The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
#1
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The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
Synopsis:
Will (Jeff Daniels) and the "News Night" staff are questioned by their lawyer about a story they've aired that's become a network crisis. An on-air remark by Will has him pulled from 9/11 anniversary coverage. Jim (John Gallagher, Jr.) volunteers to cover for an embed reporter on the Romney campaign and Neal (Dev Patel) investigates the beginnings of Occupy Wall Street.
Teleplay by Aaron Sorkin; story by Ian Reichbach and Aaron Sorkin; directed by Alan Poul.
9 episode 2nd season
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplayli...-long-20130620
Aaron Sorkin re-shot a lot of the material from the first 2 episodes and episode 3 was completely re-written. Hence that was the reason why they only were able to complete 9 episodes. A friend of mine worked on the show. They just finished shooting the season last month. They started shooting around November of last year.
Promo:
<iframe src="http://www.hbo.com/data/content/global/videos/embed/data/1326261.html?height=480&width=640" height="480" width="640" style="overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" seamless="seamless" frameborder="0" type="text/html"></iframe>
Trailer:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/McVXNEdi8K4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
#2
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
I thought season 1 was pretty ridiculous at first and I almost quit watching, but it started to find its legs toward the end. I'm actually looking forward to its return tonight.
I heard Jeff Daniels talking about those first episodes being redone. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing.
I heard Jeff Daniels talking about those first episodes being redone. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing.
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
It's not pretentious if it's justified.
And yes, Yay. Since the end of Game of Thrones, I've kept my HBO subscription active not for True Blood, but because The Newsroom was coming back soon anyway. In season 1 the show could be heavy-handed and oversimplified, but it's a 1 hour show. The underlying issues it addressed were spot on. The characters were mostly well-acted and interesting. Olivia Munn was all but a revelation (though I didn't think her violence outburst fit the character). The love triangle (square?) with Allison Pill became a bit wearing, but we'll see how that goes in S2. Oh, and the Big Foot thing was totally ludicrous. Less of that and more of dealing with the challenges of informing the populace in an era where MSNBC tanked in the ratings when they didn't follow the George Zimmerman trial 24/7.
It would seem the populace, or at least a significant portion of it, doesn't necessarily want to be informed. Being informed is hard work. When I have information, I now have to try to process it and make internal decisions. Ain't nobody got time for that. I'm trying to watch the Kardashians.
And yes, Yay. Since the end of Game of Thrones, I've kept my HBO subscription active not for True Blood, but because The Newsroom was coming back soon anyway. In season 1 the show could be heavy-handed and oversimplified, but it's a 1 hour show. The underlying issues it addressed were spot on. The characters were mostly well-acted and interesting. Olivia Munn was all but a revelation (though I didn't think her violence outburst fit the character). The love triangle (square?) with Allison Pill became a bit wearing, but we'll see how that goes in S2. Oh, and the Big Foot thing was totally ludicrous. Less of that and more of dealing with the challenges of informing the populace in an era where MSNBC tanked in the ratings when they didn't follow the George Zimmerman trial 24/7.
It would seem the populace, or at least a significant portion of it, doesn't necessarily want to be informed. Being informed is hard work. When I have information, I now have to try to process it and make internal decisions. Ain't nobody got time for that. I'm trying to watch the Kardashians.
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
It's fitting that this season debuts in a week where the news networks devoted almost all of their coverage to a trial involving the killing of one individual while there's complete turmoil going in a country having the largest Arab population in the world.
I'll probably watch some of these episodes here and there on HBOGO. I really enjoyed the actual news scenes last season but the characters are terrible IMO. Can't stand them.
I'll probably watch some of these episodes here and there on HBOGO. I really enjoyed the actual news scenes last season but the characters are terrible IMO. Can't stand them.
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
I'd contend if someone wants to be informed they could easily do so by watching Bill Moyers for American news.
International news is tougher but BBC is acceptable. Or better yet just scan the homepage of The Guardian on occasion.
