I think The Newsroom is just awful

[cali]

It's a smirky soap with a everyone loudly talking more about their personal lives than the stories or the mechanics of how the behind the scenes operations of a large broadcasting network actually function. It makes its political points by bashing one over the head repeatedly. Everyone is just so noble I want to puke. The characters have the complexity and nuance of Dudley fuking Doright or Snydley Whiplash.

I don't mind prime time soaps. I have a predilection for them in fact, but this just isn't a good one. It's nowhere close to being as good as The West Wing- though I did burn out on that show before the last season. I like Damages which I actually think handles topical news stories better than The Newsroom.

I had hope for The Newsroom throughout the first episode, was disappointed by the second but thought that it might be an aberration, was irked by the third episode, and now almost to the end of the fourth episode- like the character Neil, I find it tempting to smash my fist through my computer screen- albeit my motivation is far baser (of course).

I just can't see continuing on with this ridiculous show.

[ananda]

1. Who plays Bullwinkle Moose, esteemed alumnus of..

.. Wottsamatta U ?

[cali]

2. not fair.

. I'm laughing so hard I'm about to fall off my chair.

[Firebrand Gary]

3. You're on your own on this one. Sorry =(

[Laurian]

4. Hmmm, I love the show!

It's really the only dramatic series I watch. I love the way the show weaves current events into the episodes. It also opens the mind to the corporate nature of our news media and the possibility of what might have been if the airwaves had been kept free from those who hold profiteering sacred.

[cali]

5. It's so blatantly manipulative and sentimental

[graywarrior]

8. I love the idea and the message

I really like Jeff Daniels. I cannot stand that blonde...she overacts. I'm not crazy about the other actress either. There is something weird about the acting; it's annoying and over the top. But somehow, I still kinda like it.

[warrior1]

6. Don't watch it then.

[MineralMan]

7. OK.

Then, I guess we won't be hearing much about the show from you in the future.

[cali]

12. No, you won't. I don't lack for other topics,

and this was, I believe, my first comment about the show. I wanted to give it a chance.

[HappyMe]

15. You aren't alone.

It's a self-important soap opera.

[scheming daemons]

19. It's not your first. You railed against it a couple weeks ago.

...

[Lucy Goosey]

9. The show isn't as good as it thinks it is

If the show would just admit it is a soap instead of trying to convince us it's better than a soap, it would probably be an improvement. I've been enjoying it, but I certainly agree it's not the West Wing - not even close.

I find it entertaining enough to devote an hour a week to it, though.

[DCKit]

41. I disagree. It's educational.

While we here on DU find the issues they explore to be old hat, those who watch Fox and listen to OxyRush never got the information in the first place. They have no clue what's really been going on.

If just 3% of our fellow citizens "get it", it could make a huge difference come November.

[X_Digger]

10. I can't stand the misogyny. But that's classic Sorkin for you. n/t

[DearAbby]

11. I like the idea

it informs people, in a dramatic format. Subliminal information. I applaud the idea.

[Brickbat]

13. I find the adulation of it bizarre, myself.

If people think this is going to bring the revolution, they're wrong.

[Erose999]

14. I don't really care for the romance angles in the story lines, but its ineresting to see the office

politics of TV news and the complicated issues of media ethics played out on screen.

I agree that many of the characters are one-dimensional and "Dudley DoRight-ish" but its only about 4 episodes in and you can't really expect much more than backstory/character definition in that span.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. I think it is the best hour long political drama is many years, and makes the West Wing look like

a journeyman's effort. I see none of the characters as 'noble' at all, more like feigning ethics in hopes of finding some, the lead characters are very flawed which is of course essential to story telling of value, Daniels is a man who has been more corrupt that noble one who is facing the fact that his own brand of corruption revolves around making use of the work for his own emotional needs rather than for the very important job he is supposed to be doing.
No offense, but I think you and I are watching different shows. The Newsroom I watch is on HBO and is outstanding.
I could not disagree more.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. I have mixed feelings about it.

There's some very good stuff - I think the "what if" premise is very interesting - What if the news media had actually done their job reporting on some of the things that have happened over the last couple of years?

On the other hand, I'm not a big fan of its sort of manic style - everybody talks very quickly in the same rhythm all the time. Real people don't talk like that. There are pauses and sighs and hesitations; real people don't produce perfectly-formed sentences and not all conversations are performed allegro animato. After awhile it's wearing.

And so far I haven't found any characters I would actually like if they were real. They are interesting but not especially likeable. Will is an asshole; Maggie is annoying and so is her boyfriend and the guy who wants to be her boyfriend.

Nevertheless, I'll keep watching because the "what if" concept is interesting.

[NV Whino]

28. I've only seen one episode, but I agree with your assessment

A little too "shouty," but I think it has potential. I do like that it, unlike the MSM addresses the important issues of the day.

