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The Best Episodes of The Newsroom

Every episode of The Newsroom ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Newsroom!

A behind-the-scenes look at the people who make a nightly cable-news program. Focusing on a network anchor, his new executive producer, the newsroom staff and their boss, the series tracks their quixotic mission to do the news well in the face of corporate and commercial obstacles-not to mention their own personal entanglements.

Genre:Drama
Network:HBO

Top Episode Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The Newsroom" is "Oh Shenandoah", rated 9.3/10 from 2307 user votes. It was directed by Paul Lieberstein and written by Aaron Sorkin. "Oh Shenandoah" aired on 12/7/2014 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "What Kind of Day Has It Been?".

  • Oh Shenandoah
    9.3/10 2,307 votes

    #1 - Oh Shenandoah

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 12/7/2014

    Incarcerated for contempt, Will refuses to reveal the name of Neal's government source. Appearing to embrace Pruit's mandate to capture younger viewers, Charlie orders a reluctant Don to track down principals in a sexual-abuse case at an elite college. Sloan voices her objection to a new digital site built by Neal's replacement, Bree. Stranded in a Moscow airport, Jim and Maggie look to land seats for a Cuban-bound plane, hoping to interview one of its high-profile passengers.

    Director: Paul Lieberstein

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • What Kind of Day Has It Been?
    9.2/10 2,089 votes

    #2 - What Kind of Day Has It Been?

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 12/14/2014

    A sudden death leads Will and Mac to ponder the milestones that transformed the newsroom, and look ahead towards ACN's uncertain future. Maggie lands a field-producer interview in Washington; Neal's digital site is shut down for repairs; Leona offers sage advice to Pruit.

    Director: Alan Poul

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • Red Team III
    9.1/10 1,907 votes

    #3 - Red Team III

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 8/25/2013

    Rebecca pieces together the events leading to ACN's decision to air Dantana's special report on Operation Genoa; repercussions from the special report threaten to ruin "News Night.

    Director: Anthony Hemingway

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • We Just Decided To
    9.0/10 3,939 votes

    #4 - We Just Decided To

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 6/24/2012

    "News Night" anchor Will McAvoy returns to work after a public meltdown to find most of his staff has jumped ship, but new hires help steer the show when news of a catastrophe breaks in the spring of 2010.

    Director: Greg Mottola

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • I'll Try to Fix You
    9.0/10 2,772 votes

    #5 - I'll Try to Fix You

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 7/15/2012

    Will's mission attracts a tabloid's attention; Wade has information about the government's fight against white-collar crime; Maggie finds a date for Jim, and Sloan has trouble being a matchmaker.

    Director: Alan Poul

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • Election Night (2)
    9.0/10 1,841 votes

    #6 - Election Night (2)

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 9/15/2013

    As Election Night 2012 winds down, Will and Charlie await a decision from Reese that may impact their future at ACN, and that of the entire senior staff. Sloan learns the identity of the anonymous winning bidder for her book; Don discusses a countersuit against Dantana with Rebecca; Will has a revelation while Charlie shares his. Season two finale.

    Director: Alan Poul

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • Run
    9.0/10 1,675 votes

    #7 - Run

    Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 11/16/2014

    With Rebecca again tasked with defending ACN in a possible lawsuit, Will tries to protect Neal from the fallout over the DOD leak. Charlie and Leona enter the fray of a hostile-takeover gambit involving Reese's half-siblings. Sloan fears Don may be guilty of cashing in on insider information. Maggie ponders the ethics of eavesdropping. Hallie pays a price for a late-night tweet.

    Director: Greg Mottola

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • Contempt
    9.0/10 1,599 votes

    #8 - Contempt

    Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 11/30/2014

    Facing a court subpoena and possible incarceration for contempt, Will stands firm in refusing to reveal the source of the stolen DOD documents. As Charlie's disdain for Lucas grows, Sloan and Mac scramble to find a more acceptable 11th-hour buyer for ACN. Jim's relationship with Hallie is put to the test by her new job at Carnivore, a start-up website.

    Director: Anthony Hemingway

    Writer: N/A

  • The Greater Fool
    8.8/10 1,995 votes

    #9 - The Greater Fool

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 8/26/2012

    Nina surprises Mac; Sloan considers a job offer; Neal smokes out a threat; Will, Mac and Charlie face off against Leona and Reese.

    Director: Greg Mottola

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • Boston
    8.7/10 1,663 votes

    #10 - Boston

    Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 11/9/2014

    In the wake of the Genoa debacle, Will, Mac and the News Night team decide to err on the side of caution in reporting a major breaking story. Neal is contacted by an anonymous source in possession of stolen government documents revealing how false press stories planted in newspapers spawned fatal riots in Kundu. Sloan looks to solve a takeover puzzle. Maggie is forced to pinch-hit for Elliot in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings.

    Director: Anthony Hemingway

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • Main Justice
    8.6/10 1,378 votes

    #11 - Main Justice

    Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 11/23/2014

    Leona and Reece look to raise cash in order to salvage ACN and thwart Blair and Randy. Will gets a surprise at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Charlie trades visions with her ACN suitor. Maggie's EPA scoop makes it to News Night. Sloan and Don try to keep their relationship a secret from a new HR veep.

