QUALITY DRAMA television network HBO has just released a two-minute trailer on YouTube for The Newsroom, a series about a broadcast news operation written by Aaron Sorkin (right) creator of The West Wing and screenwriter of The Social Network.
The series debuts in the US in June, and is also coming to a premium satellite channel near you (Sky Atlantic strikes again).
The first episode deals with the fallout when a rigidly impartial prime- time news anchor (Jeff Daniels) – “the most trusted name in news” – is asked at a Q&A session by a college student why he thinks America is the greatest country in the world. Daniels (with boss Sam Waterston, pictured) dares to dispute the premise of the question, attracting “negative press”.
Amid simmering crushes and explosive office politics, the premise of the series centres on a bid to turn around the broadcaster’s reputation and ratings.
“We’re going to do a good news show and make it popular at the same time,” insists the producer (Emily Mortimer), as newsroom cynic (Dev Patel) mutters under his breath: “What could possibly go wrong?”
What indeed?
