Navigating The Newsroom: A Podcast on HBO's The Newsroom
24 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 10 years ago - ★★★ - 12 ratings"I want the truth!"
"You can’t handle the truth!"
So goes the famous exchange in Aaron Sorkin’s play A Few Good Men. But "speaking truth to stupid" is also a major theme of the writer’s new HBO television series, The Newsroom. Will this show have the staying power of Sorkin’s past television outings, or is it a creative dead end?
Tune in every week as Andrew and Andrew analyze each episode of the season. They’ll recap each episode, give their general thoughts (wherever that may lead) and discuss the show’s major themes. Forget Cronkite and Murrow. We’ve got it covered.
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Episodes
Update: Summer 2014 Announcement
July 08, 2014 18:12 - 1 minute - 1.26 MBAndrew has an update on what's going on at Film Geek Radio this summer.
Episode #23: Season 2 Wrap-Up
September 29, 2013 03:32 - 56 minutes - 52.4 MBSeason 2 of The Newsroom may have finished, but Navigating The Newsroom still has one more episode to go! In this jam-packed finale, an all-star ensemble of guests are back to give their thoughts on how the season ultimately turned out. Andrew and Andrew call up Inkoo Kang, Sam Fragoso, and to discuss what went right and what wrong. Was it a good decision to focus on Operation Genoa? Is Jerry Dantana a problematic character? Was the ending satisfying? And was the Maggie in Af...
Episode #22: Election Night, Part 2
September 19, 2013 20:31 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBIt’s the end of Season 2 of The Newsroom! Andrew Robinson still isn’t back--don’t worry, he’ll return for our season wrap-up episode--but Brian Roan from The Film Stage is once again able to fill in. He and Andrew debate just how messy of an ending this turned out to be. Is rejecting the Petraeus story a good choice? How is the Will/Mac relationship indicative of a larger problem regarding Sorkin’s expectations and the audience’s reality? Is Maggie the new Jim? And just how g...
Episode #21: Election Night, Part 1
September 12, 2013 01:17 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBAndrew Robinson is away in Toronto this week, but don't worry! Special guest Joanna Robinson from Pajiba and The Ones Who Knock is here to discuss the first part of this season's finale. Is the Will/Mac relationship handled well? Why do these characters keep screwing up? How come Leona won't let them resign? And does the ending imply "Preachy Will" is going to return? Tune in to find out. Also, there's a brief tangent about people falling down, which is always fun. ABOUT OUR...
Episode #20: Red Team III
August 29, 2013 23:02 - 1 hour - 58.4 MBSpecial guest Inkoo Kang from Film School Rejects and Village Voice joins Andrew and Andrew on this episode to discuss "Red Team III." The Operation Genoa fallout is finally commencing, but is it satisfying? Was Jerry's tape-editing scandal really necessary? What's up with all the Benghazi stuff? And what's up with Leona's change of heart? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 00:20 - Intro 4:34 - General thoughts 19:06 - Jerry's fault, or institutional failure? 27:13 - Char...
Episode #19: One Step Too Many
August 22, 2013 02:42 - 54 minutes - 50.4 MBIn this episode, William Bibbiani from Crave Online returns to discuss "One Step Too Many" and how this season of The Newsroom is an improvement over the first one. Are the relationships and sexual tension becoming easier to tolerate? What staple of Sorkin writing does he screw up this time? And how does everyone feel about Jerry being "evil" now? Tune in to find out. Plus, a random tangent on John Carter and why sports are cool. SHOW NOTES: 00:20 - Intro 2:30 - William B...
Episode #18: News Night With Will McAvoy
August 15, 2013 16:26 - 1 hour - 57.5 MBFor the first time ever, there are two guests joining Andrew and Andrew on Navigating The Newsroom! In this episode, Sam Fragoso and Corey Atad drop by to discuss all the different subplots happening in the fifth episode of Season 2. Is this the best episode of the series so far? What is Sorkin implying about how technology affects relationships? Are the developments with Sloan and Maggie appropriate, or do they suggest Sorkin may be perpetuating some of the same sexism he's ...
Episode #17: Unintended Consequences
August 07, 2013 15:26 - 1 hour - 72.9 MBIn this episode, Allison Loring from Film School Rejects and Fanhattan returns to discuss the fourth episode of the second season, "Unintended Consequences." How does everyone feel about Jim leaving the campaign trail? Is Will's takedown of Occupy a fair one? Is the big reveal about what happened to Maggie in Africa fully satisfying? And what about critics who claim this episode is borderline racist? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 00:20 - Intro 5:09 - Allison's thoughts...
