The Newsroom

I think I watched every episode of the West Wing and I just don't remember any great gender bias there either. Characters with genitalia of either sex could be complete morons or extremely intelligent... kind of like life. I'll give you the TV and movies are full of bimbos and clueless women. But there's some smart character out there too. It's the same for men. They often get thrown roles where they're the out of touch dad who's incapable of mastering such complex household appliances as the dishwasher and blender etc... And laundry room alone contains mysteries Indiana Jones couldn't solve on his best day. If they're not the clueless dad they're tripping over themselves at the sight of any cleavage or exposed upper thigh. Almost all men in movie are unable to decode basic emotional situations. "D'oh! Why's she crying! Dang and here I thought she'd be happy... D'uh... I'm a stoopid." Like the average man can't compute people sometimes cry when they're happy. Watch your average male character in just about in movie or TV series try to change a diaper. If he doesn't get a face full of urine it's a sure bet he'll be out of reach of the fresh diapers and baby powder. If nothing else the two self adhesive tabs on the "Huggies" will confound the shit out him.

Is it possible one sex gets the brunt of "dumb ass" roles? Maybe. Perhaps some college kid is doing or has done a dissertation on the subject? From what I've seen, especially in the two shows you've mentioned, it's fairly equal.

 

"I see this show as being a different form of The Daily Show, pointing out what is broken in our news industry--but in this case dramatizing it in a serialized way."

Good point, fangirl.

 

That's actually a great point - great insight Fangirl!


I'm digging the show, seen all episodes so far and looking forward to the next. I am a sucker for Aaron Sorkins style though, I was a big fan of Studio 60 as well.

I hope this one sticks around.

 

Well, it's already renewed for season 2.

I'd not ever watched anything by Aaron Sorkin--not intentionally--just didn't happen to. The strong anti-Sorkin reviews that are floating around seem to have in common the fact that the reviewers have seen his previous work and didn't like his 'monologueing' or "bombastic style," neither of which bother me. But, I'm still wanting my female characters to be less needy, to not have Daniels' character's ex-gf get all freaked out by his conquests as well as the red-haired former intern chick not be all flip-floppy with her emotionally callous bf. "Unsure of themselves" is how I'd characterize the main women characters, whereas most of the men seem very sure about what they want or if they don't, they feign that they do (ex: Daniels also still being hung up on his ex).
I'd be more OK to see a less-polarized view of female emotions--like maybe having just one of the women be super-needy?
That said, my spouse really likes the show and I'm big into Jeff Daniels and Sam Waterston so we'll keep at it.

 

I think this show is getting stronger as it goes on. I'm hooked now. Now they intentionally started a few years back so they could commentate on stories that happened in real life, but they are already about a year on from where they started - at this rate it won't be too long before they catch up to present day. I wonder how they will handle things then?

 

Hiatus. The show will be off-air for 9 months.

 

I've been watching Studio 60 recently and can see why it got canned - it just doesn't seem to flow well. I'm enjoying it, but not at a west wing level.

For the newsroom, I've still got this weeks episode to watch - my wife is less keen - 2 or 3 episodes was enough for her. I don't feel like I've really bought into the characters yet. Still watching, just not "must watch as soon as it is out".

 

I'm not in love with the show, either.
I have to have strong female characters in an hour-long drama. From my perspective, this show's lead females are not. They essentially react to the men's lead. It may be a petty quibble but to each his/her own, right?