The Newsroom PaleyFest 2013 panel has just finished, featuring Aaron Sorkin, Jeff Daniels and the season 2 cast. Here’s a round-up of what we learned.
The Newsroom PaleyFest panel featured Creator and Executive Producer Aaron Sorkin, Executive Producer Alan Poul, and stars Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, Sam Waterston, John Gallagher, Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Olivia Munn and Dev Patel. The panel was moderated (and occasionally dominated) by Piers Morgan, host of Piers Morgan Tonight.
Unfortunately for us, it turned a little into the Piers Morgan show. The first section of the PaleyFest panel deals primarily with questions regarding the 24-hour news cycle and the nature of modern journalism, which was a shame, because most of those questions were answered in The Newsroom season 1.
‘The Newsroom’ season 2
Season 2 sneak peek
Aaron Sorkin introduced the first 10 minutes to season 2, which was well received by those in attendance.
Aaron Sorkin is introducing the first 10 minutes of Season 2 of #Newsroom. Will is being prepped by a lawyer for a deposition. #paleyfest
— Paley Center (@paleycenter) March 4, 2013
The 10-minute sneak peek of Season 2 of #TheNewsroom got cheers and applause. It is going to knock the socks off fans. Counting the days.
— Tiffany Vogt (@TVWatchtower) March 4, 2013
So happy: @paleycenter #paleyfest #thenewsroom started with 10 min preview of season 2 #perfectcampl.us/oa60
— Melissa Kay Allen (@MelissaKayAllen) March 4, 2013
Season 2 real news headlines
Aaron Sorkin reconfirmed that “season 2 begins a week after season 1 ended,” and “goes through just a little bit after the election.”
As to specific stories, season 2 will feature the 2012 American presidential election and primaries, the shooting of Trayvon Martin, the Affordable Care Act, and drones. Sorkin added that the show would just get up to the Sandy Hook shooting, of which he said “it’s a tough thing to write about without minimizing it, or exploiting it.” As yet, he is undecided as to whether Sandy Hook will be included or not.
Additionally, Aaron Sorkin states that he is currently writing The Newsroom 2×05.
Romances in ‘The Newsroom’
On the steamy News Night relationships, Olivia Munn referred a question about Don and Sloan back to Aaron Sorkin who said, “If you’re a fan of Don and Sloan I’d definitely be watching in season 2.” And what about Mac and Will? Sorkin said, “I do not believe that a couple that is together is any less fun, or romantic, or sexy than a couple that is trying to get together.” Cryptic.
Filming techniques
Emily Mortimer also gave us a small insight into filming on The Newsroom, confirming that she and Jeff Daniels film their scenes simultaneously, with Daniels on the studio set and Mortimer in the control room, communicating via the earpieces. Reflect on that when you get your Newsroom season 1 DVD.
And a few of our favourite moments:
Thomas Sadoski making Sam Waterston blush with his praise: “I turn off everything else and just try to learn as much as I can when I’m with him.”
Sam Waterston telling Piers Morgan, “I don’t know if that’s even an important question.” Neither do we Sam, neither do we.
Aaron Sorkin on The Newsroom cast: “An actor can’t fake smart, they have to be that coming in, and an actor can’t fake funny, they have to be that coming in.”
And props to Jeff Daniels for slipping in a Dumb and Dumber reference.
Filming of The Newsroom season 2 began on November 12, 2012. Episode titles and casting information has been revealed for The Newsroom 2×01 and 2×02.
The Newsroom season 2 will return to HBO in June 2013.