Reese Lansing quotes from The Newsroom

Charlie

Does anyone mind if I start drinking a lot of bourbon right now and a little later, put my fist through his head?

Reese

I think you've had enough bourbon for one lifetime!

Charlie

Not for my lifetime.

Ms. Lansing, I think the best analogy I can use is Rocky II.

Reese

[Incredulously] Are you sure the best analogy you can use is Rocky II?

Ms. Lansing, Rocky was a lefty-

Reese

Rocky was... Political?

Rocky was left-handed and for his re-match with Apollo Creed, Burgess Meredith had him train as a righty. Rocky goes round after round with Apollo Creed as a righty until Burgess Meredith shouts 'Now' and Rocky swings with his left.

Reese

[Frustrated, confused] What the fuck are you talking about?

Ms. Lansing, all I'm saying is that Mackenzie MacHale shouted 'Now' and Will started swinging away.

Charlie

[Laughingly] Reese! Please, leave Mac out of this, I'm Burgess Meredith I shouted 'Now' [drunkenly slurs an imitation of 'Mickey' from Rocky II] This guy, he don't just wanna beat-cha, he wants to murder ya! [Normal tone] That was my best Burgess Meredith impression.

Reese

[Angrily] Is there something funny about all this?

Charlie

Yeah! We've been talking about Rocky II!

Reese

Every second you're not current a thousand people are changing the channel to the guy who is. That's the business you're in. MSNBC, FOX and CNN all say she's dead. Don, tell him. Don!

Don

It's a person. A doctor pronounces her dead, not the news.

And we're back in 3...2... ...

Will

[after a few moments] Here's what we know so far:

Charlie

If a news outlet doesn't have credibility, it doesn't matter what else it has. That's a fact. There are people here from Jane Barrow, Terry Smith, everyone at the DC bureau to Sloan Sabbith, Elliot Hirsch, everyone on Dayside, these people don't deserve to have a piano strapped to their back. Their credibility shouldn't-- (to Rebecca) When did you arrive here?

Rebecca

I'm stealthy.

Charlie

I think it's commendable and pretty shocking that you want to do something just because it's the right thing to do, but it's not the right thing to do.

Reese

I know.

Charlie

What do you mean?

Reese

I think you were responsible for a massive fuck up. I think Will was the face of a massive fuck up. I think firing a mid-level producer appears to be an abdication of responsibility. Now we're gonna have to read about Jim and Maggie and Don and Jim and Maggie and Don and Maggie and Mac and Will and did Sloan punch a guy in the face?

Charlie

Yeah.

Rebecca

The train, she is wrecked.

Charlie

Why are you gleeful?

Rebecca

I'm on the right team for once and I get really paid.

Charlie

Are you saying you agree?

Reese

I think your resignation should be accepted immediately and we should write Dantana a check and get to the business of rebooting this once respected brand.

Charlie

Then why don't you?

Reese

[sheepishly] My mom says I can't.

Charlie

[incredulous] Reese!