The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
08-12-12, 05:51 AM
#1
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The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
Synopsis:
Spoiler:
Episode 8 of 10
Promo:
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08-13-12, 01:42 AM
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Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
Wow. That was pretty meta. In exploiting Casey Anthony, Sorkin is doing exactly what the show is preaching against. I guess his excuse is that he's in entertainment, not news.
I'm blowing through Sports Night while watching this. It's amazing how dated that show feels, how terrible the laugh track is, how fantastic the writing is (moreso than here for sure), and how many themes seriously are the same.
I'm blowing through Sports Night while watching this. It's amazing how dated that show feels, how terrible the laugh track is, how fantastic the writing is (moreso than here for sure), and how many themes seriously are the same.
08-13-12, 02:41 AM
#4
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
They get rid of the laugh track in S2 of Sports Night. My gf has blazed through that series about 8 or 9 times now, so I know it pretty good.
Loved Don's Casey Anthony line
Loved Don's Casey Anthony line
08-13-12, 02:51 AM
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
Well, by making this show set in the recent past and by using real news stories (Gulf oil spill, Arizona shooting, Fukushima, etc.) the writers have kind of obligated themselves to covering the big news events of the last couple of years, and the Casey Anthony trial was HUGE on these kinds of news shows. I don't see how they could have avoided having an episode about it.
08-13-12, 02:53 AM
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
Was anybody else hoping for a better camera shot of Sloan's ass after her confrontation with Neal? Just sayin'...
08-13-12, 03:59 AM
#7
Banned by request
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
I never would have thought when this show started that Olivia Munn's character would end up being my favorite.
I still think this show is incredibly troublesome in its basic conception. By choosing to use real news, Sorkin can take easy potshots at existing cable news channels, but it also means that the show itself ends up exploiting many of the same emotions or beats. And bringing in the ex-boyfriend is simply not interesting.
I still think this show is incredibly troublesome in its basic conception. By choosing to use real news, Sorkin can take easy potshots at existing cable news channels, but it also means that the show itself ends up exploiting many of the same emotions or beats. And bringing in the ex-boyfriend is simply not interesting.
08-13-12, 06:52 AM
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Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
I liked this episode.
As much as people bemoan and make snide comments about how Sorkin is using real news stories and using hindsight to make his news channel look good and real news channels look bad, what's the alternative? I'd rather him set the show in the past and use real events than create fictional news stories about fictional countries and fictional people and fictional events. If the show covered fictional news, it loses its purpose.
As much as people bemoan and make snide comments about how Sorkin is using real news stories and using hindsight to make his news channel look good and real news channels look bad, what's the alternative? I'd rather him set the show in the past and use real events than create fictional news stories about fictional countries and fictional people and fictional events. If the show covered fictional news, it loses its purpose.
08-13-12, 09:19 AM
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Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
Maybe it's just me, but I don't think he's making the fictional news channel look good. They decided to dumb down the news to compete with a show they despise. What I loved about the episode, though, is that it dealt with the fact that lowered standards often aren't the result of people who just don't care, but rather of the business realities of the situation. Our Guys want to do the highbrow thing, but they most certainly are not rewarded for doing so. In the end, you can't put on a high quality show if the public has no desire for a high quality show. The fact that the show is willing to address that reality wins it a lot of brownie points in my book.
Wanting to do the right thing is just the beginning. Many people in politics enter politics wanting to do the right thing. Then they get into politics.
Wanting to do the right thing is just the beginning. Many people in politics enter politics wanting to do the right thing. Then they get into politics.
08-13-12, 09:36 AM
#11
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
So, Neal pitches a story about internet trolls that requires him to go deep deep undercover.
Did I get that right?
Did I get that right?
08-13-12, 01:10 PM
#12
Banned by request
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
And the woman who wanted to reveal the Weiner tweets was played by Alison Becker, the reporter from Parks and Rec who sleeps with Mark. Coincidence?!
No, I'd much rather they used fictional news. Sports Night used fictional news and worked much better than this does. Sorkin's treading a fine line using real news and doesn't have the subtlety for it.
I liked this episode.
As much as people bemoan and make snide comments about how Sorkin is using real news stories and using hindsight to make his news channel look good and real news channels look bad, what's the alternative? I'd rather him set the show in the past and use real events than create fictional news stories about fictional countries and fictional people and fictional events. If the show covered fictional news, it loses its purpose.
As much as people bemoan and make snide comments about how Sorkin is using real news stories and using hindsight to make his news channel look good and real news channels look bad, what's the alternative? I'd rather him set the show in the past and use real events than create fictional news stories about fictional countries and fictional people and fictional events. If the show covered fictional news, it loses its purpose.
08-13-12, 01:11 PM
#13
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
08-13-12, 06:09 PM
#14
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Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
The other side of this is that if they're up to Weiner now, they'll be caught up to present by the end of season 2. If there is a season 3, they'll have to make up things. That would be really interesting to see.
08-13-12, 06:16 PM
#15
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
Sorkin said that they'd never be up to the present, so they'll probably do a little bit of slowing down on the clocks when this comes back next summer.
08-13-12, 06:19 PM
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Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
That could also mean he figures this is 2 and out, which given HBO, the reception the show has gotten, etc, might not be unreasonable.
08-13-12, 08:09 PM
#17
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
I really like this show. Paul Schneider was a nice guest star, wish they could make him a regular. The line about the technology in The Dark Knight being real -- I can believe it. Also, talking about Olivia Munn sleeping her way to the top... that was likely based on real Internet comments.
08-13-12, 11:52 PM
#18
Senior Member
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
The really sad part is that out of all the supporting characters, Olivia Munn's character and the other producer, Don (alison Pill's boyfriend, who I hated early on) are my favorites on the show with Charlie and Will. I can barely stand anyone else and the show would be so much better without Mac. I'll keep watching since I am a fan of Soorkin's and he does have flashes of brilliance on this show, but they need to reprioritize who they feature and who is moved to the background.
08-14-12, 12:30 AM
#19
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
Yeah, Mac is starting to get on my nerves, and I do like Sloan now. Speaking of featuring characters, the show treats the control room like the hired help, but they're doing a huge amount of the behind the scenes work. Plus they're the same characters throughout the season (graphics guy, director, etc), so I'd like to see some focus on them for a change.
08-14-12, 09:18 AM
#21
08-14-12, 09:48 AM
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Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
I thought the whole throwing Neal (Dev Patel) up against the wall was completely out of character for somone like Sloanne (Olivia Munn). She has a PhD from Duke and is an adjunct professor at Columbia. It's been said on the show that her TV show is basically her slumming. I don't know if it was bad writing or a bad acting choice, but it was bad. I'm hoping not to see too many more things like that as I still like the show.
08-14-12, 10:13 AM
#25
Re: The Newsroom -- "The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn" -- 8/12/12
I thought the whole throwing Neal (Dev Patel) up against the wall was completely out of character for somone like Sloanne (Olivia Munn). She has a PhD from Duke and is an adjunct professor at Columbia. It's been said on the show that her TV show is basically her slumming. I don't know if it was bad writing or a bad acting choice, but it was bad. I'm hoping not to see too many more things like that as I still like the show.