Episode #16: Willie Pete
August 02, 2013 17:56 - 1 hour - 58.8 MBAndrew Robinson couldn't make it this week, but don't worry! The insightful Brian Roan from DearFilm and The Film Stage filled in as a co-host to discuss the third episode of the second season, "Willie Pete." There's not as much "relationship stuff" this episode, but what's going on with Will and Nina? Is Jim becoming the new Will? And how is the show both killing off and reviving certain storylines from Season 1 to its advantage? Plus, Andrew and Brian give Aaron Sorkin a fe...
Episode #15: The Genoa Tip
July 25, 2013 11:07 - 57 minutes - 53.1 MBSpecial guest Devindra Hardawar from /Film and VentureBeat stops by to discuss the second episode of Season 2, "The Genoa Tip." Is Will's 9/11 backstory effective? Will U.S. drone policy be an effective core issue to drive this season? Is the presentation of campaign journalism realistic? And what's up with all the romantic entanglements? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 00:20 - Intro 2:27 - General thoughts 9:00 - Emphasizing the "process" of news 16:43 - Will's first ...
Episode #14: Let's Kill All The Lawyers
July 16, 2013 12:20 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBThe Newsroom is back! In this episode, Andrew and Andrew discuss the second season premiere, "First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All The Lawyers." What's up with all the romantic conflict since we last saw these characters? Who's the new guy? Does Will's little stunt on the air make sense? And is the new structure really the best way to approach this show? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:20 - Intro and recap 3:51 - General thoughts, the opening credits 12:51 - All the roma...
Episode #13: Back On The Air
July 11, 2013 06:40 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MBThe best podcast about The Newsroom on the internet is back! The second season premieres this Sunday, July 14, so Andrew and Andrew decided to kick things off with a short preview podcast. How do they feel about Season 1 of the show now that so much time has passed? What are they looking forward to in Season 2? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:20 - We're back! 3:51 - Andrew R's thoughts on Season 1, hopes for Season 2 10:38 - Andrew J's thoughts on Season 1 15:53 - Se...
Episode #12: Media Scholar Bob Thompson
September 04, 2012 05:17 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBIn this special bonus episode, Andrew talks with television historian and pop culture expert Robert J. Thompson about The Newsroom. How does the show fit in with Sorkin's previous work? How is it referencing other television shows? Does it really need to be on HBO? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:19 - Intro 3:37 - Interview with Bob Thompson 42:06 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!
Episode #11: The Greater Fool and Season 1
August 30, 2012 18:15 - 1 hour - 62 MBThe end has come! Andrew and Andrew are joined by a few of their previous guests -- William Bibbiani, Gwen Reyes and Allison Loring -- to discuss the season finale of The Newsroom, and the season as a whole. Has Sorkin succeeded in his mission to civilize? What’s up with Don and Sloan? Is the relationship drama finally at a satisfying place? What are the best and worst things about the show? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:19 - Intro 1:55 - Episode recap 6:02 - William Bibbiani’s thought...
Episode #10: The Blackout, Part 2
August 23, 2012 19:40 - 50 minutes - 47.2 MBIt's almost over! In this episode, Andrew and Andrew discuss the penultimate installment of The Newsroom, the second half of the self-proclaimed two-part episode. Does the blackout even matter that much? Is the mock debate an example of Sorkin's liberal bias? And what's up with Lisa and the "relationship crap?" Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:19 - Intro 1:36 - Some feedback to feedback 6:32 - Episode recap and clip 9:58 - Andrew J's general thoughts 13:00 - Andrew R's general thoughts 14...
Episode #9: The Blackout, Part 1
August 18, 2012 05:55 - 56 minutes - 52.6 MBSpecial guest Chadwick Matlin from Vulture joins Andrew and Andrew to analyze why the show is just so darn mediocre. What's up with this new character? Are the scenes with Sloan and Don further evidence of Sorkin's sexism? And why is God on Mackenzie's side now? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:19 - Intro 3:00 - Chadwick Matlin gives his general thoughts 7:30 - Andrew R's general thoughts on the episode 9:50 - What's changed from the beginning? 16:15 - The hacking subplot 19:35 - The scen...
