The Newsroom

News director George Findlay needs to hire an assistant to take care of such pressing matters as returning his walking shoes, getting him Fibre First, and dealing with his mother's persistent phone calls. He's faced with a dilemma: hire the qualified Afro-Canadian lesbian or the inexperienced yet attractive ski bunny.

After yet another on-air faux pas by Jim, Lindsay Ward (Amanda Tapping) is hired as co-anchor for Toronto News. Solo anchor Jim, feeling threatened by Lindsay's aggressive personality, turns to George who supports him pharmaceutically. When the shifting of power starts to affect George, it's time to fight dirty.

Cutbacks are coming at the network—who will it be? George vows to "go to the wall" to save jobs but everyone knows someone has to go. Backstabbing, clandestine job hunts, prostitutes and religious conversations prevail.

When failed screenwriter Shane (Jason Blicker) threatens suicide on tape, George turns his videotaped attempt into a five-part series to boost ratings. A killer virus in Zaire could have a connection with Toronto, maybe even the newsroom.

George is having a bad day: he's in trouble for hitting on a woman half his age, he made derogatory comments about Mr. Dressup, he offends Linda McQuaig (as herself) and she walks off the show, suicidal Shane is back, his BMW needs a new muffler, and Jim tells more than he should to a documentary crew (led by Dan Redican).

George's quest for bran muffins leads him to the cafeteria and into a fight. Cynthia Dale (as herself), while researching a role in a feature film, observes the newsroom. George offends one of Canada's top stars.

George's quest for an indoor parking spot is thwarted when the Corporation hires Gillian Soros (Elisa Moolecherry) as the new head of regional programming. Gillian has definite ideas about George and the Toronto News.

George is annoyed when his name is left off the Globe and Mail list of government employees who make over $100,000 per year. Lise Léger (Guylaine St. Onge) appers on Toronto news with Linda McQuaig (as herself) to discuss the Canadian unity situation. Lise is inexplicably attracted to Jim.

As George's crusade for an indoor parking space continues, his paranoia surfaces after he receives a mysterious and vague voice mail and his office couch disappears. He immediately assumes the worst: the Corporation wants him gone.

When there is a potential nuclear accident only hours away, each of the newsroom staff reacts in their own way. David Cronenberg (as himself) is a guest on Toronto news to promote his latest film, 'Crash'.

With the potential nuclear meltdown approaching, George's priority is finding the right experts and analysts while trying to make them real but entertaining.

Unable to deal with the potential of his own death, George goes into denial and can't cover the impending nuclear meltdown story.

After the collapse of public broadcasting, Jim runs for political office in a provincial election. George and some of the newsroom staff manage the campaign in this one-hour season finale.