“As a news anchor, you’ve almost religiously avoided stating a political allegiance. The Jay Leno of news anchors. You’re popular because you don’t bother anyone. How do you feel about that?” And then: “Are you willing to say whether you lean right or left? I’m not letting you go back to the airport without answering the question. I want a human moment from you.”

In short, Aaron Sorkin‘s The Newsroom, which begins on 6.24, feels like Network in 2012. It feels like heaven. I can’t wait.

A YouTube commenter named karbin89 responds as follows: “A news anchor knows some facts and isn’t just a giant idiot with a good speaking voice? Please, this is just too high fantasy. I’ll stick with realistic characters like Ron Burgundy.”

“The series chronicles the behind-the-scenes events at a fictional cable news channel and features an ensemble cast that includes Jeff Daniels as news anchor, Will MacAvoy, who, together with his staff, set out to put on a news show “in the face of corporate and commercial obstacles and their own personal entanglements.”

“Other cast members include Emily Mortimer, Jane Fonda, Alison Pill, Dev Patel, John Gallagher, Jr., Olivia Munn, Thomas Sadoski and Sam Waterston.

“HBO ordered a pilot in January 2011 and then a full series eight months later. Sorkin did his research for the series by observing several real-world cable news programs first hand.” (And by hanging out with Keith Olbermann, I read or heard somewhere.) “He serves as executive producer, along with Scott Rudin and Alan Poul.”