MovieChat Forums > The Newsroom (2012) Discussion > So why did it end?

So why did it end?

posted 10 years ago by philfeeley
16 replies | jump to latest

I've watched this from the beginning. My favourite quote is Will's speech at the forum in the very first episode.

So why has it ended? I knew their timeline would catch up to the present, but there was still a whole lot more to cover - even on the things they did cover. Why end it? Were ratings bad? Did they offend someone? Did Sorkin decide he only wanted three years (three short years)?

Perhaps this has been answered or explained elsewhere. I just haven't seen it.

[–] cinles 10 years ago

This 👉 "Did Sorkin decide he only wanted three years (three short years)?"

[–] RedHead0186 10 years ago

He didn't even want to do three years, he wanted to end it after Season 2. HBO talked him into doing a third season, but the compromise was a shorter season.

[–] gjcya 10 years ago

Sorkin has been screwed by TV so many times I think he just wanted to go out on his own terms for once.

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] toddp-10 10 years ago

turned off by extreme left wing political lectures, bad comedy, and constant religion-bashing

That's the fault of a simple audience and the sad world we live in, not Sorkins. It's also why absurd reality TV shows about 20 sluts trying to date one guy or some fat hillbillies get's huge ratings.

Network TV is of poor quality because the majority of the viewers are of poor quality. It's unfortunate, but the sad truth

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] toddp-10 10 years ago

every episode became an excuse for Sorkin to set up a religious strong man argument

I can concede that, it was heavy handed. But it didn't bother me. I liked the characters and dialogue a great deal so I was OK with it.

needed to actually feature funny comedy

That was a common complaint that I just could not understand. The sketch comedy show was a plot device. The show was about the characters. Why people expected funny sketches boggles me to be honest. It was not a sitcom, it was a drama with witty humour infused. Why people went in expecting funny comedy sketches is baffling. Do you expect to see actual open chest surgery on a hospital drama? No. The show was behind the scenes about the people that made the show, not the show itself. How that escaped people makes no sense.

It was plain and simple badly written

I thought the show was brilliant IMO. So agree to disagree

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] toddp-10 10 years ago

Sorkin could have, in my opinion, done the show just fine without ever actually showing a sketch. Ever.

I agree. Hated them. Sketch comedy is always more miss than hit as it is, so showing any was a bad idea, even bits and pieces. He showed way too much for sure. Nothing beyond them in costume or standing on set should have been shown.

There was no reason to show the sketches they discussed, for sure

[–] Kassdhal 10 years ago

I'm not a big fan of Studio 60 but frankly having just done a re-run of the entire season, I don't see any heavy handed anti-religious discussion... The show is just not that funny but it is in no way "extreme left wing"

I'm 17, looking at linoleum makes me want to have sex - Xander Harris

[–] gjcya 10 years ago

Sorkin has been screwed by TV so many times. I think he just wanted to go out on his own terms for once.

[–] President_Ackbar_Impeached 10 years ago

"I know the whole 'never say never' stuff, but I'm pretty certain I'm about to write my last three episodes of television," Sorkin recently told The Los Angeles Times. "And I want to be really clear about this. Really clear about this. I've loved every minute I've spent in television. And I've had much more failure, as traditionally measured, than success in television. I've done four shows, and only one of them was The West Wing."

[–] Doom 10 years ago

If so, well then that sucks.

To me, Sports Night was a great show. Not his problem that ABC had no friggin' clue what to do with it or that it was far ahead of its time.

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Wait a minute... who am I here?

[–] President_Ackbar_Impeached 10 years ago



[–] toddp-10 10 years ago

I've loved every minute I've spent in television

I certainly understand his desire to just stay with movies. But it's a huge shame and a loss for TV viewers.

I've done four shows, and only one of them was The West Wing

I personally think all 4 of his shows were miles better than most shows ever on network TV. And we have seen nothing that matches them. Sports Night was poorly handled by producers and the network but was still brilliant. And before it's time. Studio 60 was brilliant. To this day I just don't get why it failed. West Wing is one of the best shows ever on TV IMO. And The Newsroom was also fantastic.

He may consider he failed, but as far as I'm concerned he has created 4 brilliant TV shows. Sorkin deciding to not do TV again is very unfortunate.

[–] Dan2108 10 years ago

Aaron Sorkin's "failures" are better TV than most of the successes created by other people. He's in a category of his own.