#7
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
I think I still have the show set up for a series recording on my DVR so I'll probably watch tonight's episode after work. Honestly I thought the first season was a mixed bag. There was some stuff I liked in it quite a bit such as most of the Will character and the news scenes. A lot of the relationship stuff on the show seemed forced to me and was kind of eye-roll inducing. I should really re-watch the first season before diving back in to this as I don't remember all the characters names even honestly I do remember most of the storyline though.
#8
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
Kelen Coleman (Lisa) is apparently on the 2nd season.
She's going to be doing live commentary on Twitter for the East and possibly West coast feeds.
https://twitter.com/Kelencoleman
Here she is with Aaron Sorkin if you don't remember her.
She's going to be doing live commentary on Twitter for the East and possibly West coast feeds.
https://twitter.com/Kelencoleman
Here she is with Aaron Sorkin if you don't remember her.
#9
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
I think I still have the show set up for a series recording on my DVR so I'll probably watch tonight's episode after work. Honestly I thought the first season was a mixed bag. There was some stuff I liked in it quite a bit such as most of the Will character and the news scenes. A lot of the relationship stuff on the show seemed forced to me and was kind of eye-roll inducing. I should really re-watch the first season before diving back in to this as I don't remember all the characters names even honestly I do remember most of the storyline though.
Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels): Host and Managing Editor of News Night.
MacKenzie McHale aka "Mac" (Emily Mortimer): Executive Producer of News Night and ex-girlfriend of Will
Charlie Skinner (Sam Waterston): President of the News Division
Jim Harper (John Gallagher): Senior Producer of News Night
Maggie Jordan (Alison Pill): Associate Producer of News Night. Interested in Jim, but dating Don Keefer
Don Keefer (Thomas Sadoski): Former Executive Producer of News Night. Dating Maggie. Producing a different show at ACN
Neal Sampat (Dev Patel): Writes Will's blog and essentially works at the Assignment desk
Lisa (Kelen Coleman): Maggie's best friend and roommate. Dated Jim
Sloan Sabbith (Olivia Munn): ACN Business Anchor
#10
Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
It'd seem you disagree with a statement I didn't make (That it's hard work getting informed) rather than the one I did (That it's hard work being informed). But I'll defer to your judgment as it was all a bit tongue in cheek anyway.
It's been shown repeatedly that people by and large readily accept being lied to as long as the lies confirm their already held beliefs, or are at least presented by people who tend to share their already held beliefs.
If it were simply a matter of viewers being turned off because of the inability of news channels to be in depth, fair and balanced, why would the viewers return when the very same channels cover stuff like the Zimmerman trial?
It's not like this is new information. It's widely understood in the industry. News people have been fighting being in the entertainment/profit center business for quite some time. That debate should be over. The Newsroom just put together what I thought was a pretty good synopsis (again, 1 hour show) of the issue.
If it were simply a matter of viewers being turned off because of the inability of news channels to be in depth, fair and balanced, why would the viewers return when the very same channels cover stuff like the Zimmerman trial?
It's not like this is new information. It's widely understood in the industry. News people have been fighting being in the entertainment/profit center business for quite some time. That debate should be over. The Newsroom just put together what I thought was a pretty good synopsis (again, 1 hour show) of the issue.
#12
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
Kelen Coleman (Lisa) is apparently on the 2nd season.
She's going to be doing live commentary on Twitter for the East and possibly West coast feeds.
https://twitter.com/Kelencoleman
Here she is with Aaron Sorkin if you don't remember her.
She's going to be doing live commentary on Twitter for the East and possibly West coast feeds.
https://twitter.com/Kelencoleman
Here she is with Aaron Sorkin if you don't remember her.
Just finished the first ep and I liked it a lot. Was surprised they dispensed with Maggie and Don so fast. It's going to be interesting to see how they pull of this style of storytelling for an entire season. Sorkin did it several times on the Wes Wing but only for standalone eps.
#14
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
Yeah I thought it was a pretty good first episode as well.
If Aaron Sorkin asked HBO to re-shoot episodes 1 and 2, they must have turned out pretty bad. I hope those scenes from the original version make their way to the BD.
at Maggie's new hairstyle. I got so much gratification when Don finally broke up with her. I don't hate Pill, but the Maggie character was one of the worst parts of season 1.
