The Newsroom

2012 • HBO

4.7

1.92K reviews

TV-MA

Rating

Eligible

Watch in a web browser or on supported devices Learn More

The Complete Series episodes (25)

1 Season 1, Episode 1

6/24/12

Season-only

Series Pilot. Surviving the fallout from a meltdown, ACN 'News Night' anchor Will McAvoy returns to his job and faces a new executive producer (a former girlfriend), a staff overhaul, and a breaking-news challenge.

2 Season 1, Episode 2

7/1/12

Season-only

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 miscue; a long-festering breakup secret gets out.

3 Season 1, Episode 3

7/8/12

Season-only

In an on-air editorial, Will apologizes for past newscasts and promises a new era of integrity for News Night. Will's new approach rankles CEO Leona Lansing. Jim soothes Maggie during a panic attack; Don charges Elliot to get in the game.

4 Season 1, Episode 4

7/15/12

Season-only

Will's 'mission to civilize' takes a hit when he finds himself in the tabloid spotlight. Wade approaches Will with a story; Don gets Maggie to fix Jim up with her roommate; Will refuses to follow the media rumor mill and make a call on a breaking story.

5 Season 1, Episode 5

7/22/12

Season-only

In the midst of its coverage of the ouster of Egyptian President Mubarak, the 'News Night' team learns of a teachers' protest in Wisconsin, prompting them to get side-by-side views of the simultaneous uprisings on air.

6 Season 1, Episode 6

7/29/12

Season-only

Will keeps a long-standing therapy appointment. Subbing for Elliot during the Japanese nuclear crisis, Sloan's interrogation of a Tokyo power-company spokesperson lands her in hot water. Will comes to recognize the causes and effects of being a bully.

7 Season 1, Episode 7

8/5/12

Season-only

An anonymous source contacts Charlie and provides advance details on an imminent story of national importance. When news breaks that the President will be making a televised speech that night, the 2.0 staff cuts short its anniversary party.

8 Season 1, Episode 8

8/12/12

Season-only

News Night's refusal to lead with a pair of sensational stories causes ratings to plummet--and forces Will and Mac to abandon their principles in order to lure back viewers and shore up the network's bid to land a Republican debate.

9 Season 1, Episode 9

8/19/12

Season-only

Will and the staff stage a mock debate for two Republican Party officials. Mac has an epiphany during a power outage; Charlie vets the credibility of an NSA insider; Lisa goes off-script during an interview; Neal goes undercover as an internet troll.

10 Season 1, Episode 10

8/26/12

Season-only

Season One Finale. Nina Howard surprises Mac with a damning revelation; Jim and Maggie reach a crossroad; Sloan weighs a new job offer; Neal uses his internet alter-ego to smoke out a threat. Will, Mac, and Charlie face off with Leona and Reese.

11 Season 2, Episode 1

7/14/13

Season-only

Season Two Premiere. Will and the News Night staff are questioned by their lawyer about a story they've aired that's become a network crisis. An on-air remark from Will has him pulled from 9/11 anniversary coverage.

12 Season 2, Episode 2

7/21/13

Season-only

A tip on a story that will ultimately cripple the network starts to become more real. MacKenzie and Sloan continue to push Will on drones as Don urges Will to advocate for Troy Davis. Maggie is un-friended by her roommate. Neal gets arrested.

13 Season 2, Episode 3

7/28/13

Season-only

Will continues his mission to civilize by telling Nina Howard the truth. A new witness to the Genoa story emerges on Twitter, and in New Hampshire, Jim's efforts to have his questions answered continue to fall on deaf ears.

14 Season 2, Episode 4

8/4/13

Season-only

Maggie tries to convince Rebecca she's fine following her shattering trip to Africa with Gary. An Occupy Wall Street protester with a Black Op lead refuses to cooperate with Neal and Jerry after an on-air interview with Will goes poorly.

15 Season 2, Episode 5

8/11/13

Season-only

Will is distracted during his telecast by a phone call and an unflattering twitter post. Charlie gets a visit from a longtime friend from the Office of Naval Intelligence, who has knowledge of Operation Genoa. Sloan deals with a revenge post.

