'The Newsroom' finale is a debate to watch

How DARE you, sir, make your female characters so weak, your dialogue so didactic, your plots so treacly? There was a reason for their high dudgeon -- most expected "The West Wing" meets "Network" -- but in the end not much resonance to it, either.

"Newsroom" has been a moderate success for HBO and Sorkin will be back next season to torment his enemies (conservative Newsbusters.org keeps a close and baleful eye on the show) and endorse his own left-leaning causes. But who was right? The haters or . . . the viewers?

I'm siding with the viewers on this one. With "Newsroom," Sorkin created a vital, interesting and mostly enjoyable viewing experience. Flawed? Of course, but those flaws are often its virtues. The histrionics, and bellicose speechifying, and windy violent debates between characters across crowded newsrooms was great theater and sometimes great TV, too.

In a recent episode, Will ripped apart a Rick Santorum aide -- played by a fine stage actor, Damon Gupton, when suddenly, the aide turned on Will and ripped his head off. If Santorum was watching, he would have stood and cheered.