Episode #8: 5/1
August 11, 2012 07:17 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MBThis week, The Newsroom gets nostalgic and patriotic. Special guest Gwen Reyes from Reel Vixen stops by to discuss the portrayal of the announcement of Osama bin Laden's death. Was it respectful, superficial, or both? Is Sloan still the strongest female character? And is Jim's recent development with Lisa really what the love triangle needs? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:19 - Intro and episode recap 3:35 - Gwen's thoughts on the show and the episode 7:04 - Andrew R's general thoughts o...
Episode #7: Bullies
August 01, 2012 10:57 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBFinally, the show gets a female perspective! Special guest Allison Loring from Film School Rejects joins Andrew and Andrew to discuss the latest episode of The Newsroom. Was the Sloan situation handled well, or is it just further evidence of hypocrisy? Is the internet really that evil? Is Will going to turn into another Tony Soprano? And why is Maggie so damn clueless? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:19 - Intro and episode recap 2:45 - General thoughts on the show and the episode 5:00 ...
Episode #6: Amen
August 01, 2012 10:52 - 1 hour - 33.9 MBSpecial guest William Bibbiani from Crave Online joins Andrew and Andrew to discuss the fifth episode of The Newsroom. Has the show recovered from last week's travesty? Is this Neal-centric episode what we had hoped for? And how does the economy work, anyway? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:19 - Intro and episode recap 4:21 - General thoughts on the show and the episode 7:42 - Why does the show continue to humiliate Mackenzie? 13:22 - Bibbs gives more general thoughts on the show and cha...
Episode #5: I'll Try To Fix You
July 24, 2012 08:24 - 55 minutes - 51.6 MBSorry for the delay, folks! Andrew and Andrew are finally back to discuss the fourth episode of The Newsroom, "I'll Try To Fix You." They're joined by special guest Corey Atad from Sound on Sight and the new JustAtadcast. Does this episode deserve all the hate? Is Sorkin succeeding in his "mission to civilize?" Is his attitude towards gossip journalists accurate or unfair? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:19 - Intro and episode recap 3:20 - General thoughts on the show and the episode 9:...
Episode #4: The 112th Congress
July 14, 2012 12:51 - 45 minutes - 42 MBThe third episode of The Newsroom has a unique structure, but is this a good thing or a step back? Andrew and Andrew discuss Will and Mackenzie's relationship woes, the extent to which characters are actually developing, and whether or not the Tea Party-bashing is effective. Is the show liberal propaganda? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:19 - Intro and episode recap 3:00 - General thoughts 10:15 - By bashing the Tea Party, is the show becoming liberal propaganda? 24:07 - Character de...
Episode #3: News Night 2.0
July 08, 2012 06:43 - 53 minutes - 50 MBAndrew and Andrew discuss the second episode of The Newsroom. Is this an improvement over the pilot or is the show already starting to go downhill? Is Will McAvoy still an intriguing character? What about critics who say the show's depiction of women is sexist? Are Maggie, Mackenzie and Sloan depicted in a positive way? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:06 - Short disclaimer 1:13 - Intro and episode recap 5:05 - General thoughts 7:08 - Characterization of Maggie; the love triangle 19:25 - ...
Episode #2: We Just Decided To
June 30, 2012 09:23 - 59 minutes - 55.5 MBAndrew and Andrew discuss the pilot episode of The Newsroom, "We Just Decided To." How does it compare to Sorkin's other work? Is the use of real-life news going to be a problem? Is Sorkin a brilliant truth-teller or just an arrogant jerk? Tune in to find out. SHOW NOTES: 0:20 - Intro and episode recap 3:24 - Andrew Robinson's general thoughts 7:34 - Andrew Johnson's general thoughts 11:04 - Ripping off "The Office"? 14:28 - Is Will McAvoy a likable character? 23:35 - The show as Aaron Sork...
Episode #1: An Introduction
June 29, 2012 20:31 - 14 minutes - 14.1 MBWelcome to Navigating The Newsroom! In this pilot episode, hosts Andrew and Andrew introduce themselves and share their expectations for the new HBO series The Newsroom. Will Aaron Sorkin be able to capture the same magic he did with shows like The West Wing and films like The Social Network? Join us for 10 weeks of in-depth discussion and analysis of one of this summer’s most anticipated new shows! SHOW NOTES: 0:20 - Intro 1:00 - The hosts introduce themselves 2:35 - What we know about The...