Analysis
Reality catches up with The Newsroom in this week’s episode. News Night’s crusade to deliver relevant, informative, vital information to the American electorate has resulted in an unprecedented drop in ratings. For just over a year, the program has tried to stay true to its ideals, with hopes that by doing their job as it was intended to be done, they would attract viewers on merit. The Newsroom projects the disappointing reality that entertainment will trump informative programming, and News Night is faced with the need to revert back to ratings-driven content to compete.
The Newsroom eloquently discusses the moral and ethical blows of backtracking on such a venture. Demonstrating the flaws of such ambitious ideals and not completely romanticizing them is commendable. The justification is that without ratings they won’t land the presidential debate, and that their proposed debate format reform does the most for the American people.
Don’s invaluable expertise in viewer engagement through strategically produced segments is highlighted as he breaks down segments of Nancy Grace from HLN. By far the most compelling scene of the episode, primarily due to deliverance of this tutorial, is Don’s. This scene was a defining moment for this character, who has been floating around more as a component of Maggie’s love triangle than an imperative character of the show. His sly and opportunistic personality was perfect for breaking down of manipulative media.
This weeks episode featured two new faces - Brian Brenner (Paul Schneider) and Solomon Hancock (Stephen Henderson). Brian, who is based on Sorkin’s experience at MSNBC as he shadowed the staff for research to do The Newsroom, is doing the same at ACN. Although an interesting addition, why Sorkin needed to create another love triangle in ACN is beyond me. On the other hand, Hancock allows Sorkin to bring the major news break of Murdoch and the wiretapping scandal at Newscorp to light, and to recreate a similar scenario at ACN. Now that Charlie has the upper hand in the battle between News Night and AWN, it will result in a dramatic road to the finale.
Recap
The eighth episode of The Newsroom begins with Will having a meeting with a journalist, during which they discuss the journalist writing a piece about News Night and its staff. Will is willing to facilitate the journalist on a trial basis as long as he agrees to learn about the News Night philosophy, and to keep within the parameters stipulated.
Will then enters another meeting with Charlie, Mack and Reese. Reese explains the ratings drop since News Night’s decision to not cover the Casey Anthony trial. As Charlie, Mack and Will continue the conversation without Reese, Charlie gives the order to cover the Casey Anthony story to get back the viewers they lost. Mack is furious, and she berates both Charlie and Will for allowing ratings to drive the content on their show. Will explains his willingness to compromise in order to get the debate. The team has prepared a new debate format that they believe will fundamentally change the format of how presidential candidates are interviewed. If the ratings continue to drop, they will not land the debate and lose out on an important opportunity for change.
Later that evening, Sloan meets Mack at the local waterhole before heading out for the weekend. She wants to give Mack a heads up that she will require a few extra minutes to discuss the vote on the debt ceiling which would result in a national economic crisis. Mack explains she cannot give her the time because if they lose more ratings, they will lose the debate and needs it for the Casey Anthony segment. Mack and Sloan’s shop talk turns personal when Sloan about the journalist who has been hanging around the office, Brian Brenner (Paul Schneider). We learn that Brian is Mack’s ex that she cheated on Will with. As Mack changes the subject back to work and tells Sloan she will try to get her time as long as there isn’t anything new they need to fit into their time slot, Jim informs Mack of Congressman Anthony Weiner accidentally tweeting a picture of his groin to his followers.
The next morning Will and Mack discuss the congressman while Brian silently watches. Will, in an attempt to appear balanced for the RNC, wants to cover Weiner, a Democrat, in the B-block of airtime, which infuriates Mack. She blows up on Will and leaves. Brian and Will start discussing Will’s attacks on the Tea Party, Leona Lansing and Will’s job security. Brian, through a line of questioning to which Will responds vaguely and evasively, deduces exactly the predicament Will and News Night are in with AWN.
Charlie meets ‘Late for Dinner’, whose real name is Solomon Hancock (Stephen Henderson), at the New York Public Library. We learn more about Hancock’s extensive background in the Navy, private sector and the NSA. Hancock tested data mining software, which he compares to the technology used in The Dark Knight, that wiretaps various communication devices (mostly cell phones). The program, called Global Clarity, was contracted to two defense companies and Hancock’s job was to make sure they delivered and that it worked. The program violates the Fourth Amendment rights of Americans. Hancock gives Charlie a package, documenting Hancock’s testimony to the House subcommittee and the Pentagon. He also claims AWN, much like Newscorp, is illegally wiretapping and implicates Reese Lansing. Hancock makes a deal with Charlie that if he reports on Global Clarity, he will give Charlie what he needs to protect them from Leona Lansing.
After Mack and Will take part in a tutorial from Don, breaking down how the competition is drawing viewership by providing entertainment, Charlie calls them in for a meeting to fill them in on what he’s learned from Hancock.
Later on, Will wraps up a report on Casey Anthony, and Reese informs him of how many viewers he has regained. He also tries to get Will to talk about the record setting heat wave that has temperatures so high that there is a possibility of power outages.
Will then joins Mack, Jim and Charlie in Charlie’s office. The team assigns Jim to vet Hancock, and to find out everything he can about the information he’s provided.
Finally, Mack and Brian discuss their past and News Night 2.0. Neal, to Mack’s convenience, interrupts with a story pitch about internet trolls.
Will shows up at his therapist’s office and interrupts a session in progress. Will asks Jacob why of all people he would get Mack’s ex boyfriend to write the piece on News Night.
Charlie chases down and confronts Leona as she is leaving the building. They soon get into a light argument about Will and the tabloids. She reiterates that a context will be created for Will’s dismissal if he keeps up with news reports that are bad for her business. Charlie warns her not to pursue this route, and hints at knowing how TMI is gathering their information. It’s clearly evident that Leona is oblivious to what Charlie is referring to.
Back in the office, Sloan rages at Mack for not giving her time to discuss the implications of the debt ceiling vote. Mack walks into the control room and prepares to go to air the program. Just before hitting the air, the power cuts out.