16 Season 2, Episode 6

8/18/13

Season-only

Mac and Charlie score a key witness in their attempt to corroborate Dantana's Operation Genoa story. Will follows Nina's lead to soften his image by making an appearance on a morning talk show. Jim gets unexpected company during his reunion with Hallie.

17 Season 2, Episode 7

8/25/13

Season-only

Through depositions with the newsroom staff, Rebecca pieces together the events that led to ACN's fateful decision to go forward with Dantana's special report on Operation Genoa--as well as the post-air revelations that undermined its credibility.

18 Season 2, Episode 8

9/1/13

Season-only

News Night goes forward with its election-night coverage in what might be its last broadcast with Will and Mac; Jim considers retracting a story; the team deliberates whether to hold off on a story that might impact a tight Senate race.

19 Season 2, Episode 9

9/1/13

Season-only

Season Two Finale. As Election Night 2012 winds down, Will and Charlie await a decision from Reese that may impact their future at ACN, and that of the entire senior staff. Sloan learns the identity of the anonymous winning bidder for her book.

20 Season 3, Episode 1

11/9/14

Season-only

Season 3 Premiere. Will, Mac and the News Night team decide to err on the side of caution in reporting a major breaking story; Neal is contacted by an anonymous source in possession of stolen government documents; Sloan looks to solve a takeover puzzle.

21 Season 3, Episode 2

11/16/14

Season-only

With Rebecca again tasked with defending ACN in a possible lawsuit, Will tries to protect Neal from the fallout over the DOD leak. Charlie and Leona enter the fray of a hostile-takeover gambit. Sloan fears Don may be guilty of cashing in on insider info.

22 Season 3, Episode 3

11/23/14

Season-only

Leona and Reece look to raise cash in order to salvage ACN and thwart Blair and Randy. Will gets a surprise at the White House Correspondents' Dinner; Charlie trades visions with ACN suitor Lucas Pruit. Sloan & Don try to keep their relationship a secret.

23 Season 3, Episode 4

11/30/14

Season-only

Facing a court subpoena and possible incarceration for contempt, Will stands firm in his refusal to reveal the source of the stolen DOD documents. Sloan and Mac try to prevent ACN from falling into Lucas's hands. Jim's relationship with Hallie is tested.

24 Season 3, Episode 5

12/7/14

Season-only

Incarcerated for contempt, Will refuses to reveal the name of Neal's government source. Charlie orders a reluctant Don to track down principals in a sexual-abuse case at an elite college. Sloan voices her objection to a new digital site built by Bree.

25 Season 3, Episode 6

12/14/14

Season-only

Series Finale. A sudden death leads Will and Mac to ponder the milestones that transformed the newsroom, and to look ahead towards ACN's uncertain future. Maggie lands a field-producer interview in Washington; Neal's site is shut down for repairs.

About this show

A volatile cable-news anchor (Jeff Daniels) and the idealogical staff that has just been foisted upon him set out to 'do the news well' in the face of numerous obstacles in this HBO series from Aaron Sorkin ('The Social Network').

Ratings and reviews

4.7

1.92K reviews

Neal Littler

November 15, 2015

After reading the description I thought, great cast but "here's another liberal themed news drama". It turns out that HBO did a fairly good job of balancing the political points of view and presenting very compelling plot lines. I've watched & enjoyed the first two sessions and I'm looking forward to season 3.

Catherine Lange

September 22, 2014

As a journalism minor and English major, I absolutely love this show. As an American, I think it resonates with anyone who wishes the news was reported in whole, without excessive commentary or lack of direct questioning and investigation. Sadly, though, it does portray some shady reporting technique, such as the inclusion of "facts" that are unverified - regardless of their possibility of being false. It is entertaining, engaging, but ultimately misleading.

Adamm Hockman

March 20, 2015

Aaron Sorkin is always able to present the possibility of hopeful idealism amongst even the most bleak of conditions. His show is nuanced and gives credence to the idea that one can go against the grain and make a positive impact. The West Wing did this in the White House, while this show tackles the media industry and presents a possible ideal model for modern news media outlets to follow.

Rate this show

Tell us what you think.