NEWSROOM, THE: BULLIES (TV)
Summary
One in this drama series about arrogant news anchor Will McAvoy and his clashes with his staff at the New York-based Atlantis Cable News network. In this episode, Will flubs some lines on air and admits to Mac that he has been dealing with insomnia lately and is returning to his former psychiatrist, Dr. Abe Habib, for help. Accompanied by a bodyguard, Lonny, Will goes to the doctor's office and learns that Abe has died and his practice has been taken over by his son, Jack. Will is unimpressed with the young man and brusquely requests a prescription, but Jack notes that he used to take several anti-anxiety medications and asks about his current stress level. In a flashback, Will reads some inane online comments from viewers and demands that they be forced to use their real names, declaring his intention to "fix the Internet." He then interviews a woman about the so-called "Ground Zero mosque," and when she complains about "creeping Islam," he points out that many acts of violent terror in American history were committed by Christians. Will then learns that someone has circumvented Neal's third-party verification and left a comment on the website threatening his life, and though he dismisses it, he is assigned a bodyguard. At the same time, they discover that someone filed a complaint against Will several years ago when he yelled at Maggie for a foolish mistake, and Mac assigns Will and Jim to do "opposition research" on Will to prevent another tabloid story about him.
Sloan, who speaks Japanese, talks to a TEPCO representative about recent troubles with their radioactive reactors, and while he first states that the danger is only at level five, he then admits to her, off the record, that it may reach a Chernobyl-like level seven. Don asks Sloan to fill in for an absent Elliot at ten o'clock, and she very reluctantly agrees. Lonny arrives and Will is annoyed by his presence, then urging Sloan to be aggressive on-air and to ask tough follow-up questions if her guests lie. In Jack's office, Will confesses that he hates being feared. On air, Sloan "goes rogue" when the TEPCO translator lies and downplays the danger, and she switches to Japanese and reports the truth about the deadly level seven, much to Don's horror. Charlie blows up at her, saying that she appeared to "make up" the story without proof and placing her on suspension, and Will admits to Jack that he blames himself for the incident and regards Sloan as a little sister. Jack questions Will about his abusive father, but Will says he merely wants sleeping pills and not a therapy session. Maggie and Jim find nothing of interest about Will, though Mac discovers that he nearly took a job in California while they were together and accuses him of falsely stringing her along, but he then produces a diamond ring. He admits to Jack, however, that he only just purchased it to show her up and intends to return it.
Sloan is upset to learn that the TEPCO representative is resigning in shame because of her report. Will talks on air with Senator Rick Santorum's former chief of staff, who is both black and gay, questioning him harshly about how he can support Santorum's strong homophobic positions. The man finally reacts with anger and firmly tells Will that he does not get to judge or define him and that he does not need Will's "protection," and Will realizes that in this case, he was the "bully," remembering his similar actions at Northwestern University. An anxious Don asks Sloan if Maggie is interested in Jim, and she uncertainly tell him no. Charlie decides to claim that Sloan made a translation error, which will save both hers and the TEPCO man's job, and adds that the plant will publicly admit to the level-seven danger. Sloan balks at having to lie, but Will offers her his support. He concludes to Jack that he cannot sleep because of his guilt over the Santorum aide, and Jack gives him some advice about his insomnia, adding that he has unresolved issues with Mac and with depression, urging him to come back for further treatment. Back in his office, Will tears up the Tiffany's receipt for the diamond ring.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: July 29, 2012 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:52
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 108997
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; News broadcasting; Politics
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 2012-2014
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Scott Rudin … Executive Producer
- Alan Poul … Executive Producer
- Aaron Sorkin … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Paul Redford … Co-Executive Producer
- Greg Mottola … Co-Executive Producer
- Denis Biggs … Co-Executive Producer
- Lauren Lohman … Co-Producer
- Eli Bush … Co-Producer
- Dauri Chase … Co-Producer
- Christine Larson-Nitzsche … Co-Producer
- Sarah Rath … Associate Producer
- Jeremy Podeswa … Director
- Alex Wurman … Music by
- Thomas Newman … Theme Music by
- Jeff Daniels … Cast, Will McAvoy
- Emily Mortimer … Cast, MacKenzie McHale
- John Gallagher Jr. … Cast, Jim Harper
- Alison Pill … Cast, Maggie Jordan
- Thomas Sadoski … Cast, Don Keefer
- Dev Patel … Cast, Neal Sampat
- Olivia Munn … Cast, Sloan Sabbith
- Sam Waterston … Cast, Charlie Skinner
- David Krumholtz … Cast, Dr. Jack Habib
- Terry Crews … Cast, Lonny Church
- Damon Gupton … Cast, Sutton Hall
- Eve Gordon … Cast, Phylis Greer
- Yuki Matsuzaki … Cast, Daisuke Tanaka
- Saemi Nakamura … Cast, Translator
- Adina Porter … Cast, Kendra James
- Chris Chalk … Cast, Gary Cooper
- Margaret Judson … Cast, Tess Westin
- Wynn Everett … Cast, Tamara Hart
- Thomas Matthews … Cast, Martin Stallworth
- John F. Carpenter … Cast, Herb Wilson
- Trieu Tran … Cast, Joey Phan
- Charlie Weirauch … Cast, Jake Watson
- Ami Haruna … Cast, Japanese Anchor