| Joey Phan | |
|---|---|
| |
| Status: | Alive |
| Birthplace: | United States of America |
| Nationality: |  American
|
| Affiliation: | News Night |
| Profession: | Graphics Producer |
| Played by: | Trieu Tran |
| Season: | 1, 2 |
| Episodes: | 7 appearances |
| First episode: | "We Just Decided To" |
| Last episode: | "Election Night, Part I" |
Joey Phan is the graphics producer for News Night.
Biography[]
News Night[]
Loyalty[]
Joey is one of the staff members who chose to remain with anchor Will McAvoy after his rant at Northwestern University. ("We Just Decided To")
News Night 2.0[]
Unhappy with the way ACN and News Night was covering the news, new Executive Producer Mackenzie MacHale proposed "News Night 2.0", a complete overhaul of the way the news was covered. The first effort to follow the new template goes awry when a major guest backs out of the program. Unable to find a suitable replacement they get three highly unqualified guests for that evening's broadcast. Everyone is afraid to tell Will for fear of being fired. Mac again tries to defend Will and convince everyone that he's a good man. Frustrated she sends an email asking Will if she can reveal to everyone that she cheated on him. However, due to the new email system she sends it to the entire staff. Will is furious and then apoplectic when he finds out about the night's replacement guests. Just before the show begins Will decides to add a Sarah Palin clip behind MacKenzie's back because it will be good for ratings. He has Tess Westin request relevant footage from Joey. The broadcast is predictably calamitous and the mistakes are compounded by Will refusing to listen to Mac's instructions during the show. His additional segment fares no better when his lack of preparation is obvious. ("News Night 2.0")
On air apology[]
Following the disastrous broadcast Will issued an on air apology for his failings as Managing Editor of News Night on Monday, April 26, 2010 and helped bring the staff closer together. This was followed by improved coverage of the Times Square Bombing Attempt in May 2010 and a focus on the Tea Party co-opting the Republican Party. The incisive coverage culminates with a live broadcast in November 2010 on the day of the 112th Congressional elections where the Tea Party win many seats. ("The 112th Congress")
End of 2010[]
Joey attends the News Night New Year's Eve party on December 31, 2010. ("I'll Try to Fix You")
Gabrielle Giffords shooting[]
On Saturday January 8, 2011 Representative Gabrielle Giffords is shot at a public event. Joey is called in to help to cover the story. During the show's coverage, a false report spreads on Fox, CNN and MSNBC that the Congresswoman is dead. Joey prepares a graphic announcing her death. Reese Lansing charges into the studio to convince Will to report her death but Will refuses. Moments later reports that she is alive and in surgery are confirmed. Joey emotionally reconfigures his graphic to reflect the confirmation. ("I'll Try to Fix You")
February 2011[]
News Night covers civil unrest in Cairo after the Egyption president refuses to leave his post despite losing the election. Elliot Hirsch travels to Cairo to report from the scene but is forced to remain inside when riots break out. Elliot eventually tries to get footage outside but is attacked and injured. He returns to the US and News Night recruits "Amen" as a stringer to get footage of the riots. Amen performs well but then disappears. The staff discover that he has been taken into custody by the military, who are demanding an extortionate ransom. Will pays for Amen's release. Mac arranges for the staff to each give Will a cheque to contribute, mimicking a scene from one of Will's favorite films, Rudy. ("Amen")
April 2011[]
News Night covers the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, Rick Santorum's public anti-homosexuality, and the proposed building of a Muslim community center at Ground Zero in New York. Will receives a death threat after the Ground Zero piece and is assigned a body guard, Lonny Church. Sloan announces information she obtained off the record during the Fukushima coverage and is reprimanded but ultimately allowed to publicly apologize. ("Bullies")
Behind the scenes[]
Joey is a recurring character in the HBO series The Newsroom. He is played by co-star Trieu Tran and debuts in the series pilot "We Just Decided To".
Appearances[]
| Season 1 | ||||
| "We Just Decided To" | "News Night 2.0" | "The 112th Congress" | "I'll Try to Fix You" | "Amen" |
| "Bullies" | "5/1" | "The Blackout Part I: Tragedy Porn" | "The Blackout Part II: Mock Debate" | "The Greater Fool" |
| Season 2 | ||||
| "First Thing We Do, Let’s Kill All the Lawyers" | "The Genoa Tip" | "Willie Pete" | "Unintended Consequences" | "News Night with Will McAvoy" |
| "One Step Too Many" | "Red Team III" | "Election Night, Part I" | "Election Night, Part II" | |