We watched the series finale of Newsroom last night.
I’m in mourning.
After three seasons, creator and writer Aaron Sorkin decided to end it. And I want to scream, “No!” In fact, I did.
There’s so much over-hyped drivel on television. It’s all a matter of personal taste, of course, but I find the vast majority of American television series, especially those on the networks, to be poorly written, overblown, not very well acted, sensationalized, and in some cases, laughable. Every new season, I start out hopeful and end up disappointed.
Aaron Sorkin writes smart dialogue. He creates vivid characters on the page and then casts actors who are really good at what they do. He doesn’t dumb down the plot or the words or the pace of the show. We, as viewers, have to pay attention and keep up with the dialogue. We have to use our brains.
What a novel concept.
I’ve been a big fan of this show from the beginning. It makes me think. Don and I invariably spend an hour discussing it after we’ve watched an episode. It’s the reason we keep our subscription to HBO. It’s simply excellent. Sorkin has a streak of idealism running through his veins that I find refreshing and heartening. He examines the issues of the day; in this case, framed around the changing world of 24 hour news. He asks tough questions. He doesn’t play to the lowest common denominator – he raises the bar.
And the cast is uniformly excellent, especially Jeff Daniels.
Can you tell I’m going to miss this show?
And, now on to NYC.
I took a lot of photos. Today I’m going to concentrate on Grand Central Station, one of my favorite buildings in the city.
The taller building on the left is the MetLife Building. During the blackout several years ago, Don was caught in the city and he had to spend the night sleeping on the floor in the lobby.
Grand Central in the foreground. My absolute favorite building, The Chrysler Building, in the background.
Inside:
The soaring windows. The gorgeous hand painted ceiling, showing the constellations.
The stars light up. I remember seeing the Holiday Light Show several years ago. Music played and the constellations lit up and it was magical.
This sort of carving is everywhere. They don’t make them like this anymore.
The holiday pop-up shops in Vanderbilt Hall are an annual event. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to explore them this year.
People everywhere. That’s an Apple store you’re seeing at the top of the stairs.
It’s the perfect place to people watch.
There are tracks upstairs. There are tracks downstairs.
Also downstairs: a giant food court, but a thousand times better than the kind of food court you see in your average mall. I’ve grabbed a meal there more times than I can count.
And look what we saw! Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while are familiar with my love for Magnolia Bakery’s cupcakes. We laughed when we saw them here at the station because we had already purchased 4 cupcakes from their store located near Rockefeller Center. (We almost bought more, but we ran out of time.)
Tomorrow: Rockefeller Center and more.
Happy Monday.
How beautiful – like the inside of a jewelry box.
So many people though – I always forget that about big cities. Yesterday I walked down our main street and the only other pedestrian was a squirrel.
I hope we see more of your wonderful photos this week.
I love seeing all the people, but after a while, I long to get back to my quiet little cottage in the country.
There has only been the first serie of Newsroom available in Europe/Switzerland. I’m longing to get the next one. I’m glad to hear you like it too. :-)
Have a nice week! Regula
I hope you get the second season soon, Regula!
Oh! I have wanted to visit Grand Central Station since I was a child and saw it it the movies so many times. This is on my bucket list. Someday. . . .
Yes, you must see it, Carolyn Marie. It’s quite beautiful!
Couldn’t agree with you more. I didn’t see “The Newsroom” [don’t have HBO] so I am hoping it’ll hit Netflix soon. But I did watch [and now own on DVD] the entire series of “The West Wing” and love it. I can’t you how much I learned from that program. Aaron Sorkin’s work DOES raise the bar. Though it was a little before my time, it reminds me of the Golden Age of Television, something my parents spoke about often. When it really seemed like TV was trying not just to entertain, but to educate. Nowadays we literally have 100s of additional choices each day, and yet 90% is pure dreck. After all this time, still only just a few really good ones. And with a handful of exceptions, they’re all on PBS and HBO. Makes you really appreciate quality when you run across it, huh?