I'm also curious to see how this non-linear storytelling turns out. I mean it's August 2011 right now. I already know that episode 9 (the season finale):
Maybe I wasn't pay close enough attention, why was Will and Mac being interviewed by Marcia Gay Harden's character. It had to do with some on-air incident right? Is it something that we've seen already?
I loved the scene in the control room when they discovered a factual error in that video package and had to do a live fix. I work in TV and pulling something like that off would be next to impossible. The Voice Over guy's audio wouldn't match the package. And they were lucky the line they had to fix was at the end.
at the switcher and graphics machine going out at the same time.
If Aaron Sorkin asked HBO to re-shoot episodes 1 and 2, they must have turned out pretty bad. I hope those scenes from the original version make their way to the BD.
at Maggie's new hairstyle. I got so much gratification when Don finally broke up with her. I don't hate Pill, but the Maggie character was one of the worst parts of season 1.
I'm also curious to see how this non-linear storytelling turns out. I mean it's August 2011 right now. I already know that episode 9 (the season finale):
Spoiler:
Maybe I wasn't pay close enough attention, why was Will and Mac being interviewed by Marcia Gay Harden's character. It had to do with some on-air incident right? Is it something that we've seen already?
I loved the scene in the control room when they discovered a factual error in that video package and had to do a live fix. I work in TV and pulling something like that off would be next to impossible. The Voice Over guy's audio wouldn't match the package. And they were lucky the line they had to fix was at the end.
at the switcher and graphics machine going out at the same time.
#15
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
It had to do with the Genoa story that the military "expert" teased to the guy filling in for Jim. It was clearly a bogus story that would never have made the air if Jim hadn't left town to begin with.
#16
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
#17
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
I loved the scene in the control room when they discovered a factual error in that video package and had to do a live fix. I work in TV and pulling something like that off would be next to impossible. The Voice Over guy's audio wouldn't match the package. And they were lucky the line they had to fix was at the end.
#18
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
#19
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
Wish they kept the original opening theme music from the first season.
#20
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
Other random thoughts:
What the hell happened to Maggie in Uganda?
Man, I would love to see that Fantasy Football draft with Will, Charlie and Sloan.
I was also happy to see the fallout from the “American Taliban” line, although a little sad that, so far, it was only the staffers that got the worst of it.
#21
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#22
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
So pretentious but I really love the way Jeff Daniels plays Will McAvoy so I put up with it.
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#24
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Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
I like the show fine, but I found this amusing, and can't really disagree with it...
Questions This Season Of The Newsroom Better Answer, Or Else
The Newsroom is a flawed show with an interesting premise, a talented cast, good production value and, so far, some small moments of wit. Thing is, it doesn’t make any freaking sense! When it comes back in a few weeks, it better answer some questions.
Why is everyone in love with Allison Pill?
Allison is a dynamic, talented, good-looking young actress, to be sure. But we’re led to believe that John Gallagher Jr. falls in love-at-first-sight with her to such an extent that he dates her BFF in a misguided attempt to spend more time with her. Why? These are Pill’s character’s most salient traits thus far: she basically lied to get her job, she is clumsy, she is friendly in that way that most people who aren’t jerks are basically friendly, she gets panic attacks, she is a pushover, she doesn’t know very much about international politics/geography and…she is a female who is there. So that’s…cool…?!?
Have the two men competing for her attentions not met other girls?
To wit, the boyfriend character (I think it’s Dan?), halfway through season 1, has this moment of “Wow, Olivia Munn, you are beautiful and a woman who is about my age, and you work here?” flabbergasted-ness because, remember, Allison Pill is the only woman in the universe. The only one. They must love her because she is…klutzy and meek and…blonde and…the script called for a love triangle. Please explain.
What’s Olivia Munn’s second Ph.D in?
She’s pontificating about how smart she is (in spite of the heavy burden of being beautiful!) and how she wants to be taken seriously (in spite of the heavy burden of being beautiful!) and says something along the lines of, “I’ve studied economics, and I have two Ph.Ds.”
