The Newsroom: Word Salad

Down at the only bar in midtown, Mackenzie continues to act like Will a brat and treats Brian like an idiot. He calls her on her shit and while she tries to smarm her way out he just keeps talking over her to remind her that he’s not the asshole in this situation since, you know, she’s the one who was a cheating cheater who cheats. But unlike Will, he actually has a leg to stand on since she’s treated him with nothing but contempt since he got there…at Will’s insistence.

Now I remember why I ran screaming the first time.

Mackenzie doesn’t care, she just goes on polishing Will’s knob about him being a heavyweight who for a long time (while they were together?) acted like a lightweight for ratings. Brian just cuts straight to the chase and says Will sold out not for money but for validation. Realizing how pathetic, and yet true, that sounds Mackenzie’s speechless, but wants to know what Brian’s planning on writing. He’s non-commital, leading Mackenzie to realize unfettered access with just a verbal agreement to be Will’s stenographer probably wasn’t the best idea so she slips off to talk to Sloan. But first, she blames Brian for her cheating. It’s The Newsroom way.

The wandering horde of staffers are mock debating at the only bar in midtown so Mackenzie nicks Sloan, where they just spout word salad at each other.

Some idiots walk into a bar…that’s not a joke, just an observation.

Next morning in Will’s office and Mackenzie is recapping last week’s episode then sees flowers on Will’s credenza. She gets swoony and wants to know who they’re from, who they’re for and even though Will explicitly says not for or from him she squeaks “Are they for me?” just in case we actually thought she wasn’t a complete buffoon for a moment.

Staff meeting where they’re still mock debating and asking personal questions. Yes, yes. It’s not like candidates have the option to refuse participation. Will reminds them that this off-year, middle-of-summer, six months before the first primary debate is the alpha and the omega of all that is broadcast journalism and why they’re slouching to cover Casey Anthony. Mackenzie thinks they need someone to drop the story in their lap.

Oh, look. Maggie remembers her deus ex machina that Lisa went to high school with Casey Anthony. Oh for fuck’s sake. Even though Maggie knows Lisa doesn’t want to get involved Will browbeats Maggie into agreeing to pitch her. Maggie and her moon face are twitching and blinking nervously so Jim “nods” his support. Well I guess it’s okay then.

Wait, I have to actually do something competently?

Lisa works at a posh shop called “Flounce” (Really, Sorkin?) and is discussing whether or not some dress says “Tonys” with another young woman. Lisa smirks that “It’s the Tonys” and the other woman will be the youngest person there by 50 years. Seriously, this snobbery doesn’t even make sense since John Gallagher Jr. is a Tony winner. Then, ugh, he gets in some driveby sexism (but only as a writer) when the young woman wants to try on some Galliano because, even though she doesn’t agree with him, she doesn’t think she should do without just because he’s an anti-Semitic Holocaust denier. Luckily, and you know this is the only time I’ll think that, Jim and Maggie show up.