Richie Waves

Arron Sorkin can walk on water as far as I am concerned. I could pick his style out from a hundred yards. Really enjoyed Episode two, I love that conservatives have to secretly like him.

Cindy Claveau

They may change their mind after Episode 3 tonight.

Well, the right-wing teapartiers will

As usual, Will's one monologue was so good, so well-written and powerful I wanted to jump up and clap when he was done.

And the essential question was asked: why do so many people vote against their own interests?

__________________
"As long as there’s one person on earth who remembers you, it isn’t over." - Oscar Hammerstein

zaphodzzplural

I'm gonna have to start watchin' this...

__________________
"...what we demand are rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty- Vroomfondel


The blog I help out on http://fictionalinsanity.wordpress.com/

Richie Waves

Yea it was a great episode this week, slammed the Kochs good! and the Tea Party zombies!

Cristiano

Another incredible episode, with a very moving ending. Television at its best.

__________________
"For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream" - Vincent Van Gogh

* my blog *

Cindy Claveau

They could show a grass-growing contest set to Coldplay's "Fix You", and I'd choke up. But last night that was the absolutely perfect ending.

The episode was more than just good TV, though. I was riveted watching them discuss the power of the banking industry. I must have slept for a few years because I've been asking myself since the last election why nobody went after the bankers responsible for the big mortgage collapse. Those fat cats are still walking the streets, free as birds.

But they explained it well. When one industry can out-lawyer the US government, it should be no surprise why banks get away with about anything they want. Or why the Congressional Oversight of banking has lost funding (thank you again, Republicans) that could be used for audits and regulation.

Frank, Miller Try to Open Up Accountability for Fed, OCC | FDL News Desk

It pissed me off to do some fact-checking and find out just how bad it's become. And as usual, talking about this show leaves me in a dilemma whether to post it here in TV or over in PRS.

bladyblue

Hanoi Jane is really pulling strings to get rid of our favorite anchorman. She looks good playing pure evil.

__________________
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in the rain...Time to die.-Roy Batty

Cristiano

In addition to the Coldplay song, what got to me at the end was remembering exactly how I felt when I found out what had happened to Gabby Giffords, and the news coverage surrounding it. It's one of those moments in life when I remember exactly what I was doing when I heard about it. They did an excellent job of showing the emotion and confusion around the shooting, and it was an interesting tie in with the gun commentary.

As far as the banking thing, it was definitely eye opening. I had not realized the extent that the GOP had gutted enforcement efforts. It is depressing to be reminded over and over of how completely rigged the game is and feel powerless to change it.

The simple, powerful way that they eviscerated Palin, Glenn Beck, Rush, Bachmann and the NRA about guns and also Obama's India trip just by showing their own words was fantastic. They also had no problem calling them exactly what they are - liars.

Cristiano

Why did 'Political Animals' get better reviews than 'The Newsroom'? | Ken Tucker's TV | EW.com

Cindy Claveau

My spouse and I had this discussion tonight after watching our DVR'd copy of Political Animals, and we both disagree with that writer. We enjoyed both programs, but as far as biting, insightful commentary, Newsroom is hands-down the best political drama I've ever seen. Animals is as much soap opera as it is commentary, except that it's very light on any commentary.

If that's what he got out of this week's Newsroom, he needs to turn in his critic's badge - the one he found in a cereal box.

Political Animals was very good. I'll be watching it every week. But it didn't have me pointing at the TV yelling "YES!" or clutching my throat in emotional scenes the way Newsroom did.

To answer his question as to why Animals got better reviews, I only need to point to the initial batch of reviews on Newsroom which thought that the show was "too tough" on Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. "Tough" because they didn't distort anything, just played the clips as they were and let the stupidity speak for itself.

bladyblue

Sorkin, who won an Oscar for The Social Network, appears to have responded to criticism by reportedly sacking nearly all eight of his writing team for series two. With the exception, that is, of his former girlfriend Corinne Kinsbury.

"They're not coming back, except for Sorkin's ex-girlfriend," said one unnamed source quoted in The Daily. However, other reports suggest the body count won’t be quite that high.

HBO was quick to play down the cull. “Every year each show reassesses the needs of its writing staffs,” it said in a statement. “This process is nothing out of the ordinary.”

