10 TV Episodes You Didn't Know Were Filmed By Famous Hollywood Directors

3. The Newsroom €“ Greg Mottola

Episode: "We Just Decided To" This may not come as a big surprise, since Greg Mottola started out in TV, directing for Undeclared and Arrested Development. But he's since moved on to bigger and better paychecks, with the tragically overrated Superbad, the surprisingly good Adventureland, and the good concept but missed opportunity, Paul. So I do find it surprising that he directed the pilot episode for Aaron Sorkin's latest television success (pretty sure that's a redundant phrase). It really is a great episode, and while critics may have a bone to pick with the series' sentimentality and preachiness, it's still uncorrupted at this point. The pilot lays the groundwork for something better than it became, with a fantastic Jeff Daniels as the snarky Will McAvoy, and the mystery of the past between him and his new producer, Emily Blunt's MacKenzie McHale. It's well paced and has room for humour, intensity, and good old fashioned drama.