Archived Q&A with Thomas Sadoski

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  HBO

  Thanks to Thomas Sadoski for joining us for today’s Q&A. Welcome Thomas! How does your theater experience translate to television?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  The thing about working with Aaron is that he is at his core a brilliant playwright. When you grow up in the theater, start your career in the theater you're immediately taught the respect for the written word. It's a literary art form and to work on Aaron's work you have to have that kind of respect for his level of talent for selecting every word and every piece of punctuation he writes. The cast of The Newsroom naturally comes with that sort of attitude.

• Q

  

  blinkbomber

  Do you think Don and Jim would be friends if Maggie wasn't between them? I asked John Gallagher, Jr. and he thinks yes, what do you think?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  Absolutely yes.

• Q

  

  ValalalaLord

  How has it been reconnecting with your "Reasons To Be Pretty" co-star Allison Pill in this? Any insights into character comparisons?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  Alison is not only one of my dearest friends but one of my favorite actors. Anytime I get an opportunity to work with Alison I'm a happy guy. Maybe one of these days Alison and I will get to play a relationship that's actually healthy and functional but we haven't gotten that opportunity yet!

• Q

  

  queen0fthestage

  How would you describe your relationship with Sloan and Mackenzie?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  I think that one of the things that's true about all of the characters on the show is that on a fundamental level, they all respect each other. I think that it characterizes the relationship between Don and MacKenzie and Don and Sloan as well.

• Q

  

  AriValDoll

  Do you see any other office romances forming?, if so who with who? Annnnnnd your gorgeous, Just saying.

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  I'm incredibly flattered and I can't comment on any other office romances that may or may not be in the works. If I could blush over chat, I would!

• Q

  

  chrisFnicholson

  You're most funny as EP in your post-catastrophe reactions (NewsNightJapan, Cairo). How much of that is you, how much is the writing?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  I think it's about 50/50. Aaron writes the words but he allows us all the space to make them our own and respond to them based on what we're feeling in the moment, which is what makes working with him so exciting. He's such a trusting collaborator. With fun collaborations between artists it's all 50/50.

• Q

  

  APhoenixRichard

  Did you get goosebumps during the airplane scene when you told the pilot about the special forces killing Osama Bin Laden? I did.

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  When I first read that scene and the first time Olivia and I sat down to rehearse it yeah. I definitely got goosebumps. It was exciting and a moving piece of writing.

• Q

  

  ValentinaMonte

  Does the cast and crew of the show have a dynamic similar to the folks at ACN? Do you head to karaoke bars together after shooting episodes?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  We don't head to Karaoke bars together after shooting episodes but we do spend quite a bit of time together offset because we all genuinely like and respect each other. That's part of what makes it so thrilling to go to work at The Newsroom.

• Q

  

  Kim Warner

  Do you think Maggie and Don should end up together?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  I think they should if it's what's best for both of them. Boy that's such a tough question! I think they're both good people and there's a lot of love between them. If they can work it out and find a way to both be happy, I think they should end up together. I don't have anymore information about that!

• Q

  

  codybrom

  Don is painted in multiple lights, but I'm curious how you feel about him. Is he a good guy? Is he too selfish? Does he deserve Maggie?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  I think taken for all and all, he is a man. He has his strengths and he has his weaknesses as does every character in The Newsroom and I leave it to the audience to decide wether or not he deserves Maggie.

• Q

  

  randalhicks

  How has working with Jeff Daniels been?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  Jeff is one of the most consistently most generous, professional and talented actors I've ever had the experience to work with.

• Q

  

  rastilo

  Did you know your whole character arc before filming, or were you learning it as it progressed?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  We learned it from episode to episode. It was one of the thrilling things when working on the show. When we get a new script we'd all call each other and discuss it. We all learned on the fly.

• Q

  

  UzayTumer

  Is it hard to speak at Sorkin Speed?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  It's hard to speak at Olivia Munn speed. Again coming from the theater pace is an important part of what we do and in terms of people that can outpace anyone on that set Olivia is our sprint champion!

• Q

  

  Michypz

  What's been your hardest scene to shoot?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  Hasn't happened yet actually, but it's coming up.

