The Newsroom

This show is gonna change TV news.

What do we know about "The Newsroom"? It's behind a paywall playing to a limited audience and the critics hate it. But that's irrelevant. By taking a stand, and doing it well, an individual, in this case Aaron Sorkin, can change the course of history.

This is what music used to do.

Yes, while musical acts are figuring out which ass to kiss, what Fortune 500 corporation to sell out to, HBO is leading the charge. Music is a second class citizen. Movies are a complete joke.

This is the power of excellence. It can change the debate.

Everybody in TV news knows you've got to be partisan. You've got to be histrionic. You've got to do soft news stories that make people sigh. Informing the public? Truth? They're way down the list. It's not like these anchors and commentators don't know what they're doing, they're far from ignorant, but they've just shrugged their shoulders and said they've got no choice, that's the system. And when Sorkin calls them out, they feel crummy inside. The same way you do when your teacher confronts you about cheating on the test or your mother accuses you of lying. You halfheartedly defend yourself and when the truth comes out, as it always does, you promise to change your ways, you don't want to feel this bad again. After watching "Newsroom", and if you think anchors don't, you probably believe the Mafia didn't watch "The Godfather" or "The Sopranos", these newspeople feel dirty, they find it hard to do their same inane shows.

Oh, this third episode was far from brilliant. In the middle it devolved into cardboard TV set-up. Who slept with who. Tabloid journalism. Real housewives. But it turned out it was just a ruse. For the big set-up. The media conglomerate itself was setting Jeff Daniels up. They wanted the upper hand.

Ain't that the way it always is.

That's why Matt Taibbi gained traction. He spoke the truth the public could not understand. You believe if you just go to work every day, things will work out, that your superiors are playing fair. You don't understand the game. And everything's got a game.

You want to know the music business game? The people in power want their bonus. And nothing will stand in the way of it. You might not want to deliver your album when they need it, but then your record starts falling down the chart and you have trouble getting paid. That's the game powerful people play.

As for dating insecurities, Sorkin got that right too. Daniels may be the powerful anchor, but he's clueless when it comes to women. And speaking of clueless, Olivia Munn may look like a model, but on this show she's an economics expert who admits she knows nothing about dating.

Wow, how real is that. The rock star, who if he can get laid every night, does not even know how to speak to women.

And then there's Sam Waterston imploring Jeff Daniels to date on his level. Hell, it's always easier to date down, then you're not challenged, then you don't feel anxious, then you're in control.

But nobody's in control. Everybody's just faking it. And it's art's job to reveal the truth, the man behind the curtain. But today all we've got is pussies who do what they are told, adhere to the rules just like the TV newspeople. Hell, they listen to the suits. Don't you get it, the suits' interests are not your own, they don't want truth, justice and the American way, they just want money...in their pocket.

Music could speak this truth too. That's what Bob Dylan did.

But that tradition is dead. Instead we've got a tabloid press questioning who the next "Idol" judge will be. As if judging these wannabes isn't equivalent to scouting for major leaguers at the Little League game.

One song can make a difference. One TV show can make a difference. The power of the individual is limitless.

But you must pick up the reins and testify. You must be beholden to no one but yourself. You must deliver your message so perfectly-pitched, so expertly crafted, that it's undeniable.


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