It looks to me like a reboot of Paddy Chayefsky’s Network. I’m generally against such things, but I’ve had a soft spot for Sorkin’s writing since Sports Night, and I think America could use another network news protagonist who takes it upon himself to speak truth to power. Here, as we haven’t run it in a while, is a link to Peter Finch’s epic “mad as hell” rant from Network, so that you can compare the two side by side.
Oh, and I love that Sorkin and company have cast Jane Fonda in the role of Ted Turner. It’s truly inspired. And it’ll be great to see her on the screen again…
Now I just have to make friends with someone who has HBO.
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We should all get together and watch this somewhere.
Wait, did he have the audacity to declare that America wasn’t the “best” country?
I have always aprreciated Jeff Daniels’ talent. Did a great George Washington in ‘The Crossing’ and was fantastic in Gettysburg. This looks very good.
This is how I always feel about Aaron Sorkin shows. “Ooh, someone spoke truth to power on a national stage. I really want to hear more of that.” (re: the promo for Studio 60). Then it turns out it was just the opening scene of the first episode and it all devolves in to smarmy ass internal character relationship dramedy (re: the rest of Studio 60) and well-scripted pontificating about “the heartland” (re: just about all of The West Wing).
That said, I’m still gonna watch this, it looks awesome.
Thank god I looked again to see that it was a different Peter on that last post as I totally agree with him. I would hate to start seeing the world as the usual Peter does.
It’s a good assessment of Aaron Sorkin’s work. West Wing has to be one of the most overrated dramas ever. It got endless good press because media pundits and critics get a tingle out of seeing themselves dramatized on TV and giggling over their insider information.
That trailer looks great though, Daniels is always good. I hope it lives up to its potential. I also hope there is a ghostwritten version of Rachael Maddow who can condescendingly lecture us each week with five-syllable words about what it all means.
I hope he gets at least one “Dumb and Dummer” type toilet scenes a season.
I also hope his character kills politicians, like Dexter.
Very much related:
http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/19519/wryly-reilly-the-myth-of-american-exceptionalism/print
Good. But. David Lynch’s new video is better.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/david-lynchs-new-music-video-c.html