BACK IN THE NEWSROOM

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Yesterday I worked in the second episode of the third season of The Newsroom. Aaron Sorkin wrote another kick-ass scene for Leona Lansing as her media empire is threatened from a new and unexpected challenge. There is just about nothing as fun for an actor, in my opinion, than to revel in the intricacies of Sorkin’s elaborate and inventive dialogue. Fortunately, memorizing has always been easy for me.

To my delight, I got to work with Kat Dennings in the scene (in photo above). You probably know her as the co-star of “Two Broke Girls,” but I first discovered Kat in the 2008 romantic comedy “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist” in which she starred with Michael Cera. I always adored his work but she was a new discovery and I flipped for her (and the movie). Later, at an Elle Magazine event in Los Angeles, I met her and had a chance to gush over her in person and she says my enthusiasm for her was important to her at the time in her budding career. So it was special for us both to be working together yesterday, especially since we had some pretty intense exchanges in the scene—mean, fun kind of intense. Looking into her huge blue eyes, I felt like I was falling into them.

The good looking fellow to my left is Chris Messina who plays Leona’s son, Reese. He’s made lots of films including “Celeste and Jesse Forever” but maybe you know him from “The Mindy Project.” We love playing mother and son. He is such a cool guy and has just finished directing his first film, “Alex of Venice,” which has been very well received at the Tribeca Film Festival.

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Then, of course, there’s the inimitable Sam Waterston, who plays the head of Leona’s news division—in other words, he runs the newsroom and reports to Leona. Such an extraordinary actor. He was in the scene yesterday as well and I believe we’ll do another one next week.

I wish this wasn’t the last season of this series because it has such important things to say about the media and says them in such interesting ways and it’s so many people’s favorite show. A few months ago when I was in Sydney Australia, I was surprised at the number of people who told me that they watch it religiously. (I had to wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that Rupert Murdock comes from there and his media unscrupulousness is globally known about so that the inner workings of media empires hits close to home).

I dedicated our last shot of the day to the NBA and the basketball commissioner for their decisions against Donald Sterling. Bravo for their swift decisions against that bigot. Go Clippers!

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18 Comments
  1. Thanks for sharing. I hadn’t watched before, but now I will. Bravo indeed for the action taken against Sterling. I want to see his bad treatment of the women (his wife) in addition to the girlfriend to be seen as offensive as his language. I am bothered more by that, I guess because it hits home for me. Keep up the great work!

  2. LOVE That you’ll be back this season, what a fantastic role and cast! Congratulations and thank you for continuing to share your gifts with us. Blessings to you~

  3. I’m sad that The Newsroom is coming to an end. I wasn’t a regular viewer but I always tuned in when you were on the show. You did a brilliant job. I feel you were robbed of that Emmy last year. But here’s to the new, exciting roles of yours in the future. I cannot wait to see what you have in store for us! I’m counting the days back to the premiere of This Is Where I Leave You (the book was so good and I hope the movie lives up to it) and your show with Lily Tomlin. 🙂

  4. Jane, I have a friend in Sydney who holds a party whenever a new episode of The Newsroom is available, attended by his “Newsie” friends, of whom they are many. He says they hoot and holler and carry on whenever you’re on the screen! Several of them actually took a day off from work to get a picture of you when you came for a visit, something they didn’t do for the likes of Prince William and Kate! I think you may be even hotter in Australia than you realize.

  5. Could not agree more Jane! I think we should ship Donald Sterling from our hood to Cliven Bundy’s ranch in Nevada, put a fence around it and start a multicultural therapy clinic.

  6. My 26 yr old son introduced me to this show. It was an instant hit with me. ( I did not have HBO when it first came out.) We just got caught up on the series last night! Wow!! I love this show. You look amazing. I am sorry to hear it’s the last season. Can’t wait for the new season. Good luck to you all.

  7. What a cast!!! This show is beyond brilliant. Every single character stands out and the storyline is incredible.

  8. Kat is so beautiful and hilarious. I first discovered her in Daydream Nation and thought…”wow, who is that?!” Very nice photos, Jane. Thank you.

  9. So, you report more on working with Octavia Spencer? She and you are two of my favorite actors and I was so excited when I heard you were working together.

    • I never did meet Octavia on this film. I was there too short a time and she appears, together with Amanda S., in the contemporary part of the movie whereas I appear in the 1980’s while Russell Crowe’s character is still alive.

  10. Aaaaaah…Sam Waterston! Sweet picture of you and him. He looks so kind.
    I get a kick out of your character in the Newsroom. Leona is such a powerhouse! Even when she’s high she’s so fucking strong and in control. I’ll miss watching you and Sam Waterston act together.
    Looking forward to seeing you and Lily Tomlin on Netflix. Lily is one of the few actors that can send me into hysterics with a single facial expression. Any new details about Grace and Frankie? Do you know if it’ll be on Netflix later this year or will it be next year?

    • We finish filming around end of Novemeber so it’ll be seen sometime next year

  11. Sorkin is a genius! Probably one of the best writers of my generation. Everything he’s done all the way back to A Few Good Men and Sports Night…you can’t go wrong. One of my husband’s favorites of his was Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip which was only given one season because it couldn’t find the right audience. He still watches it and considers it a 22 hour long movie! No doubt you have a blast saying those words…how could you not! I sure will miss this show. But, we don’t have very long to wait before we see you and Lily grace the small screen together. Best wishes! Oh…and I hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day! 🙂

  12. Hey Jane, what are your thoughts on the abduction of the Nigerian girls? What do you feel is the solution? What is the sociological discourse that you think creates this kind of problem?

    • I think it is an abomination. The solution is for all countries with the technological capacity (infrared cameras etc) to search for them. The kinds of technology the U.S. has used to find people it views as its political enemies (Like Che in the dense Amazon–I think it was Amazon–rain forest. We have the capacity if we choose to use it. I’m angry, as are millions of others, that this country along with the Nigerian government, have taken too long before mounting a serious search.But let’s not forget this has been going on a long time, just not in such dramatic numbers. Violence against girls who are trying to get an education must be stopped! EVERYWHERE. As for “the sociological discourse that you think creates this kind of problem?”—patriarchy: the paradigm that holds that men are superior, entitled, and that women should be subservient.

  13. I am not sure where to post this – but this is something that backs you in the 60’s without going against the real America…you were correct- there just wasn’t a way to explain it…and it all connects to the health of the people by juicing.

    https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1148939
    WHAT DOES THE APPLE, THE GARDEN OF EDEN, THE GOVERNMENT, AND JUICING ALL HAVE IN COMMON?:

    WE ARE ALL CREATED EQUAL.”
    WHEN JESUS CHRIST WAS BORN, DID YOU THINK HE WAS BORN EQUAL TO YOU? OR YOU WERE BORN EQUAL TO HIM? THE CONNECTION OF GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION, THE APPLE, THE GARDEN OF EDEN, AND WHY JUICING GIVES YOU EQUAL POWER TO BE 100% HEALTHY AND REVERSE THE WRINKLES TO BE 100% BEAUTY.

  14. Oh my GOSH! I am such a big fan of yours Jane! You were spectacular in Monster in Law. I have always wanted to act do you have any thing for me? Oh how was it working with Jennifer Lopez?
    Anna Reed!

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