Home » The Newsroom Cut to 9 Episodes after Sorkin’s ‘False Start’

The Newsroom Cut to 9 Episodes after Sorkin’s ‘False Start’

by Jacob Klein
13 comments 272 views

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sorkin-theater By Eric Weiss (originally posted to Flickr as Stage Hands Off) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Aaron Sorkin is no stranger to controversy. The West Wing, The Social Network and now The Newsroom on HBO have all struck nerves across the political spectrum. Yesterday the Hollywood Reporter released an extensive look at The Newsroom Season 2. You should give the article a read because there are a ton of interesting nuggets to digest if you’re a fan of the cast and crew of The Newsroom.

But the most interesting news item to come out of the series of interviews was the fact that The Newsroom season 2 will be cut to nine episodes in part due to what Aaron Sorkin called a ‘False Start’:

“I doubt HBO’s going to be happy with my telling you this, but I got off to a false start with Season 2,” Sorkin admitted, explaining that the first three episodes — two of which he had already shot — would have proven structurally problematic for the remainder of the season. “With my hat in my hand, I went to HBO and said, ‘Would it be all right if I started again? I know it’s going to cost time and it’s going to cost a lot of money,'” he continued. “Other networks would have said no.”

Well it’s great to hear that yet another A-list Hollywood personality is in love with HBO! And HBO Watch is glad that the writer was given this chance to make sure his artistic vision was realized. This will surely result in a better viewing experience for us all. Though we are saddened by the fact that we’ll only get nine episodes instead of season 1’s ten this year. We think in the end you’ll forget about that one hour and just be glad that we saw something amazing this summer on HBO.

The Newsroom season 2 premieres July 14th at 10PM.

Here’s the video from Hollywood Reporter:

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13 comments

Old Swiz May 9, 2014 - 7:23 am

The Newsroom is just about the best TV series for years, and Jeff Daniels is at least among the top 5 actors. I too have trouble understanding most of Emily Mortimer’s dialogue, and I wouldn’t miss her if she left. Most of the others in the cast are great, and Aaron Sorkin is one of the top 5 writers in TV history — he proved that with West Wing.

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Angel September 27, 2013 - 10:27 pm

Don’t get me wrong, The Newsroom is the best show on TV. But I was not as impressed with season 2 as i was with season 1. I really liked the fast pace of actual news stories and how they covered them, the real news media could take lessons from ACN!!! This season 2 was good, however it was not as fun with all the quick quirky comebacks that had me falling off the chair. There were so many major news stories this past year, I was disappointed with the law suit, and all the excess baggage that went with it. PLEASE go back to the original format.

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Grandma Joan September 21, 2013 - 2:34 am

I LOVE The Newsroom! I wish it were on longer! It will be difficult to wait for a year for the next episode! Please continue the series for many years, and make the season longer! My only complaint is that I have trouble hearing and understanding a lot of what Emily Mortimer says. She talks so fast and kind of mumbles. I also have trouble understanding some of the others when they talk so fast and turn away from the camera. It’s probably just my hearing.. I still get the general gist of what they are saying. I didn’t like the cigar smoking either and would be happy if Jeff Daniels wouldn’t smoke.

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SaucySnoop August 16, 2013 - 10:51 am

Wow! I’m kinda pissed for the loss of 3 episodes really, that’s how much I love the show, but thumbs up to Sorkin for admitting he screwed up, unlike other showrunners, and to HBO for supporting creativity over budget and time, which are the primary concerns of many networks, including cable.
Those two unaired episodes had better be on the DVDs!

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Jacob Klein August 16, 2013 - 11:19 am

Yeah, I don’t think they’re going to do that since it would be confusing/not the direction they wanted to go in. But maybe a little 15 minute doc with some scenes and explanation would be cool on the DVDs!

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SaucySnoop August 16, 2013 - 4:08 pm

You’re probably right. And they don’t want to risk people going “that would have been better!”, which I don’t doubt would happen even though I trust them implicitly on the direction of the show.

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Donald McIntosh July 28, 2013 - 7:32 pm

I just “tried” to watch the first 15 minutes of today’s episode… 7/28/13. I had to stop to post how much I hate the fake post production “snap zooms” during the show. Some producer and editor with no style, or understanding of the copy, tried to make things more dynamic by adding little zooms into people to make it more interesting. Fail. I am an UBER liberal and this show is an embarrassment to anyone with a brain.

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Angel September 27, 2013 - 10:37 pm

This show is just that, a TV show. Watch it as you do CSI, it is fiction. I think the REAL tv anchors could get some ideas on how to be real and do real new, Instead of being on commercials for Presidential candidates. They could also learn how to report on every major party, instead of pushing one certain candidate (Obama) down our throat. I am sorry you dont like the show, but I have to disagree. Season 2 not as great but the first 10 min of the very first episode had me hooked!!!

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MrLiberty May 26, 2014 - 9:59 am

I always thought that being Über liberal is what’s supposed to be an embarrassment to anyone with a brain ;)

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sfcat June 23, 2013 - 6:02 pm

Thanks much HBO for not canceling an amazing series!

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Jojocotto June 21, 2013 - 12:30 pm

The self-indulgence never ends.

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J. Ross June 21, 2013 - 12:09 pm

I am just imagining if a show runner on, say, AMC went to the network and asked for a “do over”. It’s great to think that HBO is cultivating a production method that supports it’s creators.

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Hodor June 21, 2013 - 11:06 am

Hodor!

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