The Newsroom HBO Series Premiere We Just Decided To 9 550x366 e1340653486218 Newsroom: What Did You Think?

“Newsroom” is big news. Everybody’s talking about Aaron Sorkin’s new drama, which premiered Sunday night on HBO. And the comments, from critics and viewers alike, range from “terrific” to “terrible.” JoyHog’s take: nothing special, too much high-horse sermonizing, characters we’ve seen before. “SportsNight” was better.

Flavorwire rounded up some negative critics comments. Warning: critics who watched the first four episodes said the pilot was the best of the bunch.

If you missed “Newsroom, and don’t have HBO, Sunday’s episode is free on HBO’s YouTube channel.

The JH Files [05/17/12]

May 17th, 2012 | Posted by James K in JH Files - (0 Comments)

6a00d83451c76a69e20168eb8532fe970c The JH Files [05/17/12]

  • Brad Pitt is the new — and first male — face of Chanel No. 5.
  • Angelina Jolie wrote the forward to ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton‘s new book The Billy Bob Tapes: A Cave Full of Ghosts.
  • The fall season of Dancing With the Stars will be an “all-star edition.”
  • Ellen DeGeneres has been awarded the 15th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor… meanwhile, Ryan Seacrest is buying DeGeneres’ Beverly Hills compound. Asking price: $49 million.
  • Lifetime has announced that it will chronicle the lives of late singer Whitney Houston‘s remaining family members in a new docuseries called The Houston Family Chronicles.
  • The huge Marilyn Monroe statue in Chicago has been shipped to Palm Springs, where it will be reassembled.
  • Mitch Albom‘s new novel The Time Keeper comes out Aug. 28. The Time Keeper is about the legend of Father Time. In Albom’s version, however, Father Time isn’t an old man, but a young boy who becomes the inventor of the world’s first clock.
  • Aaron Sorkin will write the script for a film about Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.
  • Carrie Underwood‘s Blown Away is the No. 1 album on iTunes.
  • Fig Newtons are now simply Newtons.

 

newsroom trailer hbo 546x284 Trailer: Sorkins The Newsroom

It looks like an Aaron Sorkin series. Sorkin’s new HBO series stars Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Alison Pill, Olivia Munn, Sam Waterston, and Jane Fonda.

watch

634613570804426769 jackman houdini 546x409 Jackman, Sorkin Team For Houdini Musical

Who better to play the legendary magician?

It’s official: Hugh Jackman will return to Broadway for the 2013-14 season in “Houdini.”

I have been deeply fascinated by the life of Harry Houdini since I was young, and in many ways I’ve been preparing for this role my whole life. I am thrilled to be collaborating with this collection of artists who are all at the top of their game.”

Aaron Sorkin will make his Broadway debut as librettist for “Houdini,” which will also include music and lyrics from Stephen Schwartz. Jack O’Brien will direct.

Rather than being a biography, “Houdini” will tell the story of a battle that took place between the world’s greatest illusionist and a trio of women, known as “Spiritualists,” who convinced millions of people that they could communicate with the dead.

Hog Quickies (Sept. 12)

September 11th, 2011 | Posted by James K in Hog Quickies - (0 Comments)

elisabettaHORIZ72 522x396 Hog Quickies (Sept. 12)

  • HBO has picked up Aaron Sorkin‘s series about cable TV news. No title yet.
  • While George Clooney has gone public with his new girl friend Stacy Keibler, his old girl friend Elisabetta Canalis is showing skin for PETA.
  • Kristen Wiig and Elijah Wood have been cast in the dark comedy Revenge For Jolly!
  • Syfy has renewed Alphas.
  • Contagion was the No. 1 movie of the weekend.
  • Justin Bieber says he wants to be “a young dad.”
  • Ryan Seacrest is in talks to take over VH1 Soul and create his own cable network.
  • Rolling Stone calls Aziz Ansari “The Funniest Man Under 30.”
  • Keith Richards‘ best-selling memoir is going to be turned into a movie.

Sorkin Writing ‘Houdini’ For Jackman

November 2nd, 2010 | Posted by James K in Theatre - (0 Comments)

JackmanPremiere thumb 550x367 17519 522x348 Sorkin Writing Houdini For Jackman

One word is creating excitement on Broadway: Houdini. EW reported on Tuesday that it appears that the long-talked about show may materialize in 2012.

Two more words: Hugh Jackson, who has been the subject of the discussion, would be the star.

And two more words: Aaron Sorkin. The prolific writer of “The Social Network” is writing the script.

Others involved: Tony Award-winning director Jack O’Brien, Danny Elfman (music) and Glenn Slater (lyrics).

Elfman told EW:

“I’ve written music on and off for two years already. Right now Aaron Sorkin is writing. He’s writing away, and we all have high hopes that Aaron’s going to come through and do some good stuff.”

Sorkin: TV Trilogy

November 19th, 2009 | Posted by James K in News | Television - (0 Comments)

aaronsorkin Sorkin: TV Trilogy
Aaron Sorkin
isn’t finished exploring the world of television. The brilliant mind who created “Sports Night” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” has another TV series up his sleeve (speculation is it will be about cable news). Sorkin, whose current project is “The Social Network” movie, tells TV Guide:

“It’s going to be what turns out to be the third in the trilogy of TV shows that take place behind the scenes of a TV show, but this will be a different kind of TV show. That’s all I can let out of the bag right now.”