In the Magazine: HBO's Lombardo 'Surprised' by Vitriol Aimed at 'Newsroom'
Everyone seems to have an opinion about HBO’s new Aaron Sorkin drama, The Newsroom, so we decided to ask the premium network for theirs after giving the series an early second-season renewal. Michael Lombardo, president of HBO programming, spoke to us about HBO’s reaction to the first month of the show, including responding to critics:
“Look, critics are entitled to their opinion and I respect their right to like or dislike a show. I think the thing that surprised me with some of the reviews was [this level of] vitriol. It’s fine not to like the show. And I don’t know what to attribute that to. But I think it’s been written about, it’s been talked about and the heightened vitriol from some of the reviews surprised me.”
For more from Lombardo, including his reaction to claims that The Newsroom is too preachy or its female characters are too weak, pick up this week’s issue of B&C or subscribers can click here.
troy commented:
Lombardo cannot be surprised by the "vitriol" unless he is a naif. Newsroom casts a would-be Republican news anchor eviscerating those in his own party during an election season under the auspices of old-school just-the-facts ma'am news reporting. And yet, thus far, the only targets of the "preachy rants" have been Republicans/Tea Party/NRA members. I am a big fan of the show but thus far the scripts have been written as if there is one group of scheming liars battling against another group of altruists for world domination. This headline is pure comedy...well, it would be if Lombardo was being genuine. Like it or not, admit it or not, the timing of this show may be evidence of its purpose and the vitriol will continue until the light is shone across the entire canvas of our morally impoverished political landscape.
danny commented:
"Leftist apologist preaching" is what we might get from a Faux News morning anchor.
What we got from The Newsroom was facts and figures on why the Tea Party is a giant fake, and why the "Obama wants to take your guns" lie is a mammoth lie.
words commented:
Reviews through the feminist prism of reality are silly. The female characters are closer to real than the preachy, "woman can do no wrong" characters that inundate so many other boring shows.
The Newsrooms failings are political and it's leftist apolgist preaching is what will likely limit its appeal. Still a fun watch, though.