Unifying Red and Blue?

 As The Newsroom gears up for it’s third season, the show is starting to gain a greater following.  Aaron Sorkin brings a class and intelligence to the show that is rare and highly appreciated by its loyal audience and newcomers. HBO has a track record of embracing Sorkin’s new projects including Sports Night and Studio 60 on Sunset Strip. The Newsroom has fallen into a similar category. Like his other shows, his fans are hoping that this show will continue forward, and so far there has been no indication that it wouldn’t succeed. With a highly acclaimed cast led by Jeff Daniels (Will McAvoy), the show centers around the world of television journalism and through its two seasons has already received a few high-profile award nominations.

In a recent poll that was taken after Part I of it's Season 2 finale Election Night, it showed that the series is proving to be highly successful:

"POLL : What did you think of The Newsroom - Election Night, Part I?Awesome  83.46%  (111 votes)  Great  9.02%  (12 votes)  Good  5.26%  (7 votes)  OK  0.75%  (1 votes)  Poor  0%  (0 votes)  Awful  1.5%  (2 votes)   Total Votes: 133" ( DarkUFO, Spoiler TV)

In a recent interview, I sat down with two different friends that have watched the both seasons of The Newsroom to gauge their perspectives on the strengths and weaknesses of the show. As illustrated through a few of the show antagonists, it has been said to be “corny and predictable” and the show’s supporters have called it “smart, fast-paced and witty”.

To really create a balanced interview, I choose two friends that were opposites on the political spectrum, one a democrat and one a republican.

When asked why they liked the show they provided similar answers, “It deals with controversial subjects in a fair way…it deals with complex issues. And it really tries to do the news accurately and tell the real story.”

What was surprising in the interview was that they agreed on many of the issues and messages in the shows, but when asked what their political opinions and ethical values were, not only were they different, they were textbook “republican” and “democrat” answers.

They made it even more ironic by both agreeing with a theme that I thought was prevalent throughout the season: To stick with your guns and what you believe is right, despite all costs.  More specifically, the show strives to present the news as “the news,” and not as a way to make money or satisfy a certain political group.

Expecting at least one of them to dispute this, I was shocked when they both explained why they agreed that this show is unique in its ability to draw in people from both sides.

 I followed up with asking them if they thought the show leaned liberal, conservative or whether it was balanced.

The friend that identifies herself, as a democrat believed it leaned liberal because,

“The values are about being inclusive and getting the news right, not trying to advocate for your own side of an issue. “And my friend that is a republican believed it also leans liberal but that the show tries to stay moderate.

“ It leans liberal, but it makes a good attempt to be balanced because the main character is conservative. It’s thoughtful and doesn’t bash one side or the other. That is refreshing.”

As it enters its third season, both hoped that it continues it pattern and stays balanced, and not getting too wrapped up in the show’s romantic relationships.  It was highly engaging for me to see how two people who allegedly have such different core beliefs can both love the show for many of the same reasons and believe in the main characters. If this show can continue to pull together such a divided American, I think it has the potential to be unstoppable.

According to “Deadline”, they reported that 2.2 million people watched the Season 2 debut of The Newsroom, which is up from the last year’s series premiere, what attracted 2.1 million viewers. 

So far, it seems that the show contains a perfect balance, and its fans, myself included, all are hoping that the show will continue to grow and shape into a West Wing like sensation!

Poll taken from: SpoilerTV http://www.spoilertv.com/2013/09/poll-what-did-you-think-of-newsroom.html#ixzz2jek4c2xt