Are they both in Economics? If so, why would a person need that? Personally, I’d love to see her have a second advanced degree in something totally random. Zoology? Thermodynamics? Or being beautiful? Oh, no, she already has that covered. She is very beautiful.
Are they good journalists or just good at networking?
On more than one occasion the team has gotten a scoop because someone knows somebody connected to the story.
JGJ just has a “guy at FEMA” who gives him the edge on reporting the B.P. spill. And then they turn around and judge Fox and CNN for leading with some lesser story, even though NewsNight probably wouldn’t have lead with the spill either if they hadn’t had a special source. (Not to mention that CNN and Fox didn’t have the added advantage of covering the story two years after it happened, but let’s not get into that.) Instead, let’s mention that when, for ratings’ sake, the team is forced (Forced I tell you!) to descend into gossipy courtroom reporting and cover the Casey Anthony trial (How basic! Our reputation!), the BFF/roommate of Seductress Allison Pill just happens to have gone to college with Casey Anthony. They get their ratings, good for them, they had to search all the way to their apartments to find a source.
Is Emily Mortimer supposed to be a freaking idiot?
We see the IT guy explaining the new email system that allows for company-wide emails. She then types an email to her ex-boyfriend/current co-worker detailing the circumstances of their breakup. Why she would need to remind him of the details of a breakup he was a part of, in an email she thinks only he will read, is beyond me. But then guess what? She accidentally sends it to the whole staff! What a crazy, random, plot-forwarding, drama-creating, ridiculous situation!
Did she do it because she doesn’t understand technology? Because she’s a woman, so she extra doesn’t understand technology? Because she’s too immature to, uh, talk to her ex, whose office is three feet away, in person? Emily Mortimer’s character is supposed to be real levelheaded and brave and such, having been to Afghanistan and other scary places. But none too bright, I guess! Maybe Olivia Munn can lend her a Ph.D.
How does Jeff Daniels not know about tabloids?
A seasoned, professional reporter/newscaster/whatever who has been in the business for years and years is shocked, nonplussed, and downright disgusted to learn that tabloids print “takedowns”? Anyone who has been to a grocery store in the past fifteen years could have guessed they do that!
Maybe I’m looking for too much realism and character continuity in a fictional show. But then again–no I’m not.
This is Aaron freaking Sorkin on HB freaking O; the main character can’t be a naïve Boy Scout. Stop telling me characters are smart and then showing me they are stupid. That’s like telling me this show is going to be really groundbreaking and intellectual and then showing me something that is trope-ridden and nonsensical where they constantly talk about Man of La Mancha and it’s like ughhhhhcnksivoehrlibhdlf.
Um, that scene where they refuse to report that Gabby Giffords is dead because they can see the future, have journalistic integrity, and somehow that makes them, like, the reason she lived? And this is while they happened to be having a conversation about gun control? And freaking Coldplay is playing? Oh, and, also, that scene where they won’t put their phones away on a plane and find out that Bin Laden is dead and shake the plane captain’s hand and announce it to the cabin, being all proud as if they had killed Bin Laden by being such good reporters? And the political ramifications of his death are explored, like, not at all, while we take a moment to bask in the American Glory of something that happened two years ago?
Um, what the actual fuck?
The Newsroom is a flawed show with an interesting premise, a talented cast, good production value and, so far, some small moments of wit. Thing is, it doesn’t make any freaking sense! When it comes back in a few weeks, it better answer some questions.
Why is everyone in love with Allison Pill?
Allison is a dynamic, talented, good-looking young actress, to be sure. But we’re led to believe that John Gallagher Jr. falls in love-at-first-sight with her to such an extent that he dates her BFF in a misguided attempt to spend more time with her. Why? These are Pill’s character’s most salient traits thus far: she basically lied to get her job, she is clumsy, she is friendly in that way that most people who aren’t jerks are basically friendly, she gets panic attacks, she is a pushover, she doesn’t know very much about international politics/geography and…she is a female who is there. So that’s…cool…?!?
Have the two men competing for her attentions not met other girls?
