The BEST episodes of The Newsroom season 1
Every episode of The Newsroom season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Newsroom season 1!
George Findlay is the News Director of the local station in Toronto for "a major government controlled broadcast network". His life is complicated by three factors: he is completely self absorbed; most of the news stories don't happen they way or when he wants; and he functions in the Machiavellian bureaucracy of a government owned television network. Series II, after a brief hiatus the the Newsroom story continues.... George Findlay (Ken Finkleman) and his staff are back in the newsroom where pettiness and moral bankruptcy are taken to new depths. New faces, new phobias, new issues and Death haunt George as he maneuvers his way around the daily task of producing the news. Also this season, News Anchor Jim Walcott (Peter Keleghan) returns to brighten our day with moronic interviews with luminaries like Naomi Klein and Noam Chomsky .
#1 - A Bad Day
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/18/1996
George is having a bad day: he's in trouble for hitting on a woman half his age, he made derogatory comments about Mr. Dressup, he offends Linda McQuaig (as herself) and she walks off the show, suicidal Shane is back, his BMW needs a new muffler, and Jim tells more than he should to a documentary crew (led by Dan Redican).
#2 - Meltdown (1)
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/3/1997
When there is a potential nuclear accident only hours away, each of the newsroom staff reacts in their own way. David Cronenberg (as himself) is a guest on Toronto news to promote his latest film, 'Crash'.
#3 - Dis and Dat
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/10/1997
George's quest for an indoor parking spot is thwarted when the Corporation hires Gillian Soros (Elisa Moolecherry) as the new head of regional programming. Gillian has definite ideas about George and the Toronto News.
#4 - Meltdown (2)
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/17/1997
With the potential nuclear meltdown approaching, George's priority is finding the right experts and analysts while trying to make them real but entertaining.
#5 - Parking
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/24/1997
As George's crusade for an indoor parking space continues, his paranoia surfaces after he receives a mysterious and vague voice mail and his office couch disappears. He immediately assumes the worst: the Corporation wants him gone.
#6 - Campaign
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/31/1997
After the collapse of public broadcasting, Jim runs for political office in a provincial election. George and some of the newsroom staff manage the campaign in this one-hour season finale.
#7 - The Walking Shoe Incident
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/21/1996
News director George Findlay needs to hire an assistant to take care of such pressing matters as returning his walking shoes, getting him Fibre First, and dealing with his mother's persistent phone calls. He's faced with a dilemma: hire the qualified Afro-Canadian lesbian or the inexperienced yet attractive ski bunny.
#8 - Petty Tyranny
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/25/1996
George's quest for bran muffins leads him to the cafeteria and into a fight. Cynthia Dale (as herself), while researching a role in a feature film, observes the newsroom. George offends one of Canada's top stars.
#9 - Unity
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/17/1997
George is annoyed when his name is left off the Globe and Mail list of government employees who make over $100,000 per year. Lise Léger (Guylaine St. Onge) appers on Toronto news with Linda McQuaig (as herself) to discuss the Canadian unity situation. Lise is inexplicably attracted to Jim.
#10 - The Kevorkian Joke
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/11/1996
When failed screenwriter Shane (Jason Blicker) threatens suicide on tape, George turns his videotaped attempt into a five-part series to boost ratings. A killer virus in Zaire could have a connection with Toronto, maybe even the newsroom.
#11 - Meltdown (3)
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/24/1997
Unable to deal with the potential of his own death, George goes into denial and can't cover the impending nuclear meltdown story.
#12 - Dinner at Eight
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/28/1996
After yet another on-air faux pas by Jim, Lindsay Ward (Amanda Tapping) is hired as co-anchor for Toronto News. Solo anchor Jim, feeling threatened by Lindsay's aggressive personality, turns to George who supports him pharmaceutically. When the shifting of power starts to affect George, it's time to fight dirty.
#13 - Deeper, Deeper
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/4/1996
Cutbacks are coming at the network—who will it be? George vows to "go to the wall" to save jobs but everyone knows someone has to go. Backstabbing, clandestine job hunts, prostitutes and religious conversations prevail.