The Newsroom: Season 1 Episode 8: The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn

Last night, The Newsroom kicked off a two-episode arc and so far things aren’t going well. “The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn” focused on the fallout over the team’s drop in ratings. David Krumholtz and Jane Fonda returned, but that wasn’t enough to save this ship. So where exactly did the episode hit the skids?

The Players:

Director: Lesli Linka Glatter
Writer: Aaron Sorkin
Cast: Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Dev Patel, Olivia Munn, Sam Waterston, Terry Crews, David Krumholtz, Paul Schneider, Chris Messina, Jane Fonda

Episode Title: “The Blackout Part 1: Tragedy Porn”

After a ratings drop Will and Mac are forced to cover two sensational stories they’ve been avoiding. In the name of scoring a presidential debate, “News Night” abandons its principles to regain viewers. That means leaving Sloan without the appropriate amount of time to cover the debt ceiling. Meanwhile, Charlie meets the NSA whistle-blower that tipped him off last week. Elsewhere, Mac’s infamous ex-boyfriend trails Will and the team for a story.

The Good:

Master of the Dark Arts: You’d think with less air time Don would make less of an impact, but you’d be wrong. When he walked into the war room with the slightly cocky, “I understand I’m needed,” it was like a breath of fresh air. He’s charismatic and carries his brief moments with gusto, not unlike Lonnie’s brief but rewarding banter with Will. Cheers to the men who make the most out of nothing; without you the viewers would be robbed of a chuckle or two.
Late for Dinner: The NSA source referenced the machine that made Morgan Freeman issue his verbal resignation to Batman in The Dark Knight. Not only did he reference it, he spoke with an air of incredulity at the mere thought that someone would have no clue of what he was referencing. Only a few breaths later, he mentioned Donald Sutherland and JFK. Sorkin is a well-documented name dropper and pop culture aficionado, but this kind of blatant referencing is funny in an obvious way. It’s also laughable in a way that was probably never intended, but a win is a win.

The So-So:

The Breakdown of Nancy Grace: Many shout their disdain for the former prosecutor-turned-news anchor Nancy Grace. Very few have intellectualized their scorn in such a compelling manner as The Newsroom. The engaging segment, helped by that dashing devil Don, served as a neon billboard of reasons why not to watch her. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance anyone that watches Grace regularly doesn’t consider The Newsroom must see T.V. Added to that, the writers don’t need another reason for critics to call their show preachy.

The Bad:

Sloan’s Shove: The main story for Sloan could have been her passionate stance on the need to cover the debt ceiling debate. Unfortunately, it shares equal billing with her shoving Neal into a wall, because he suggested she might have a large rear end. Let’s not forget she was fully aware that Neal’s comment was not only fake, but all in the name of getting a bigger story. Couple that with her and Mac’s debate on whether the common term for a great party is a rager or raver. There you have a few more points on the increasing Sorkin of sexism.
Fonda Foley (SPOILERS): That moment certainly wasn’t the fault of the superb Jane Fonda. Still, even though viewers have been aching for Leona Lansing’s return, the moment fell flat. Surely, the next time we see Fonda, things will be more rewarding. And not just because she’ll likely be firing Will.

The Quotable:

“Print journalists play it fast and loose with exclamation points.”
“No one’s ever gone broke in America serving up a woman who makes other women feel superior.”

Overall:

Even with a number of important things going on, somehow this episode seemed to drag in places. It’s clear this is a serious time for The Newsroom, a fact not lost on its audience. That doesn’t mean the entire episode should be without the mirth that attracted many of its fans. Of course, this is only half the story. Lets’ hope part two is more enjoyable.