO other than some language (which doesn't do much). Part of what makes HBO shows great is they feel so different and real than Network shows and to me this doesn't have much of that. No real sex or over the top violence. Nothing really controversial. The show could easily be on NBC if they cut some language which is mainly just temper tantrums.

The show still has some good elements. Daniels' character is interesting. Olivia Munn is interesting (if she would stop bringing up the Debt Ceiling 3x an episode). The premise has promise. I agree they are kind of putting themselves in a corner though. If they wanted to mix in some alternative viewpoints (maybe hire the GOP guy that liked the debate format but better yet bring in a real devil's advocate) that would make it more interesting. Where is the Ansley Haines?

Oh well. If they don't do that and keep it on during the Summer when there is nothing else to watch I guess I'll keep watching it. Right now I wouldn't put it on against my 5th rerun viewing of Game of Thrones or Boardwalk though.

MarathonAg03
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
I don't know how anyone could take it seriously at this point.


What is supposed to be taken seriously about a fictional television drama?
AggieIce
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
I mean really, does Sorkin think that people are so stupid as to go "OMG! The Republicans really are going to stop Granny from voting!" or "Oh Noes! The Tea Party really is The American Taliban! How could I not see it before!" Those are the end of season "Wow" moments?


You do know this is America right? A vast majority of this country are easily incepted by TV shows, and most probably have their political beliefs based upon television.

I watched this show because my gf liked the "love stories" and thought the character banter was witty. That last eipsode I almost couldn't sit through because I knew there would be people who would believe that garbage.

The left will always indicate who they percieve as a threat, and right now it looks like all of those "wow points" are exactly what they fear. Voting Fraud being resolved, Tea-Partiers, and sound Businessmen running the country.
aggie93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Certainly the show tries to act as though it is serious about the issues it discusses and Sorkin is trying to provoke thought favorable to his viewpoints. I don't have a problem with that, I just think it isn't working well from a story perspective. Is any fictional TV show serious? Yes and no. Certainly shows like this can be just as West Wing was and The American President was which were 2 other Sorkin works. They certainly aren't trying to be satirical in a "Daily Show" kind of way.
20ag07
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
You do know this is America right? A vast majority of this country are easily incepted by TV shows, and most probably have their political beliefs based upon television.
quote:
Sorkin is trying to provoke thought favorable to his viewpoints.
You are both clueless about HBO audience demographics.
aggie93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Ice,

I agreed with you after the first few episodes, now I think they have jumped the shark. There is only so many times you can say that anyone that is remotely conservative is a ticking time bomb psychopath that hates America and is prone to violence. I would say that is especially true of the folks that would watch this show, someone that likes "Real Housewives of Orange County" probably doesn't watch Newsroom. I mean it is kind of hard for even a political novice not to see how many quotes they take from Republicans that are completely taken out of context and many of them are actually jokes they are taking seriously. If you changed the setting of the Finale it could have been an Ad Agency designing Obama commercials, that would have been more interesting honestly.

I still think they can bring it back, they just need an epiphany moment that maybe every person who supports the Tea party isn't a raving lunatic, an evil manipulator of the masses, or a complete mindless rube. There is a reason MSNBC gets no ratings, it just isn't interesting.

Or maybe Sorkin is just back on the nose candy again.
aggie93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Only liberals watch HBO? I'll have to tell all my conservative HBO viewing friends!
20ag07
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Not at all. Higher income, educated, and older. The kind of people whose political opinion isn't swayed by anything, much less fiction. And everyone, including Sorkin, knows it.
AggieIce
How long do you want to ignore this user?
If he indeed knows that to be true, then why have their "grand finale" news broadcast filled with that collection of stories?
MarathonAg03
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
If he indeed knows that to be true, then why have their "grand finale" news broadcast filled with that collection of stories?


Because he wanted it to be a part of his television show, which is fictional drama.
MarathonAg03
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Although, I do concede that Aaron Sorkin used The West Wing to manipulate American public opinion in to taking action against Qumar in 2002.
20ag07
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
If he indeed knows that to be true, then why have their "grand finale" news broadcast filled with that collection of stories?
Because he's a smug *******.
iceman08
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Im just gunna say it.... I ****ing love this show, I mean cheeseburger Eddie joining mid season was just awesome (I just got burgers)

And for real... to all the haters on this thread complaining non-****ing stop about the liberal this and liberal that and OMG this show is terrible... and yet you KEEP WATCHING?!?!

