> someone somewhere does see that 'the news' has become propaganda and opinion over the years.

In the notorious "Game Change," the five-star HBO movie about Sarah Palin's run for VP, McCain's campaign manager tells her frankly that "the news is entertainment now."

Favorite "Newsroom" episode: The show has to drop coverage of the 2011 Congressional debt debate to cover Casey Anthony. Why? Ratings. Second favorite: last week when a real clip shows CNN's John King hosting one of the GOP debates and asking, "Congresswoman Bachmann. Elvis or Johnny Cash?" He may have asked someone else, "Boxers or briefs?"

Since I have a useless degree and time on my hands, I get to point out that "The Newsroom" is a "Menippean satire," not a "drama" as the half-educated critics claim. Menippean satire is a Classical genre that attacks small-mindedness, posturing, professional incompetence, arrogance, and so on. "The Newsroom" targets the tabloid mentality of the public and the news media, but most of the crusading characters themselves are slightly ridiculous.

Just compare them with the solid practicality of ACN President Charlie Skinner (Sam Waterston).

It'll be on DVD eventually.