The Newsroom premiere performs well

'The Newsroom' garnered a big opening audience on HBO after it was met with mixed reviews. Aaron Sorkin's new drama series starring Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer reached a peak audience of 2.1 million viewers according to CBS.

In a repeat, 'The Newsroom' reached 2.7 million viewers putting it close to the 'Game of Thrones' season premiere opening. With much less hype this time round for 'The Newsroom', HBO's new drama series performed surprisingly well, given some of the very negative reviews it received.

In a scathing attack, Michael Grunwald writing for Time Magazine began his review for the series with this opening:

"Like a knight with my banners now bravely unfurled, I hurl down my gauntlet to thee, Aaron Sorkin, and your preposterous, sanctimonious, Man of La Mancha-quoting HBO drama Newsroom."

The first episode 'We Just Decided To' focuses on acclaimed news anchor Will McAvoy (played by Jeff Daniels) who returns to his job after a public breakdown only to deal with the disastrous BP Oil Gulf spill.