• Q

  

  Thomas Bennett

  How did you get the role?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  I auditioned and originally Don was two different characters and Aaron pushed the two of them together after I was hired. That was incredibly humbling.

• Q

  

  IbnHawqal

  Hi Thomas, does Olivia Munn really speak Japanese?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  I can say that Olivia Munn is more fluent in Sorkinese than she is in Japanese, but she does speak both incredible well.

• Q

  

  Leslie Ayers

  Why is Don always hanging out in the News Night news room? Doesn't he like his co-workers at his "real" job?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  Don is an executive producer at Atlantic Cable News and he is constantly being asked to assist on News Night. He was asked to help transition between his regime and Mackenzie's regime and has been subsequently asked to be around the newsroom.

• Q

  

  chrisFnicholson

  What's Sam Waterston like to work with?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  It's like getting your acting PHD. I just get to sit back and listen and absorb and watch a truly great actor whom I have an incredible amount of respect for.

• Q

  

  chrisFnicholson

  You're an active twitter user; do you read the fake character tweets, and what do you think of them?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  I don't. The line between fantasy and reality on Twitter is blurry enough.

• Q

  

  Levi Paisley

  Some actors over time transcend acting to work behind the scenes as producer or director, do you see that for yourself w/ Newsroom?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  It's overwhelming enough just trying to be an actor on The Newsroom right now. I can't imagine trying to do anything more than that!

• Q

  

  Pam Paisley

  Who would you consider to be your most important mentor in acting and why?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  I don't have a singularly most important mentor, but I have been blessed in my career to have the opportunity in my career to work with some real greats, Mary Louise Parker, Mark Ruffalo, Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, Stockard Channing, Judith White and more. All of them were exceedingly generous and all of them I learned a great deal from.

• Q

  

  grantmulkey

  The Newsroom benefits from hindsight to address news stories thoughtfully. What challenges do you foresee as it moves closer to present day?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  I don't know if our challenges would become anymore severe the closer we get to the present time. Basing a fictional TV series around actual news events is just inherently challenging. I don't know if it gets any easier or any harder as we get close to the present time.

• Q

  

  strwbryflds_

  Which character's storyline, other than Don's, do you find most intriguing?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  All of them! Again it's impossible for me to pick. I'm so invested in each one of these characters just as a fan of the show, removed of my involvement with it. That speaks to Aaron and his abilities and the incredible cast that we have.

• Q

  

  MissJacquiR

  What is it like to play ''the bad guy'' on The Newsroom?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  It's a challenge that I really enjoy. One of the great things about Aaron's writing is that no one is one specific thing. Getting started as an antagonist and watching Don grow is really exciting, you love to be a part of something like that.

• Q

  

  chrisFnicholson

  What has been the most fun scene, and what has been the most difficult scene you've performed in episodes aired thus far?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  It's almost an impossible question to answer because I genuinely loved every minute I was on set. I love this cast and I love working with Aaron's words. I loved Aaron's crew that we had to work with so any moment we had on set, I was absolutely having the time of my life. It's all challenging. When you're working with people you have to give 110% every day but it's the most exciting kind of challenge.

• Q

  

  imsarahmoore

  Loved you in Other Desert Cities and Reason to Be Pretty. Any chance you'll do some more theater in your off time?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  Thank you! I loved both of those plays tremendously myself. To answer the question, yes I have no intention of being away from the theater for long if I can help it.

• Q

  

  RachelHerron

  Has there ever been a moment that transcends the character and story and becomes deeper for you personally.

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  Yeah working on the last episode 5/1. I lived in NYC during Sept 11 across the river from the towers and knew people in them. That episode hit me on a deeper level and was bigger than just the show. We have to be professionals and do our jobs regardless of how it may be affecting us.

• Q

  

  Dominick L. Garrett

  In terms of broadway, what would your dream role be?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  Any of Shakespeare's greats or any of Tennessee Williams' greats.

• Q

  

  HBO

  That's all the time we have for today's Q&A. A huge thank you to Thomas Sadoski for joining us. Anything else you'd like to add?

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  Thomas Sadoski says:

  Thank you for all the questions! I'm sorry I couldn't get to all of them. Thank you for supporting The Newsroom!