The Newsroom

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Jun 24, 2012
Season #: 3, 2, 1
Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 31
  3. Negative: 6 out of 31
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Critic Reviews

  1. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Dorothy Rabinowitz
    Jun 22, 2012
    30
    It's clear that Mr. Sorkin's main interest in The Newsroom runs to concerns other than characters and storytelling.
  2. Time
    Reviewed by: James Poniewozik
    Jun 21, 2012
    30
    The West Wing gave us rich characters, a sense of proportionality and an infectious feeling of romance with the country and the people who want to make it better. The Newsroom, after four exhausting, smug episodes, gives us none of that: just Aaron Sorkin writing one argument after another for himself to win.
  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Hank Stuever
    Jun 20, 2012
    30
    Sorkin's writing lapses into self-parody, leaving savvier viewers to marvel at how quickly the show goes awry.
  5. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Emily Nussbaum
    Jun 18, 2012
    30
    The Newsroom treats the audience as though we were extremely stupid.
  6. The Huffington Post
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Jun 19, 2012
    20
    When The Newsroom isn't obvious and self-congratulatory, it's manipulative and shrieky.
  7. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    Jun 24, 2012
    0
    Monstrously misconceived and incompetently executed, powered by a high-octane blend of arrogance and contempt, The Newsroom is an epochal failure, a program destined for television's all-time What Were They Thinking? list. Not since NASA's first Vanguard rocket blew up on its launch pad in 1957 will Americans have seen anything crash and burn on television with such hellish spectacularity.

Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Best TV Season of 2012
5
#5 Most Discussed TV Season of 2012
15
#15 Most Shared TV Season of 2012

User Reviews

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User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 541 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 446 out of 541
  2. Mixed: 54 out of 541
  3. Negative: 41 out of 541
  1. hbo
    Jun 24, 2012
    10
    This could be the best show I have seen in a long long time. A lot of the critics reviews make me angry, they have to remember that it's aThis could be the best show I have seen in a long long time. A lot of the critics reviews make me angry, they have to remember that it's a television show and to stop taking it so personally. I applaud HBO for sticking with Aaron Sorkin to make this happen. Television is supposed to be entertaining, if it was supposed to be real, we'd just be watching CNBC or CNN. Be sure to watch and judge this amazing show on your own, not from the eyes of a journalist that is comparing it to their own life and work. I can't wait for this season to unfold!… Full Review »
  2. Sundancer
    Jul 3, 2012
    3
    First episode: 7/10. Second episode: 1/10. What started in episode 1 as a cutting and crackling critique of modern America through the prismFirst episode: 7/10. Second episode: 1/10. What started in episode 1 as a cutting and crackling critique of modern America through the prism of televised news devolved in episode 2 into a preachy mess of irritating people screaming and gesticulating wildly, neither half as funny or half as smart -- or half as believable -- as they're supposed to be. Abysmal. Avoid.… Full Review »
  3. elborya
    Jun 26, 2012
    9
    I have just seen the first chapter. I was so bummed about the critics reviews that I thought the show went over the line with a speech everyI have just seen the first chapter. I was so bummed about the critics reviews that I thought the show went over the line with a speech every ten seconds and not enough character development. But no, turns out critics suck balls. This looks like another masterpiece from Aaron Sorkin and people will leave the show more informed than they were before. I specially loved the "compromise" line, as a metaphor of how it usually works for the democrats. I loved it. Watch it, and please ignore the ratings or critics, this is only a 1000% Sorkin.… Full Review »
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