The Television Critics Association press tour in Los Angeles continued its second week, as a chorus line of cable networks presented new and continuing shows to close out the tour. Highlights from yesterday’s sessions, which were heavy on the cable drama:
* It was the showdown TV obsessives had been waiting for since the tour schedule was announced, as HBO brought out Aaron Sorkin (and Jeff Daniels) to take questions from critics about The Newsroom, a show that many of the assembled writers had given less-than-love. And the faceoff turned out to be… pretty mild and respectful, from the sounds of it. As Alan Sepinwall describes it, Sorkin and his questioners seemed to be largely talking past each other: Sorkin acknowledged criticisms of his show, particularly its portrayal of women, and said he “100%” disagreed with them. Sepinwall concluded: “it became clear that many of us simply don’t see the show the same way he does.” But at least Sorkin didn’t end with a three-minute tear concluding, “…I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about! Yosemite?”
* Elsewhere in the session, HBO had plenty of scheduling news: Girls and Enlightened return with new seasons in January (where, it would seem, HBO had a hole in its schedule after the sudden cancellation of Luck and the decision not to pick up The Corrections). Also in the works: a movie from Larry David (before, apparently, there will be another season of Curb Your Enthusiasm) and a documentary on the Rolling Stones, made with the band’s participation. Oh, and there may be a Bored to Death movie. Cue the Deadwood fans!
* In non-HBO news, the journalism drama better-received by critics last year, BBC America’s The Hour, previewed its season 2, in which it promises more “glamor.” (Or rather, “glamour.”) Dominic West is plenty glamorous enough for me already, thanks!
* Finally, later this month, BBC America will launch its first original scripted drama with a premise that’s far more America than BBC. In Copper, a policeman in 1864 Manhattan fights crime while seeking vengeance for an atrocity against his family while he was off fighting in the Civil War, a la AMC’s Hell on Wheels. I’ve already started calling it Hell on Foot.