Network: HBO
Episodes: 25 (hour)
Seasons: Three
TV show dates: June 24, 2012 — December 14, 2014
Series status: Ended
Performers include: Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Dev Patel, Olivia Munn, and Sam Waterston.
TV show description:
Created by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip), this TV series takes a behind-the-scenes look at the people who put together a nightly cable-news show on the fictional Atlantis Cable News (ACN) channel.
The unapologetically old-school president of the news division is Charlie Skinner (Sam Waterson), a professional who learned at the feet of the legendary newsmen.
The anchor and managing editor of News Night is Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels), a moderate Republican whose success is largely the result of never offending anyone. He’s in a lot of pain and that manifests itself in a gruff exterior when he’s off camera. His world is turned upside down when Mackenzie McHale, his new executive producer, re-enters his life.
MacKenzie (Emily Mortimer) is a highly respected news producer who was once romantically involved with Will. She returns from 26 months of reporting in Iraq and Afghanistan to executive produce News Night. She hopes to help her former flame to realize his full potential — something that he has little interest in doing.
Jim Harper (John Gallagher, Jr.) follows MacKenzie to News Night as senior producer. He served with her in Iraq and Afghanistan and she can’t live without him. Though he’s just 27, he’s more like Charlie Skinner than he is his contemporaries and has followed the news industry since he was a boy.
Margaret “Maggie” Jordan (Alison Pill) started at News Night as an intern and quickly rose to the role of associate producer. Her level of intelligence is equal to her lack of experience and lack of confidence.
The network’s financial news reporter is Sloan Sabbith (Olivia Munn), a young woman could be earning much more money as an analyst at Goldman, but her calling is economic reporting.
Neal Sampat (Dev Patel) writes Will’s blog and scours the Internet for stories and leads that others have missed. At only 21-years-old, he’s a self-made newsman and covered the London subway bombings with his camera phone.
Don Keefer (Thomas Sadoski) is the former executive producer of News Night, having taken over the show that follows it. He often butts heads with Will, mostly because they’re a lot alike. He’d love to be on the same quixotic journey as everyone else, but is a realist who understands the business and knows he’s always one ratings point away from being out of a job.
Episode #25 — What Kind of Day Has It Been
As Charlie’s friends and family gather to pay their respects at his funeral, Mac finds out she’s pregnant. She shares the news with Will, who is both elated and nervous for her. He accidentally reveals her pregnancy to some of the other staff and word quickly travels.
Jim and Maggie have been together for three days, and Jim recommends Maggie for a field producer role in D.C. Maggie is thrilled about the job prospect, but is put off that Jim isn’t more ambivalent about her leaving town for it. Sloan involves herself in making sure they don’t miss another opportunity to be together.
Don and Sloan both feel responsible for Charlie’s death. Don apologizes to Charlie’s widow for what he believes was his role in bringing on the heart attack. She reveals that in every one of the fights Charlie had with the staff since Pruit took over, he was glad they stood up to him. She gives Don and Sloan matching gifts: Charlie’s bowties.
Pruit is having PR issues — one of his companies is reportedly paying female employees less money; a separate story revealed he hired models to appear at his birthday party. Leona offers him some unsolicited advice. He doesn’t have a PR problem, he has an actual problem.
Neal returns from Venezuela and sees what’s become of ACN Digital. He remotely shuts down his replacements’ computers mid-story and chews them out for ruining everything he built. They’re going to shut down the site for a week and rebuild it.
At the reception after the funeral, Will spots Charlie’s grandson playing a standing bass in the garage. He joins him on guitar and they play “That’s How I Got to Memphis,” a song Charlie introduced him to.
At Leona’s urging, Pruit promotes Mac to Charlie’s role as network president. Don wants to stay at 10 o’clock, so Jim takes over as the new executive producer at ‘News Night.’ He offers Maggie his old job as senior producer so she can stay in New York, but she still wants to pursue the field producer position in D.C. They’re going to try to make it work long distance.
Three years earlier, Charlie watched Will peddle soft news for ratings and likability. Upset that his news channel wasn’t doing the news, he sought out Mac. Fresh from Afghanistan, she spent her afternoons drinking at a bowling alley. Mac brought Jim on board, and helped facilitate Will’s rant at the panel at Northwestern.
Thinking of Charlie, the staff powers up the newsroom and gets to work. The broadcast rolls and they do the news. (courtesy HBO)
First aired: December 14, 2014.
What do you think? Do you like The Newsroom TV series? Do you think there should have been a fourth season?
I’m only watching the show now through Crave TV and wish I had watched live and that the show was still on. It was a great story and the teamwork of the cast in their roles was very magnetic. I found myself pulling for real relationships to win and for the story to be told honestly, something we don’t feel today.
What a great show, very well written and acted, engaging, intelligent and just plain fun to watch, I am losing faith in networks they seem to cancel the good ones and keep the so so or not so good
This was such an excellent show. I wish it had not ended. Intelligent and so well written, really one of the best.
This show was intelligent, engaging and motivating – I would LOVE to see the show’s take on current events ….BRING IT BACK!!
It was a great show… it gave us a glimpse at what “real” news reporting should be.
The Newsroom was well written, well casted and truly entertaining. It’s only problem was you needed an IQ to appreciate the content which the basic TV watcher lacks…..I’m 70 years old and it was one of the best TV shows I ever saw…..Sad how Hollywood only cares about the bottom line instead of quality…
I absolutely loved the Newsroom. A smart well wrote with a cast that was incredible. Can’t say it loud enough BRING BACK NEWSROOM! !!!
Best show on TV, so I guess it was doomed. Silly Kardasian type of shows stay forever. Still respect the people who allowed Sorkin and his crew to do their thing. Too bad it is all about the ratings. Too intelligent for many in the USA. Was it making NO MONEY???? Amazing.
Best show on TV. They need to start producing it again.
I am so going to miss all of my friends on this show. The intelligence portrayed gives me faith.
I loved this series but unfortunately did not find until after cancellation. Better promotion??????
I loved the series and am really disappointed that it has been cancelled.
I’d love to see it return! Alan Sorkin is amazing. His series are always captivating.
Why do they always cancel good shows that actually show the latest crazy goings on in this country. Alan Sorkin is a great producer.
It is sad that ratings and money are the way that a fine series, stays on the air, but it is reality. And as everyone know, Reality Bites. I am sorry at the passing of one of the greatest programs ever shown, and I have watch a lot of it. Thank you Aaron Sorkin and the Newsroom cast for brining this compelling drama into our homes.
Best show ever!!!!
Bring back this highly entertaining and thought provoking series back