What I’m Watching: The Newsroom

The Newsroom: Season 1, Episode 9 “The Blackout, Part 2: Mock Debate” (B+)

After an amusing beginning with a zany power outage speech by a frantic Mackenzie, things stayed relatively light and entertaining with the continued coverage of banal tabloid affairs related to people with Anthony in their names. It was a great twist to have Lisa revealed as a former classmate of Casey Anthony’s, and she proved herself to be much more serious than ever before indicated when she cited facts, mostly accurately, about child kidnappings and deaths. Accidentally alleging that abortion and murder were the only options was a misstep, and she paid for it with the graffiti on her store. Her eagerness to welcome Jim in after he came over to confess his love for Maggie was unfortunate, and it’s now likely that he’s going to end up dating Lisa while a heartbroken Maggie gets dumped by Don, who, for once, chose to do the right thing. It was impressive to see the group stage the mock debate for Adam Arkin’s Adam Roth and his angry coworker Tate, and it’s a shame that it ended up with questions about Elvis and Johnny Cash. All of the conversations about Mackenzie, Will, and Brian relationship dynamic were fascinating, and they’re being aired more and more in public. Neal’s attempt to become a legitimate troll was fun at first, with Sloan getting very angry at what he was suggesting posting on forums, and then got much deadlier with the emergence of the real poster who threatened Will’s life. I suspect there will be a dramatic edge to the finale, and I’m looking forward to seeing how things turn out.

What I’m Watching: The Newsroom

The Newsroom: Season 1, Episode 8 “The Blackout, Part 1: Tragedy Porn” (B+)

I’m so excited that Paul Schneider appeared in this episode as Brian Brenner, the reporter Will chose to write the story about News Night 2.0 who just happens to be Mackenzie’s ex-boyfriend with whom she cheated on Will (though Brian thought she was cheating on him instead!). In the world of interesting cinematic connections, Schneider is reunited with his costar Olivia Munn from “The Babymakers,” released in theaters earlier this month, and also joined by another “Parks and Recreation” player, Alison Becker, who played promiscuous journalist Shauna Malwae-Tweep on the NBC comedy and here portrays the woman seeking to make a name for herself after her online tryst with Anthony Wiener. It’s great to see Mackenzie fight for what she believes in, and to see Sloan get extremely angry, first at Neal for alleging that she has a big butt and then at Mackenzie for not reporting her proposed finance story. Vetting Charlie’s Deep Throat contact is a big job, and Jim is definitely the man for it. It’s going to be crucial to the saving of Will’s job, if Charlie’s unproductive conversation with Leona is any indication. Will’s having trouble hiding his contempt for Reese, so we just have to hope that he can hold it in long enough for them to carry out a coup. Inconveniently, Will really doesn’t have it all together, as barging in on your therapist during someone else’s appointment and demanding to be seen indicates. At least he’s got his sarcastic bodyguard Lonny to put him in his place.