Yall remind me of the 'slow' dude that keeps putting your hand on the hot stove just to see if it will burn you again...
aggie93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
It's Summer and there isn't anything on. I can only watch so much baseball and with 2 kids going to the movies is a pain. Thank God the Aggies are playing on Saturday unless that freaking hurricane screws it up. It's still an interesting show with a lot of promise but it could be a lot better.

Are we not supposed to watch shows unless you love everything about them and don't want to criticize them?
MarathonAg03
How long do you want to ignore this user?
The show is either too liberal for you to watch, or it's not. In your case, it's not.
SlimM
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
Thank God the Aggies are playing on Saturday unless that freaking hurricane screws it up.


The Aggies are playing on THURSDAY unless that freaking hurricane screws it up!
20ag07
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Hurricanes are caused by gay marriage.
Houston_Ag
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I have enjoyed the show to some extent, but unlike the West Wing, I don't think I'll be back for season two.

Granted, WW was Sorkin's version of the ideal president. Now, we're seeing his version of the ideal media (and the ideal Republican in the McAvoy character). I get that he's an extreme liberal and wants to retroactively show how things would have progressed in some utopian world based upon his beliefs.

But the dialogue and plot of the Newsroom isn't nearly good enough for me to get past the constant selection of the most fringe elements of the conservative viewpoint being used as a foil for his ideal liberal viewpoint.

It's a constant straw-man argument where he picks a couple of soundbites and then uses that to paint an entire segment of one political party with that brush.

I see it for what it is, and don't believe he's influencing many people. I'm just tired of the extreme frequency of this method and am not really enjoying the show anymore.
aggie93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Can't believe I typed that misprint Slim! I must be clicking on weather updates too often!
kgc123
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
I did not watch West Wing.


Now that this show has some down time, you really should be watching the West Wing....like right now.
SlimM
How long do you want to ignore this user?
That freaking hurricane screwed it up.
HtownAg92
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I finally got to watch the last two eps and I can't believe that no one has mentioned the latest unbelievable connection hat one of the characters just fortunately had. First Jim.'s roommate and sister just happened to work for Halluburton and BP, Maggie used to date the Arizona Governor's staff guy, Will (a former speech writer for Bush and a supposed Republican) happens to be boys with Biden, and now Maggie's roommate and Jim's girlfriend happened to go to the same high school as Casey Anthony. These are the luckiest news people ever.

The over-the-top liberal propaganda would be more tolerable if the rest of the writing wasn't so lazy and unbelievable.

Jim happenening to be on the Sex in the City tour bus that Maggie decides to rant to is another amazing coincidence.

I tried. One season is enough for me.
20ag07
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
Will (a former speech writer for Bush and a supposed Republican) happens to be boys with Biden
This. A Republican and a Democrat would never be friends irl.
JCRiley09
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I'm sure next season they'll be using hindsight to cover the current campaigns... So if you're not cool with that, please jump ship so we don't have to hear about it next year

Thanks and gigem
jschroeder
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Which is more annoying?

Griping about the actual show or griping about other people griping about the show?
Keatre
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
So if you're not cool with that, please jump ship so we don't have to hear about it next year
TomHaverford
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
Which is more annoying?

Griping about the actual show or griping about other people griping about the show?
Only one of the 2 causes the other.
Sweet Kitten Feet
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
Now that this show has some down time, you really should be watching the West Wing....like right now.


How? I don't see it on netflix or hulu for streaming.
Keatre
How long do you want to ignore this user?
It's on Amazon Prime.
TomHaverford
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Election night just makes me wish I was watching Sloane Sabbith call states tonight.
iceman08
How long do you want to ignore this user?
^
This
20ag07
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Sorkin is taking notes from Karl Rove's tirade right now to use in the S2 finale. "We will NOT call this election too early like everyone else.. Did we learn nothing from Gabby Giffords?"
SlimM
How long do you want to ignore this user?
^
^
^
awesomeness.
el bee
How long do you want to ignore this user?
WHO'S READY FOR SEASON 2 NEXT MONTH?
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.