The Show: Legendary screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, The Social Network) helms this drama about news anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels), who desperately desires to present a news show with actual integrity in the face of a market which demands anything but that. Why It's Overrated: Nobody can argue with the credentials of The Newsroom on paper: Sorkin is a superb writer, and the cast, from Daniels to Olivia Munn, Alison Pill, Emily Mortimer, Chris Messina, Dev Patel, Jane Fonda and so many others, is impeccable. It looks great and it's a fine idea for a show, but sadly Sorkin's angry tirades are just far too on-the-nose (even for his standards), and as such what begins as incisive quickly turns tiresome. Sorkin believes his often ham-fisted, frantic rat-a-tat monologues are edgy and compelling, but oddly he also imbues many of the episodes with unsavoury soap opera storylines which only bloat things out further. The attempts at political currency only sometimes hit the mark, and at other times come across as just too preachy, which is a shame given the stellar effort Daniels gives in the role. Critics were mixed-to-positive on the show, but there are plenty of Sorkin apologists around to insist it's some of his best and most important work.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