It sure does, Janet. Crossing my fingers that Newsroom hits Netflix or comes out on DVD soon. I have a feeling you’ll love it!
The first two seasons ARE out on DVD; Amazon. You can pre-order the season just finished.
I’ve only seen pics of Grand Central…it looks vibrant…so fun! I would imagine it would be a fantastic place to people watch…but maybe a few too many people for my taste. Those carvings are truly beautiful….can’t beat old architecture! ;)
The detail is amazing, Donnamae.
I am waiting for Newsroom to hit Netflix since I’ve heard such fabulous things about it. Another friend is so sad it’s over now also. Grand Central Station is amazing. I have been to NYC once many many years ago and saw a few things. I would love to return (it’s on my bucket list) and see it with new and mature eyes!
hugs,
Linda
It’s a wonder, that’s for sure, Linda.
Claudia the photos are awesome. Just wondering if you have watched the series The Killing on Netflix? It’s one of the most intriguing shows I’ve ever seen. Full of unexpected twists and turns. If you’ve seen it I’d love to hear what you thought of it.
I’ve watched only one episode and hope to get back to it. It stars a woman that I coached a few years back, Mireille Enos. She’s such a talented actress and lovely person that I’m curious to learn more about The Killing.
Thanks for the tour..I was always in such a rush..Never had the time to appreciate the views..Glad you got your cupcakes..
When I’m there to work, I have to rush, too. Yesterday allowed me to spend a few moments and take some pictures.
Haven’t watched the final season of Newsroom yet. I didn’t want it to end. We loved it from the beginning and when they did the episodes w/ reference to the Act 10 atrocity here in Wisconsin in 2010 ~ when our college drop-out Gov eliminated all Union rights ~ I cried. Such a great show. And all based on things that were actually happening in their time-line.
Looking forward to the rest of the pictures of your day trip!
Your governor is not one of my favorite people, Chris. I say that because I know he’s definitely not one of yours!
Claudia, your photos are just beautiful. It’s been years since I’ve been in Grand Central Station. Everything is so magnificently done. I’m just about an hour and a half northwest of the city so I’ll have to remind myself to stop here on my next trip in.
Usually, we come into Port Authority, which is definitely lacking the beauty of Grand Central. So it was nice to spend some time there yesterday,
We see it so many times on TV but they never stop to show the real beauty of it..old architecture amazes me compared to what they build now..Now you should have shown us a picture of those wonderful cupcakes..lol..Thanks for sharing..
We’ve already eaten 2 of them, Nancy!
Thank you for sharing the great photos of Grand Centre Station. My husband’s uncle is Robert Goulet and we had the opportunity to come to New York one year to visit and see a show he was in. Unfortunately, the timing didn’t work for us as we were very pregnant with one of our kids and too close to the end to travel. We’re determined to get there one day!
The Newsroom. Still a conversation in our house this morning. I love Aaron’s style and wish this show could have continued. West Wing is still viewed regularly here and we hope the Newsroom will come out on DVD as well so we can view both when we need a “Sorkin” fix!!
Ah, Robert Goulet. May he rest in peace. What a simply glorious voice he had.
I’m planning on getting Newsroom on DVD, too, Chy. I need to have it nearby!
My mom was a professional singer in her earlier days of the Big Band era and music was a huge thing in her life, always. When I was growing up, we had periods where there wasn’t a lot of income, so she would go the frugal route on lots of stuff and one thing she took advantage of was something our Armstrong tire dealer (1960s) promoted and that was the occasional 33LP records of shows on TV of which I guess Armstrong was a sponsor. (As a kid, I couldn’t quite make the connection of why we went to the tire store to buy a record album!) Mom adored Robert Goulet and one of the record albums was the musical, “Carousel.” I still have it somewhere; Mom gave it to me years ago. He had an amazing rendition of the soliloquy, “My Boy Bill” (well, actually I think it’s entitled “Soliloquy” but it’s about the character singing upon learning he’s to become a dad). I kinda remember another Armstrong production on TV he might have sung in called “Brigadoon.” (Mom had all those recordings of the musicals, like “Oklahoma” and “Camelot” and “The King & I” – we were always listening to the record player/turntable in our youth and I’m really grateful for it.) Anyway, Robert Goulet left his mark on this girl, thanks to Mom. I can hear his strong voice in my head as I write this!!
