Navigating The Newsroom: A Podcast on HBO's The Newsroom

The Newsroom is back! In this episode, Andrew and Andrew discuss the second season premiere, "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All The Lawyers." What's up with all the romantic conflict since we last saw these characters? Who's the new guy? Does Will's little stunt on the air make sense? And is the new structure really the best way to approach this show? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:20 - Intro and recap

3:51 - General thoughts, the opening credits

12:51 - All the romantic subplots

20:52 - SOPA stuff

22:34 - Intern!

26:01 - Jerry and Will's 9/11 tribute bitterness

37:20 - The new flashback structure, use of fiction

44:15 - Have the show's "woman problems" been fixed?

46:33 - Closing thoughts

47:35 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

The best podcast about The Newsroom on the internet is back! The second season premieres this Sunday, July 14, so Andrew and Andrew decided to kick things off with a short preview podcast. How do they feel about Season 1 of the show now that so much time has passed? What are they looking forward to in Season 2? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:20 - We're back!

3:51 - Andrew R's thoughts on Season 1, hopes for Season 2

10:38 - Andrew J's thoughts on Season 1

15:53 - Season 2 characters and news

23:25 - Shortened season

24:09 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

In this special bonus episode, Andrew talks with television historian and pop culture expert Robert J. Thompson about The Newsroom. How does the show fit in with Sorkin's previous work? How is it referencing other television shows? Does it really need to be on HBO? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:19 - Intro

3:37 - Interview with Bob Thompson

42:06 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

The end has come! Andrew and Andrew are joined by a few of their previous guests -- William Bibbiani, Gwen Reyes and Allison Loring -- to discuss the season finale of The Newsroom, and the season as a whole. Has Sorkin succeeded in his mission to civilize? What’s up with Don and Sloan? Is the relationship drama finally at a satisfying place? What are the best and worst things about the show? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:19 - Intro

1:55 - Episode recap

6:02 - William Bibbiani’s thoughts

8:41 - A lack of compelling threat; the character of Leona

13:10 - The hacking subplot

15:59 - Gwen Reyes’ thoughts

19:26 - The Sloan reveal, the Jim/Maggie relationship drama

26:52 - Allison Loring’s thoughts

29:18 - The show’s depiction of women - has it improved?

32:27 - Andrew J’s theory on why Mackenzie is such a klutz

35:12 - The new intern, how Will has changed over the course of the season

39:47 - Mackenzie was there at the beginning! We already know that...

42:20 - Thoughts on Greg Mottola’s contributions to the show and the episode’s structure

47:19 - Our guests answer: What is the best thing aboutThe Newsroom? What is the worst thing?

52:07 - Andrew R’s thoughts on the best and worst aspects of the show

54:30 - Andrew J’s thoughts on the best and worst aspects of the show

57:28 - Will we be back for Season 2?

1:01:34 - Final thoughts

1:04:00 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

It's almost over! In this episode, Andrew and Andrew discuss the penultimate installment of The Newsroom, the second half of the self-proclaimed two-part episode. Does the blackout even matter that much? Is the mock debate an example of Sorkin's liberal bias? And what's up with Lisa and the "relationship crap?" Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:19 - Intro

1:36 - Some feedback to feedback

6:32 - Episode recap and clip

9:58 - Andrew J's general thoughts

13:00 - Andrew R's general thoughts

14:46 - Looking at ​The Newsroom ​as a workplace comedy

16:46 - Neal's mission to troll

21:11 - The mock debate; too much?

30:30 - The character of Lisa and her on-air mistake

36:33 - Main topic: The "relationship crap" and the development of Don

45:58 - Brief thoughts on Mackenzie and the Brian subplot

48:50 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Special guest Chadwick Matlin from Vulture joins Andrew and Andrew to analyze why the show is just so darn mediocre. What's up with this new character? Are the scenes with Sloan and Don further evidence of Sorkin's sexism? And why is God on Mackenzie's side now? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:19 - Intro

3:00 - Chadwick Matlin gives his general thoughts

7:30 - Andrew R's general thoughts on the episode

9:50 - What's changed from the beginning?

16:15 - The hacking subplot

19:35 - The scene with Sloan; is sexism just a matter of context and tone?

25:50 - The new character of Brian Brenner

30:03 - The Casey Anthony lecture - more sexism?

38:33 - Main topic: Ratings vs. principles - God is taking sides

47:55 - Sorkin vs. Mamet

50:04 - Sorkin's ego

54:07 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

This week, The Newsroom gets nostalgic and patriotic. Special guest Gwen Reyes from Reel Vixen stops by to discuss the portrayal of the announcement of Osama bin Laden's death. Was it respectful, superficial, or both? Is Sloan still the strongest female character? And is Jim's recent development with Lisa really what the love triangle needs? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:19 - Intro and episode recap

3:35 - Gwen's thoughts on the show and the episode

7:04 - Andrew R's general thoughts on the episode

10:30 - Thoughts on the love triangle; should Jim and Maggie ever end up together?

15:21 - The reveal at the end of the episode

20:23 - The portrayal of Sloan this episode

30:06 - Main topic: The killing of Osama bin Laden; an effective portrayal?

50:49 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Finally, the show gets a female perspective! Special guest Allison Loring from Film School Rejects joins Andrew and Andrew to discuss the latest episode of The Newsroom. Was the Sloan situation handled well, or is it just further evidence of hypocrisy? Is the internet really that evil? Is Will going to turn into another Tony Soprano? And why is Maggie so damn clueless? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:19 - Intro and episode recap

2:45 - General thoughts on the show and the episode

5:00 - How does Maggie still have a job?

10:10 - Will in therapy

19:20 - The internet is evil

33:53 - The Sloan situation; Charlie's "girl" comment

45:07 - The solution to the problem: pros and cons

57:19 - Maggie mistakes

1:01:38 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Special guest William Bibbiani from Crave Online joins Andrew and Andrew to discuss the fifth episode of The Newsroom. Has the show recovered from last week's travesty? Is this Neal-centric episode what we had hoped for? And how does the economy work, anyway? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:19 - Intro and episode recap

4:21 - General thoughts on the show and the episode

7:42 - Why does the show continue to humiliate Mackenzie?

13:22 - Bibbs gives more general thoughts on the show and character relationships

27:16 - Back to the show's treatment of women

31:55 - Andrew Robinson's general thoughts on the episode

38:51 - The show as tragedy?

46:23 - The show's ambitions

53:24 - Finally! Neal development!

58:05 - What do we like about The Newsroom?

1:10:14 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Sorry for the delay, folks! Andrew and Andrew are finally back to discuss the fourth episode of The Newsroom, "I'll Try To Fix You." They're joined by special guest Corey Atad from Sound on Sight and the new JustAtadcast. Does this episode deserve all the hate? Is Sorkin succeeding in his "mission to civilize?" Is his attitude towards gossip journalists accurate or unfair? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:19 - Intro and episode recap

3:20 - General thoughts on the show and the episode

9:15 - Back to the issue of sexism; condescending towards female characters

15:38 - Is Sorkin's knowledge of his topic actually the problem?

22:56 - The love triangle

27:53 - Favorite characters

31:55 - Why the ending was terrible, the show's attitude toward history

37:40 - Neal and Bigfoot

41:56 - Gossip/celebrity news and whether McAvoy/Sorkin is right; comparisons to The West Wing

53:10 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!