Customer Reviews

The Newsroom - The Complete First Season

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I couldn't believe what I was watching when I first saw these episodes air on PBS (uh oh, I owe them some money). I was delighted. Ken Finkleman must be evil and must be a genius. I love him! I taped these off of the tv so I can't say if owning dvds is worthwhile. This is very good and different television. It's smart and quietly terrible. If you like Rick Gervais and Arrested Development, then this series ought to make you laugh.

Im still surprised that I'm the first person to wright a review for this show. The reason being is that it's easily one of the funniest I have ever seen. Although it's categorized as a "dark" comedy, I think a better comparison would be to the Larry Sanders Show. Both shows have a similar format and similar sense of humor. Newsroom takes place in, well you guessed it, a newsroom. Ken Finkleman stars as the self-absorbed executive producer George Findlay who is constantly trying to protect his image. Needless to say (and because i don't feel like describing every part of the show), this show is exceptionally funny. If you like other shows such as Seinfeld, the Simpsons, Scrubs, the Office, Family Guy, Arrested Development or any other comedy ever made, I guarantee you will love this show.

First let me say that if you like shows like The Office (both UK and USA) or The Larry Sanders Show or Curb your Enthusiasm, you will love this show. Like those shows its shot in a documentary style that makes it feel as if you are in these characters lives.

I first saw an episode of The Newsroom on PBS. I was immediately struck by the genius of Ken Finkleman (the shows main star, writer and director). Where The Office shows you a satirical view of office life The Newsroom shows you an equal satirical view of a Toronto newsroom's life. From how "leads" in the news cast are chosen (i.e. higher body count) to the mundane issues that George the news director gets hung up on (getting a parking space in the buildings garage) you will find yourself laughing at others misfortune.

With all the genius in this show I was very disappointed by the three episode long finale. I guess it was trying to make a statement about the narcissistic ways of George but it just wasn't funny (thus the 4 instead of 5 stars). That being said, the last episode (where the characters are transported to a political situation) was again genius. This DVD is well worth your money.

I first came across this show on PBS around ten years ago. I loved the show and was happy when it finally came out on DVD. There are not a lot of extras, but I'm okay with it. One of my favorite shows of all time.

This is one of those shows that you can watch over and over again because it is so well done. While watching this I say to myself, "If I pulled this kind of stuff in my office, I would be terminated". But it is realistic because the people pulling off these shenanigans are high up in the bureaucracy of this TV station. And everybody delivers their lines with a straight face. The First Season is supposed to be the best and I have only seen the First Season. It is hard to believe that the quality can be maintained throught the 2nd and 3rd seasons. On the back of the case liner on the DVD set there appears to be a circular stain left by a coffee mug and I believe this is done intentionally because there are similar marks on both DVDs and also there are similar marks on the internal info sheet. It's a little disconcerning because it initially appeared to me that I had received a defective copy but I don't think that is the case. I would like to get input from other customers about the appearance of their graphics material. Do you also see these marks on the DVD artwork?

I both snorted and choked with joy during this show... wow... all I can say. Much better than the copycats (Office) ... watch it! Drink fluids at your risk you will laugh this hard :) ...

I loved the first season of this series. It beats "The Office" for satire. Well worth renting or buying.

The brilliant three-part `Meltdown' in Season One of The Newsroom takes the obsessive insouciance of Finkelman's lead character to heights of dissociation, astonishingly, hilariously, amidst the imminence of nuclear disaster. The cast is superbly presented by their own talent and precise direction. For you who appreciate George F. Walker and Federico Fellini, along with Ken Finkleman - watch this! You will be delighted.

I ordered "The Newsroom-The Complete First Season" sold by: cheap-cds. It came in time for Christmas but only contained one of the two DVD set. The one DVD, in the set, was not secure in the container.Very disappointed.