I’m an Aaron Sorkin fan. I grew up on The West Wing and, since then, have devoured pretty much all his other shows and movies. So, needless to say, when The Newsroom came out a few weeks ago, I was thrilled.

The negative reviews struck me immediately, but I have this theory about being too popular an artist or producing something too good or ground-breaking early in your career: if you set the bar too high, everyone expects you to keep evolving and being ground-breaking, and that obviously can’t happen. Sometimes, the first thing wasn’t even all that great, but it was better than expected, and so expectations for everything after get inflated. So, of course, everyone is disappointed.

Anyway, the moral of the story is that, after watching the first episode of The Newsroom, having read a number of harsh critiques, it became clear to me that people were expecting something new, edgy, different, and, well, ground-breaking. Needless to say, that’s not what Sorkin delivered. He delivered standard Sorkin: smart, intense stories with witty characters, fast dialogue, and a heavy dose of idealism and romanticism. In other words, he delivered quality entertainment. As a fan of quality entertainment, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have been quietly telling off (or, really, ignoring) critics for the last few weeks, but last night’s episode didn’t quite hit the right chord for me.

Most disappointingly, I found Maggie annoying and stopped rooting for her and Jim. After the initial shock wore off, I actually wanted Jim to date Lisa. After all, Maggie can’t be with Don and still hold the super-awesome Jim back. I also kind of liked Lisa, despite her clearly being written to be a little dumb and unidimensional.

But then, as soon as I realized I wanted to smack Maggie and tell her to shut up, and that I wasn’t enjoying the puppy dog eyes Jim was making at her, I found myself desperately missing Josh and Donna. Part of what made their relationship so compelling was the fact that nothing ever happened; their smart, flirty banter kept you coming back for more, and while you kind of wanted them to get together, you also were afraid that if they ever acknowledged their attraction, it would fall apart.

But Jim and Maggie have dived right into this within four episodes, and everyone in the office knows they like each other, and even Don doesn’t really think Maggie’s going to stick around with him much longer, so the suspense is gone. It’s now just annoying, and I almost want them to get together just so that they can realize maybe it won’t actually work and then Jim can go on and date better girls, and Maggie can stop being annoying. Which really isn’t what I was hoping for from their relationship, as a viewer who loves quality entertainment.

As for all the other criticisms I’ve read, well, it’s not worth getting into all of them, but I will agree that this last episode felt more misogynistic than most. I don’t think Will speaks directly for Sorkin, as many critics seem to, but this episode did certainly portray women as more stupid than it normally does. Though my frustration with Maggie certainly didn’t help.

Needless to say, I won’t stop watching, but, Sorkin, get with it. Please.

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time, and all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle. Life’s but a walking shadow. A poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

–Macbeth, Act V Scene V

This has been running through my head all weekend. I suppose death does that to you.

Cuba in pictures. It was basically made for Instagram.

More on the blog.

My travel blog is back! With a meditation on where I’ve traveled and where I’m going.

Helpful and then some, at least for reinforcement.

basemboshra:

I’ve been thinking a lot about young journalists lately. Maybe it’s simply because I’ve been invited to speak to some journalism classes in the past few months and have been impressed by how many bright, intelligent and ambitious young people still want to be part of an industry that few seem…

(via basemboshra-deactivated20120613)

Posted this over on IN today. Shout-out to the awesome Dorothy for getting me obsessed with oysters.

scoopst:

Little screams “summer in New York” more than oysters on the half shell. Preferably paired with a glass of crisp white wine or bubbly at happy hour. The refreshing almost-decadence of the whole experience lets us revel in the heat - or, really, air conditioning - rather than whine about it. After all, oysters just aren’t quite the same in winter.

In this city that practically invented oysters on the half shell, options for happy hour deals abound. But without the right atmosphere, the whole experience is, if you’ll excuse the pun, a little dead in the water. After all, who really wants oysters in a dive bar or with a mediocre glass of wine, no matter how good the price?

Luckily for you, we’ve done our research (and, let us tell you, it was hard eating all those oysters) and have culled the best of the best around this mollusk happy hour mecca. Trust us, you’ll thank us.

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scoopst:

One of our favorite things about New York is how cosmopolitan it is, how there’s someone from everywhere living here. Which means, of course, that we can find cuisine from pretty much anywhere in the world somewhere in New York City. Basically, it’s a food-lover’s heaven.

A few weeks ago, you may have seen a scoop up on the main site for a Venezuelan arepa joint, called Arepera Guacuco. Despite being in Bushwick… let’s just say we weren’t the only ones excited about it. Good food is worth the trek, as all Roberta’s fans know.

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Lunch last Friday. Yummy and filling.

I wish this had been around when I moved to NY. So I wrote it myself.

scoopst:

Have you ever tried to talk to a Californian living in New York about burritos? You suddenly find yourself overwhelmed by an outpouring of frustration, taking the brunt of all their pent-up anger at the complete lack of good burritos in this city.

It’s okay, don’t take it personally. Think of them as a junkie deprived of a fix - most West Coasters grow up eating burritos about once a week. In their home country, they don’t even have to look for good burritos; practically every other store makes fresh burritos. As a New Yorker, pretend you’d been deprived of pizza and bagels - image that experience and you’re on the right track.

Okay, we have a confession. This piece is being written by a native of the San Francisco Bay Area who has gone on an exhaustive search for the best possible burritos in NYC - the pickings are slim, but they exist. Which means that Californian transplants can relax - and the rest of you can get excited - in the knowledge that there a few options when you’re craving some left coast taste.

So, without further ado…

The Best Burritos in New York City

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Just posted this over on IN, the new Scoop St. Blog. Comment, criticize, etc.

scoopst:

Welcome to Manhattan, hipster. Venturing outside your Williamsburg art loft may be scary, we understand, but fear not. IN is here to provide the comprehensive guide to navigating New York City’s central island so that you needn’t worry about accidentally finding yourself amidst bankers and swish steakhouses.

First, a rule of thumb: unless you are going to visit your parents, family friends, or other wealthy relatives, don’t go north of Union Square. As with any rule, there are some exceptions, but stick with this for simplicity’s sake. If you’re confused, ask us.

Next: it could be tempting to run straight to the Lower East Side and hide out there, as it embodies a balance of grunge and fashion similar to what you’re used to. While it’s a good home base, we’re here to help you get to know Manhattan, and there are other worthwhile stops.

Let’s start with the L.

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