Good Morning, Claudia,
I LOVED seeing your pictures of NYC. After 30 years, I will be venturing back to NYC. I am taking my daughter on a long promised trip. We will be traveling in May, and I cannot wait.
I would love some advice, do you have an opinion on which airport would be best to fly into. I love landing in LaGuardia, and would love to share that with my daughter. Also, I am not sure of the best way to get from airport to hotel, without breaking the bank. Do you have any advice on that?
I am doing a ton of research and will continue to do so, but any bits of advice from a frequent traveler to NYC would be appreciated:).
P.S. I love how you have decorated to cottage for Christmas
Peace to you and your Family
Lisa
Gosh, I don’t have any advice, Lisa. I usually fly into our local smaller airport because flying into either JFK or LaGuardia involves getting there from here and it’s too hard when I have a full day of flying ahead. I can’t remember the last time I flew into one of those airports – maybe 3 or 4 years ago?
Thanks for sharing the photos; it gave me a hint of ‘being there.’
My husband works in ‘the industry’ and says The Newsroom is one of the best shows ever on television with superb writing, acting, etc. He feels your loss. Spoken from a guy who has spent many a long hour in a newsroom. But it seems like ever since I’ve heard of Sorkin, there’s some sort of controversy swirling around him…maybe that’s an exaggeration; however, it’s unfortunately what pops up in my head when I hear his name. Brilliance doesn’t often live quietly…I guess…
Are you watching Showtime’s ‘The Affair’ by chance? It seems to be authentically filmed in Montauk and NYC.
Thirty years ago, my 60-ish parents made their first cross-country driving trip to see the USA in a Chevrolet…and, with great anticipation, DC and the Northeast. My mom was born in a big city but both of them had been living in a small town for so long that I figured they’d be total fish out of water (i.e., LOST) in NYC. To my surprise, they started in Grand Central and you couldn’t keep them inside a hotel room; they went everywhere (bus, train, taxi; feet on the pavement) and never had a problem with places or people. They absolutely LOVED New York City and, I don’t know why but…at the time…Dad was enamored with Trump Tower.
Oddly coincidental…I just bought Jennifer Appel and Allysa Torey’s THE MAGNOLIA BAKERY COOKBOOK last week! (“Old-Fashioned Recipes from New York’s Sweetest Bakery” in Greenwich Village.)
The Greenwich Village location is my favorite. It’s absolutely charming. There’s a post somewhere on this blog about it, Vicki.
Sorkin is brilliant. I wasn’t a fan of Sports Night (or Nite) but I’ve loved everything else he’s done. He’s a risk taker and I like that. But risk taking in Hollywood is always subject to controversy, I guess. I would watch anything he wrote or produced.
We don’t get Showtime, so I haven’t watched that show.
I’ve never visited NYC, we live on the west coast, but it’s high on my list of places to visit. I would love to see Grand central, such a beautiful building. I do agree that many TV programs are poorly written and remind me of soap operas, although I do have a few I like. I love my sitcoms on Wednesday night and I really enjoy Viola Davis on How to get away with murder, one of my favorite new shows. I’m sure I’d really enjoy The Newsroom too, it sounds very appealing. It is so sad when a good show leaves before its time, you feel like you don’t have any closure. Looking forward to your pics of Rockefeller Center!
The fastest smartest show on television took my heart when it left last night. There is just nothing else that can compare with it. IT was absolutely everything you said about it. I am now rethinking my HBO subscription. xo Laura
Thank you so much for your pictures of New York city, I can only imagine being there. I have never left Australia. Maybe one day you and Don can come down under and visit the Sydney Opera house. I would love to show you around. The Newsroom is brilliant and will be missed. How many reality programmes can one watch with the exception of cooking and gardening. Janine