The new season of THE NEWSROOM finds Will and Mac and the staff of “News Night” facing two explosive situations: the possibility of a hostile takeover of the network looming on the horizon, and leaked classified government documents that unleash a legal fire storm that threatens to topple more than one professional career.
Beginning its six-episode, third and final season Monday, November 10 on HBO GO and at 9pm on HBO (Sky and Destiny Cables Ch 54), within 24 hours of its US debut.
Created by show runner Aaron Sorkin (Oscar® winner for writing “The Social Network,” executive producer and creator of the multiple Emmy® winner “The West Wing”), this Golden Globe nominated HBO Original drama series follows the “News Night&rdquo team at the cable network ACN on their quixotic mission to do the news well in the face of a fickle audience, corporate mandates and tangled personal relationships.
Going beyond the headlines, the six-part season turns its attention inward, focusing on a series of internal events at ACN that rock the very foundation of the network, and tackles such topics as privacy issues, the influence of social media on traditional news gathering and corporate takeover. The men and women of “News Night” are faced with personal and professional dilemmas that will forever determine their futures.
Set against the backdrop of the Boston Marathon bombing, THE NEWSROOM kicks off the season with a highly charged look at the core issue of maintaining journalistic integrity in the era of 24-hour news cycles, while crowd-sourcing and “citizen journalism” result in the dissemination of misinformation.
The series is executive produced by Sorkin, Scott Rudin (the Oscar® winner “No Country for Old Men “) and Alan Poul (HBO’s multiple Emmy® winner “Six Feet Under”), with Denis Biggs (HBO’s “Entourage”) and Paul Lieberstein (“The Office”) joining the show as executive producers.
Jeff Daniels (Emmy® for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series) stars as Will McAvoy and Emily Mortimer (“Hugo,” “Shutter Island”) stars as Mackenzie McHale, the show’s executive producer.
Other returning cast regulars for the third season are: Sam Waterston (Oscar® nominee for “The Killing Fields”) as Charlie Skinner, Will’s old-school boss; John Gallagher, Jr. (Tony winner for “Spring Awakening”) as Jim Harper, Mackenzie’s loyal producer; Alison Pill (HBO’s “In Treatment”) as associate producer Maggie Jordan; Thomas Sadoski (Tony nominee for “Reasons to Be Pretty”) as Don Keefer, Will’s former executive producer; Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”) as resourceful self-made newsman Neal Sampat; and Olivia Munn (“I Don’t Know How She Does It”) as financial news analyst Sloan Sabbith.
Returning guests for season three include Jane Fonda (Oscar® winner for “Klute” and “Coming Home”) as Leona Lansing, the CEO of ACN’s parent company, Atlantis World Media; Chris Messina (“The Mindy Project”) as ACN president Reese Lansing; David Harbour (“Revolutionary Road”) as reporter Elliot Hirsch; and Marcia Gay Harden (Oscar® winner for “Pollock,” Oscar® nominee for “Mystic River”) as ACN attorney Rebecca Halliday.
New to the guest cast in season three are B.J. Novak (“The Office”) as Lucas Pruit, a suitor for control of ACN; Kat Dennings (“2 Broke Girls”) as Reese’s half-sister, Blair Lansing; Mary McCormack (“The West Wing”) as Molly, an FBI agent who’s a friend of Mac; Tony Award winner Joanna Gleason (“The Skeleton Twins”) as Charlie Skinner’s wife, Nancy; and Clea DuVall (“Argo”) as Lily, a mysterious woman who works for a government contractor.
Episode S301: Boston
Debut: Monday, November 10 on HBO GO / at 9pm on HBO
In the wake of the Genoa debacle, Will (Jeff Daniels), Mac (Emily Mortimer) and the “News Night” team decide to err on the side of caution in reporting a major breaking story, which may enhance credibility, if not ratings. Neal (Dev Patel) faces a slippery slope when he’s contacted by an anonymous source in possession of stolen government documents revealing how false press stories planted in newspapers spawned fatal riots in Kundu. Sloan (Olivia Munn) looks to solve a takeover puzzle; Maggie (Alison Pill) is forced to pinch-hit for Elliot (David Harbour) in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings.
Written by Aaron Sorkin; directed by Anthony Hemingway.
Episode S302: Run
Debut: Monday, November 17 on HBO GO / at 9pm on HBO
With Rebecca (Marcia Gay Harden) again tasked with defending ACN in a possible lawsuit, Will tries to protect Neal from the fallout over the DOD leak. Charlie (Sam Waterston) and Leona (Jane Fonda) enter the fray of a hostile-takeover gambit involving Reese’s (Chris Messina) half-siblings, Blair (Kat Dennings) and Randy Lansing (Chris Smith). Sloan fears Don (Thomas Sadoski) may be guilty of cashing in on insider information; Maggie ponders the ethics of eavesdropping; Hallie (Grace Gummer) pays a price for a late-night tweet.
Written by Aaron Sorkin; directed by Greg Mottola.
Episode S303: Main Justice
Debut: Monday, November 24 on HBO GO / at 9pm on HBO
Leona and Reese look to raise cash in order to salvage ACN and thwart Blair and Randy. Will gets a surprise at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, while Charlie trades visions with ACN suitor Lucas Pruit (B.J. Novak). Maggie’s EPA scoop makes it to “News Night.” Sloan and Don try to keep their relationship a secret from a new HR veep.
Teleplay by Aaron Sorkin; story by Jon Lovett & Aaron Sorkin; directed by Alan Poul.
Episode S304: Contempt
Debut: Monday, December 1 on HBO GO / at 9pm on HBO
Facing a court subpoena and possible incarceration for contempt, Will stands firm in refusing to reveal the source of the stolen DOD documents. As Charlie’s disdain for Lucas grows, Sloan and Mac scramble to find a more acceptable 11th-hour buyer for ACN. Jim’s relationship with Hallie is put to the test by her new job at Carnivore, a start-up website.
Teleplay by Aaron Sorkin; story by Deborah Schoeneman; directed by Anthony Hemingway.
In 2013, Jeff Daniels received an Emmy® for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role on the show. He was nominated in the category again in 2014, while Jane Fonda was nominated in the category of Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.
In 2012, THE NEWSROOM received two Golden Globe nominations, for Best Television Series – Drama and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama (Jeff Daniels).
THE NEWSROOM was created by Aaron Sorkin; executive producers, Aaron Sorkin, Scott Rudin, Alan Poul, Denis Biggs and Paul Lieberstein; co-executive producer, Anthony Hemingway.