[scheming daemons]

18. This is your second anti-Newsroom OP. If you hate it, don't f***ing watch it

Is someone making you watch it?


Why the crusade?


Vote with your eyeballs.

[FourScore]

22. Why do you care? n/t

[Paladin]

20. Below-Average Sorkin......

......is still better than 98% of what's on TV these days. If you don't like it, don't watch it.......

[FourScore]

21. I thought I was the only one who felt this way...

The show could be great, but it sells out in all the overdone soapy drama. There are so many flaws with the show, yet the basic premise could be really excellent if it were done better. Sorkin must know this. I'm glad I'm not alone, cali. I still watch it with my husband though, because he actually learns about stuff that I learned 2 years ago on DU.

[Gothmog]

23. I disagree with OP

I like the show so far.

[Arctic Dave]

24. You can always watch reruns of Hanna Montana.

Or how about watching Ishtar on a continuous loop.

[cali]

30. Ishtar on a continual loop sounds like a self-important art installation

and Bleak House or Mill on the Floss is what I'll revert to- and I do like that soapy Downton Abbey.

[Arctic Dave]

38. Of course, we wouldn't think you wouldn't.

[Bonobo]

25. 100% agreed. nt

[hay rick]

26. I love it for the political commentary.

I tolerate all the romantic sub-plots, office politics, and melodrama for the 5 or 10 minutes that they spend covering issues as if journalists weren't corporate weasels.

If we had a functional news media and a functional democracy, I wouldn't give the show a second glance.

[FredisDead]

27. I agree 100%

The show is more like a daytime soap.

[RC]

29. I think the Newsroom is good.

So good, in fact that it it is the only show I go through the trouble of downloading from the Internet to watch.
It takes at least 35 minutes of download time before I can start watching without buffering, thanks to AT&T (And I have a 5 meg connection).

[RainDog]

31. I saw the first ep

and have kept my mouth shut because others here like it.

It's not my cuppa java.

I also never watched West Wing, not a Sorkin fan - I'm a Breaking Bad and Mad Men kinda fan.

But to those who like it - enjoy!

[Erose999]

32. My main gripe about it is that it feels like watching yesterday's news. But I guess thats necessary

to form the framework of the machinations behind TV news. They have to use events that have already happened to provide a context for the judgement calls, etc.

[Atman]

33. Your opinion is wrong.

OKAY, STOP! It's a JOKE! I know your OPINION can't, by definition, be "wrong."

However, I do hold a differing opinion. Maybe because I never watched West Wing, or maybe because I simply like the show. I posted after the third episode that I thought the relationship stuff had gotten a bit too soapy, but it also served a purpose in advancing the story. Same with last night's episode. Some of it seems like we're watching a network prime-time soap opera, but I think Sorkin is weaving those relationships into the story lines for a specific purpose, and I like it. After all, if you believe there are not all sorts of relationship issues going on in every big office environment, you've never worked in a big office environment. It IS a soap opera. Sorkin has managed to work those relationship angles into real news and political issues -- abortion, mental health, one-upmanship, etc. I think it's compelling.

Of course, my opinion could be wrong.



.

[zappaman]

34. I'm with you!

The piety is nauseating.
For you...

[Iggo]

35. It's one of my favorite shows.

Smart dialog, delivered fast.

[1-Old-Man]

36. Last night's episode was just horrible, but overall its not very good anyway

Half of the show is pretty good, that's the half that spouts "news" that should have been on the air 10 years ago, but the other half is more suited to 13-year-old girls, it being little more than a crappy soap opera. Fire everyone on the set who plays the part of anyone under the age of 30 and it would be a vast improvement. The young people portrayed in the program are simply idiotic characters doing things that would get anyone fired in any workplace in the country. Oh, and while I've seen personal arguments in the workplace a couple of times in my lifetime the sort of crap they do on the program just never happens in real life. You can only suspend so much belief and this program has sucked my supply just about bone dry.

[sabrina 1]

37. I think it's great. But no one has to watch it which is another great thing about it.

It's the only show on TV where people hear about issues the MSM will never discuss, and the more soapy it is the more likely people will watch. Soaps are very popular and the format may as well be used to inform people as for anything else.

People can always watch Fox which is a bad soap opera with zero saving graces.

[Atman]

39. Most of America thinks "The Voice" is a GOOD show.

And the Kardashians are very rich just being assholes. So, in the grand scheme of things, I think The Newsroom is a pretty intelligent program.

.

[HappyMe]

44. The Voice, Dancing with Has-Beens,

American Idol, Big Brother..... All first class crap.

[aikoaiko]

40. It is ham-handed but who else is criticizing the media these days.

But you're right about the soap opera mentality.

[Logical]

42. Wow, I bet you are a lot of fun. And I really miss the unrec. n-t

[madmom]

43. So I suppose we should just

settle for dancing with the stars and the other puke inducing crap of "reality tv"? Don't like it, don't watch it!