To wit, the boyfriend character (I think it’s Dan?), halfway through season 1, has this moment of “Wow, Olivia Munn, you are beautiful and a woman who is about my age, and you work here?” flabbergasted-ness because, remember, Allison Pill is the only woman in the universe. The only one. They must love her because she is…klutzy and meek and…blonde and…the script called for a love triangle. Please explain.
What’s Olivia Munn’s second Ph.D in?
She’s pontificating about how smart she is (in spite of the heavy burden of being beautiful!) and how she wants to be taken seriously (in spite of the heavy burden of being beautiful!) and says something along the lines of, “I’ve studied economics, and I have two Ph.Ds.”
Are they both in Economics? If so, why would a person need that? Personally, I’d love to see her have a second advanced degree in something totally random. Zoology? Thermodynamics? Or being beautiful? Oh, no, she already has that covered. She is very beautiful.
Are they good journalists or just good at networking?
On more than one occasion the team has gotten a scoop because someone knows somebody connected to the story.
JGJ just has a “guy at FEMA” who gives him the edge on reporting the B.P. spill. And then they turn around and judge Fox and CNN for leading with some lesser story, even though NewsNight probably wouldn’t have lead with the spill either if they hadn’t had a special source. (Not to mention that CNN and Fox didn’t have the added advantage of covering the story two years after it happened, but let’s not get into that.) Instead, let’s mention that when, for ratings’ sake, the team is forced (Forced I tell you!) to descend into gossipy courtroom reporting and cover the Casey Anthony trial (How basic! Our reputation!), the BFF/roommate of Seductress Allison Pill just happens to have gone to college with Casey Anthony. They get their ratings, good for them, they had to search all the way to their apartments to find a source.
Is Emily Mortimer supposed to be a freaking idiot?
We see the IT guy explaining the new email system that allows for company-wide emails. She then types an email to her ex-boyfriend/current co-worker detailing the circumstances of their breakup. Why she would need to remind him of the details of a breakup he was a part of, in an email she thinks only he will read, is beyond me. But then guess what? She accidentally sends it to the whole staff! What a crazy, random, plot-forwarding, drama-creating, ridiculous situation!
Did she do it because she doesn’t understand technology? Because she’s a woman, so she extra doesn’t understand technology? Because she’s too immature to, uh, talk to her ex, whose office is three feet away, in person? Emily Mortimer’s character is supposed to be real levelheaded and brave and such, having been to Afghanistan and other scary places. But none too bright, I guess! Maybe Olivia Munn can lend her a Ph.D.
How does Jeff Daniels not know about tabloids?
A seasoned, professional reporter/newscaster/whatever who has been in the business for years and years is shocked, nonplussed, and downright disgusted to learn that tabloids print “takedowns”? Anyone who has been to a grocery store in the past fifteen years could have guessed they do that!
Maybe I’m looking for too much realism and character continuity in a fictional show. But then again–no I’m not.
This is Aaron freaking Sorkin on HB freaking O; the main character can’t be a naïve Boy Scout. Stop telling me characters are smart and then showing me they are stupid. That’s like telling me this show is going to be really groundbreaking and intellectual and then showing me something that is trope-ridden and nonsensical where they constantly talk about Man of La Mancha and it’s like ughhhhhcnksivoehrlibhdlf.
Um, that scene where they refuse to report that Gabby Giffords is dead because they can see the future, have journalistic integrity, and somehow that makes them, like, the reason she lived? And this is while they happened to be having a conversation about gun control? And freaking Coldplay is playing? Oh, and, also, that scene where they won’t put their phones away on a plane and find out that Bin Laden is dead and shake the plane captain’s hand and announce it to the cabin, being all proud as if they had killed Bin Laden by being such good reporters? And the political ramifications of his death are explored, like, not at all, while we take a moment to bask in the American Glory of something that happened two years ago?
Um, what the actual fuck?
#25
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Newsroom -- "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers" -- 7/14/13
While I was watching this last night, I couldn't stop thinking about Jeff Daniels playing Harry again. This could really ruin his current career.