Critical reaction to the episode has been mixed . It has a score of 57 out of 100 based on 31 reviews on review aggregator Metacritic , indicating " mixed or average reviews " . Tim Goodman of '' The Hollywood Reporter '' writes that how viewers respond to the show " has everything to do with whether you like his style . Because ... Sorkin is always true to himself and does n't try to cover his tendencies or be embarrassed by them . " Alessandra Stanley of '' The New York Times '' commented that " at its best ... '' The Newsroom '' has a wit , sophistication and manic energy ... . But at its worst , the show chokes on its own sanctimony . " Maureen Ryan of '' The Huffington Post '' called the preview episodes " a dramatically inert , infuriating mess , one that wastes a fine cast to no demonstrable purpose , unless you consider giving Sorkin yet another platform in which to Set the People Straight is a worthwhile purpose . " '' Time '' s James Poniewozik criticized the show for being " smug " and " intellectually self-serving , " with " Aaron Sorkin writing one argument after another for himself to win . " '' Los Angeles Times '' critic Mary McNamara said the show 's drama is " weighted too heavily toward sermonizing diatribes . " Reviews by newscasters have been mixed as well . Jake Tapper of ABC News criticized Sorkin 's partisanship : " they extol the Fourth Estate 's democratic duty , but they believe that responsibility consists mostly of criticizing Republicans . " Dave Marash was not convinced that the show portrays the news industry accurately . Former '' CBS Evening News '' anchor Dan Rather gave a favorable review , saying the show " has the potential to become a classic . " Jeff Daniels won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode at the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards
65th Primetime Emmy Awards
65th Primetime Emmy Awards
We Just Decided To