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Season 1 of The Newsroom premiered on Sunday, June 24, 2012 at 10:00 PM Eastern on HBO.

Summary[]

At Atlantis Cable News (ACN), anchormsan Will McAvoy is forced to contend with a new team after his Executive Producer decides to transition to a new program and takes most of his staff with him. His new team includes executive producer MacKenzie McHale, newsroom staff Jim, Don, Neal, and Sloan, and their boss, Charlie Skinner. Together they set out on a patriotic and quixotic mission to do the news well in the face of corporate and commercial obstacles and their own personal relationships.

Starring[]

Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy (10 episodes)
Emily Mortimer as MacKenzie McHale (10 episodes)
John Gallagher, Jr. as Jim Harper (10 episodes)
Alison Pill as Maggie Jordan (10 episodes)
Thomas Sadoski as Don Keefer (10 episodes)
Dev Patel as Neal Sampat (10 episodes)
Olivia Munn as Sloan Sabbith (9 episodes)
and Sam Waterston as Charlie Skinner (10 episodes)

Recurring cast

Adina Porter as Kendra James (10 episodes)
Chris Chalk as Gary Cooper (10 episodes)
Chris Messina as Reese Lansing (5 episodes)
Terry Crews as Lonny Church (5 episodes)
Kelen Coleman as Lisa Lambert (5 episodes)
David Harbour as Elliot Hirsch (4 episodes)

Guest starring

Jane Fonda as Leona Lansing (4 episodes)
Hope Davis as Nina Howard (3 episodes)
David Krumholtz as Jack Habib (3 episodes)
Stephen McKinley Henderson as Solomon Hancock (3 episodes)
Jon Tenney as Wade Campbell (3 episodes)
Natalie Morales as Kaylee (2 episodes)
Paul Schneider as Brian Brenner (2 episodes)

Co-starring

Margaret Judson as Tess Westin (10 episodes)
Thomas Matthews as Martin Smallworth (10 episodes)
John F. Carpenter as Herb Wilson (10 episodes)
Trieu Tran as Joey Phan (10 episodes)
Wynn Everett as Tamara Hart (9 episodes)
Charlie Weirauch as Jake Watson (9 episodes)
Chasty Ballesteros as Tea (5 episodes)
Sarah Scott Davis as Terry Smith (4 episodes)
Alison Becker as Sandy Whiddles (2 episodes)
Riley Voelkel as Jennifer Johnson (2 episodes)
Renee Gube as Mike (2 episodes, 1 uncredited)

Trivia[]

Episodes[]

Picture Title # Season # Original Airdate U.S. viewers
(million)
101trio "We Just Decided To" 1 1 June 24, 2012 2.14
In the aftermath of his public tirade, acclaimed news anchor Will McAvoy returns to his job to find that most of his staff are leaving and his new executive producer is his ex-girlfriend, MacKenzie McHale and when some breaking news about a potentially disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico hits the network, the staff faces a new challenge. Takes place between early April 2010 and April 20, 2010.
Season 1 Episode 2 "News Night 2.0" 2 2 July 1, 2012 1.68
Mac asserts control over the new incarnation of News Night and enlists a beautiful and brainy on-air economist, Sloan Sabbith, to do a nightly segment. Jim takes the fall for a Maggie mistake when doing the prep work for a report on SB 1070; Charlie forbids Reese from continuing his furtive meeting with Will; a long-festering breakup secret gets out. Takes place on April 23, 2010.
103 "The 112th Congress" 3 3 July 8, 2012 2.21
While doing an editorial, Will apologizes for previous newscasts and promises his viewers a better show, which angers the CEO of ACN's parent company. Jim helps Maggie when she suffers a panic attack. Don presents Elliot with a challenge. Takes place on November 3, 2010. Flashbacks take place between April and November 2010.
Season 1 Episode 4 "I'll Try to Fix You" 4 4 July 15, 2012 1.94
Will becomes tabloid fodder after a confrontation with a gossip columnist on New Year's Eve, which threatens to undermine his credibility on a current news investigation. Meanwhile, Don urges Maggie to set Jim up on a date with her roommate; Mac's boyfriend pitches a story about the government's inability to prosecute financial crimes; and Neal tries out his Bigfoot theory on anyone who will listen. Takes place between December 31, 2010 and January 8, 2011.
Season 1 Episode 5 "Amen" 5 5 July 22, 2012 1.95
While covering the forced ejection of Egypt's president, the team learns of a protest in Wisconsin that is condemning the govenor's plan to balance the budget by getting rid of teachers, leading everyone to try to cover both stories simultaneously. Takes place between February 10, 2011 and February 14, 2011.
106 "Bullies" 6 6 July 29, 2012 1.74
Will seeks therapy after struggling with a bout of insomnia. Sloan subs for Elliot during an interview with a Tokyo power-company spokesperson, but her interview methods end up putting her career at risk. Meanwhile, Will also sees the cause and effects of being a bully following his own rough handling of an interview subject.
107 "5/1" 7 7 August 5, 2012 1.76
Charlie receives a call from an anonymous source telling him that he will receive an email from the White House press secretary. The email informs him of an impending nationwide presidential address. The team race to discover what the address will be about and assumes it is about the death of Osama bin Laden. The news that bin Laden has been killed by American special forces is soon confirmed and Will is able to report it. Takes place Sunday, May 1, 2011.
106willjack "The Blackout Part I: Tragedy Porn" 8 8 August 12, 2012 1.84
The ratings for News Night are in freefall after it blows off a pair of top stories. It forces Will and Mac to find a way to bring enough viewers back to justify ACN's quest to air a Republican debate. Will considers writers for an all-access profile, Sloan is upset by the lack of coverage of an emerging big financial story and Charlie learns the identity of NSA employee 'Late for Dinner'. Takes place between Friday, May 27, 2011 and Wednesday, June 1, 2011.
108 "The Blackout Part II: Mock Debate" 9 9 August 19, 2012 1.96
A blackout interrupts the interview with Sandy Whiddles, the witness for hire to congressman Anthony Weiner's indiscretions. Will and the crew preview their new debate format for GOP officials (Adam Arkin as Adam Roth, Jake McDorman as Tate Brady). Jim begins the vetting process for Solomon Hancock, the NSA whistle-blower. Lisa goes off the reservation during an on-air interview while Neal begins his trolling assignment.
The Greater Fool "The Greater Fool" 10 10 August 26, 2012 2.30
Brian's story proves to be a hatchet job driving Will to self-medicate for depression, triggering a bleeding stomach ulcer. Sloan ponders a job offer. Neal's internet alias could avert calamity for Will. Everything is overshadowed by a showdown long in the making; Will, Mac and Charlie confront Leona and Reese during a volatile lunch meeting. TMI gossip columnist Nina Howard has information that can destroy Will's career and life by revealing that he was high during the bin Laden report. Takes place between Monday, August 1, 2011 and Monday, August 8, 2011.

Links[]

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