It follows Sorkin’s model for multiple Emmy award-winning The West Wing, as a witty and eloquent take on a real-life setting in the near but recent past. But it has polarised critics for its “speak truth to stupid” approach; one that is described by Sorkin as “aspirational”, but has been lambasted in the press as an unrealistic representation of a newsroom which is overly pontificating.

Speaking to National Public Radio this week Sorkin defended the show, explaining that “the critics and the audience who are reacting as hostilely to the show as they are [are partly doing so] because they think I’m showing off an intellect and erudition that I don’t have.”

He continued: “I'm not pretending to have it. I know that I don't have it. I phonetically create the sound of smart people talking to each other. I'm not one of them. The characters I create would have no use for me."

Sorkin is known to have a hands-on approach to scriptwriting and it is unclear how many writers will replace the departing staff.

Aaron Sorkin 'sacks The Newsroom writers' apart from ex-girlfriend - News - TV & Radio - The Independent

infiniview Merit

To me the Newsroom is an awesome version of reality tv that is a sorely needed fact broadcast wrapped in a slick fun to watch package. If even some of the low information voters take the time to google the facts provided it will be a good thing for the nation as a whole.

It would be interesting to see the right wing try to do a show like this from their own perspective. My guess is that it would be difficult for them to pull off in that they seem to just provide smear and fluff in place of facts. While keeping their real facts and internal logics shrouded in secrecy.

__________________
Texture Arts Headquarters

http://slurl.com/secondlife/puea/126/10/60/

Dancien Graves

I still think it's a brilliant show and it really has me evaluating my news sources lately.

Cindy Claveau

Every week I'm so blown away I think "Well that may have been the high point. It's all downhill from here."

And yet the next episode finds a way to be even better than the last.

Last night, they not only pilloried the Koch brothers, but showed the human side of reporting chaotic events like the Egyptian revolution. Once again, the ending left me in tears and thinking this may be the best show on TV. Maybe ever.

bladyblue

And they made very sure to never utter the name 'Koch'.

Cindy Claveau

Another home run tonight. I've been waiting to see if they give Olivia Munn more of a part, and as I expected she nailed it.

She's a good comedic actress, so I hope they give her more lines with some comedic value. Like tapping the bodyguard on the chest.

Powerful scene when the gay black guy called Will down for being a bully. As much as I hate Santorum and what he stands for, it's a good point that people should be able to define themselves rather than have someone else do it for them.

Cristiano

I think that was the best episode before. I'm also glad Olivia Munn finally got some significant screen time, and she definitely delivered. The scene between Will and the Santorum advisor was also very powerful. I look forward to seeing this show each week, probably more than anything else on right now. I didn't think Sorkin could keep topping himself, but so far, he seems to be.

Cindy Claveau

Only one more episode left

Last night, they raised a very good point about political debates - why aren't politicians asked tough questions and then be required to answer them directly?

The little clip about Bachmann being asked "Elvis or Johnny Cash?" was one of those "wtf" moments highlighting the fact that political campaigns are all shine and veneer with no substance, and the news media plays right into it.

But this show has even made me start caring about Maggie and Jim's future. That's the soap opera side, and I don't do soap opera.

Any bets on whether they'll ramp up the phone-hacking angle for the finale? That looms out there as a possible dramatic crescendo to what may have been the best new show on TV this summer.

Richie Waves

Has to be said, this show is fucking fabulous. I can nearly hear conservative heads popping watching it from here in Ireland...

Cindy Claveau

I chuckled when McAvoy referred to the Republican primary field as a "clown car".

bladyblue

I'm sure the next season will be even more incredible. He has *Brand New* top-of-the-line political writers on board now.

Richie Waves

I was seriously verklempt at the end of that episode.. :tears:

I'm seriously considering a second run at the west wing too. I can't get enough of this guy!

Cristiano

I have started rewatching the West Wing - it's like political porn.

Richie Waves

I absolutely loved it, Josh is my favourite character ever!

I really like the extended build up love stories he plants in his work, Donna and Josh literally went on until the final season and it was a pay off I rarely feel in TV shows. I have a feeling Jim and Maggy will enjoy an equally extended wait before they hook up, if they even ever do.