    Director: Alan Poul

    Writer: N/A

  • Bullies
    8.5/10 1,962 votes

    #12 - Bullies

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 7/29/2012

    Sloan harshly questions a Tokyo power-company representative during the Japanese earthquake nuclear crisis; Will learns a lesson about bullying after his rude behavior in an interview.

    Director: Jeremy Podeswa

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • Election Night (1)
    8.5/10 1,407 votes

    #13 - Election Night (1)

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 9/8/2013

    In the wake of Leona's refusal to accept the resignations of three top ACN talents, "News Night" goes forward with its 2012 election coverage, featuring Will in the unlikely role of director of morale. Sloan is perturbed that her book was auctioned off with a forged signature, while Mac tasks Neal to fix a faulty Wikipedia page. Mindful that Charlie wants a screw-up-free evening, Jim weighs the cons of retracting a call he made too soon. The team deliberates whether to hold off on a story that might affect a tight Senate race.

    Director: Jason Ensler

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • Amen
    8.4/10 2,088 votes

    #14 - Amen

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 7/22/2012

    Neal finds someone who can provide updates from Cairo as the staff strive to give equal attention to uprisings there and in Wisconson.

    Director: Daniel Minahan

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • 5/1
    8.4/10 2,161 votes

    #15 - 5/1

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 8/5/2012

    An anonymous source gives details on an imminent story of national importance. When the President calls a televised speech that night, the 2.0 staff cuts short its 1-year anniversary party and rushes back to the newsroom.

    Director: Joshua Marston

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • Unintended Consequences
    8.3/10 1,485 votes

    #16 - Unintended Consequences

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 8/4/2013

    Maggie tries to convince Rebecca that she’s fine following her shattering trip to Africa with Gary. An Occupy Wall Street protester with a Black Op lead refuses to cooperate with Neal and Jerry after an on-air interview with Will goes poorly. Jim lands Hallie a one -on-one, but gets heat from Mac as a result.

    Director: Carl Franklin

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • The 112th Congress
    8.2/10 2,180 votes

    #17 - The 112th Congress

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 7/8/2012

    Tea Party critiques draw the ire of network executives and CEO Leona Lansing. Don confronts Elliot about his analytical skills; Jim helps Maggie during a panic attack; and Mac is unnerved by Will's endless parade of romantic conquests.

    Director: Greg Mottola

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • News Night with Will McAvoy
    8.2/10 1,432 votes

    #18 - News Night with Will McAvoy

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 8/11/2013

    Will is distracted during his telecast by a phone call and an unflattering Twitter post. Charlie gets a visit from a longtime friend at the Office of Naval Intelligence, who has knowledge of Operation Genoa. Sloan phases from humiliation to rage following a revenge posting. The newsroom traverses the slippery slope separating fact from fiction.

    Director: Alan Poul

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • The Blackout Part II: Mock Debate
    8.1/10 1,675 votes

    #19 - The Blackout Part II: Mock Debate

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 8/19/2012

    The staff stages a mock debate; Mac has an epiphany; Lisa goes off-script during an interview; Neal goes under cover.

    Director: Alan Poul

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers
    8.0/10 1,722 votes

    #20 - First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Lawyers

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 7/14/2013

    Will and the "News Night" staff are questioned by their lawyer about a story they've aired that's become a network crisis. An on-air remark by Will has him pulled from 9/11 anniversary coverage. Jim volunteers to cover for an embed reporter on the Romney campaign and Neal investigates the beginnings of Occupy Wall Street.

    Director: Alan Poul

    Writer: Ian Reichbach

  • The Genoa Tip
    8.0/10 1,475 votes

    #21 - The Genoa Tip

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 7/21/2013

    A tip on a story that will ultimately cripple the network starts to become more real. Mackenzie and Sloan continue to push Will on drones as Don urges Will to advocate for Troy Davis. Maggie is un-friended by her roommate, but gets the assignment she's been begging for. Neal gets arrested on Wall Street.

    Director: Jeremy Podeswa

    Writer: N/A

  • Willie Pete
    8.0/10 1,431 votes

    #22 - Willie Pete

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 7/28/2013

    Will continues his mission to civilize by telling Nina Howard the truth. A new witness to the Genoa story emerges on Twitter, and in New Hampshire, Jim's efforts to have his questions answered continue to fall on deaf ears.

    Director: Lesli Linka Glatter

    Writer: N/A

  • One Step Too Many
    8.0/10 1,366 votes

    #23 - One Step Too Many

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 8/18/2013

    Mac and Charlie score a key witness, a retired Marine general, in their attempt to corroborate Jerry's Operation Genoa story. Will follows Nina's lead to soften his image by making an impromptu appearance on a morning talk show. Jim gets unexpected company during his reunion with Hallie, who's in town to cover a Romney rally.

    Director: Julian Farino

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • News Night 2.0
    7.9/10 2,359 votes

    #24 - News Night 2.0

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 7/1/2012

    MacKenzie wants an economist to give a nightly financial report on "News Night". Jim covers for Maggie's mistake; Charlie ends Reese's meetings with Will, and a breakup story is a secret no more.

    Director: Alex Graves

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin

  • The Blackout Part I: Tragedy Porn
    7.9/10 1,691 votes

    #25 - The Blackout Part I: Tragedy Porn

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 8/12/2012

    Will and Mac abandon principles when ratings plummet; Sloan is irked by her lack of screen time; Charlie discovers a whistleblower's identity.

    Director: Lesli Linka Glatter

    Writer: Aaron Sorkin