Aaron Sorkin, hot off of his major success for 'The Social Network,' has another TV show in the works, this time at HBO.

This one will be a behind-the-scenes look at the goings on at a cable news channel. We can assume that it's going to be well-written, but will it be successful and long-running like 'The West Wing'? Short-lived and beloved like 'Sports Night'? Or one season and out like the good but uneven 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip'?

To make sure it's successful, here are six things we'd like to see in Sorkin's new show.

The Walk-and-Talk™
Every Sorkin show has to have the "walk-and-talk." A Sorkin show without it would be like 'I Love Lucy' without Lucy trying to get into Ricky's act. It's the trademark of all of Sorkin's shows, especially 'Sports Night' and 'The West Wing.'



It's so familiar that it's ripe for parody, like this clever sketch from 'Mad TV.' What makes this even funnier is that 'West Wing' fans will recognize actual dialogue and plot points from the real show.




Cast Members From Other Sorkin Projects
Sorkin often uses the same people in his movies and TV shows. Janel Moloney was in an episode of 'Sports Night' before becoming Donna Moss on 'The West Wing'; Martin Sheen was in both 'The West Wing' and 'The American President'; Ron Ostrow was in 'Sports Night' and 'The West Wing'; and Felicity Huffman guest starred on 'The West Wing' and 'Studio 60' after her starring role in 'Sports Night,' just to name a few. It's comforting to see these same people in different Sorkin worlds.

Oh, and Joshua Malina! He's been in everything his old pal Sorkin has done (except 'Studio 60,' but only because it lasted just one season). Malina has to be involved somehow.

He can't spend all of his time on Twitter.




The View From the Other Side
It's no secret what Sorkin's political beliefs are, though people who think that 'The West Wing' always showed Republicans in a bad light probably only watched a few episodes. (Ainsley Hayes was one of the most confident, smart people on the show.) Since this new show is going to be set in the world of a 24-hour-news channel, you know it's going to include a ton of political points and politicians. Besides time spent at MSNBC doing research for the show, Sorkin reportedly spent time at Fox News as well, so let's hope that both sides are represented well and things are, uh, fair and balanced ...?

Thomas Schlamme
He's the genius director who has helmed episodes of every Sorkin show and the one who really pushed the No. 1 entry on this list. He directed several episodes of 'Sports Night,' numerous 'West Wing's, and four episodes of 'Studio 60' (not to mention being an executive producer on all three). It would be weird if he wasn't involved in at least the pilot.

Schlamme knows how to put a scene together. Here's a good one from the 'West Wing' episode 'Two Cathedrals.'




A New Title
'More As The Story Develops'? There's no way that's going to be the final title, though it would make an excellent title for an episode ...

Speaking of Titles ...
There has to be an episode of this new show titled 'What Kind of Day Has It Been?' That has been the title of a 'Sports Night' episode, a 'West Wing' episode, and even a 'Studio 60' episode. Next to the walk and talks and snappy banter, it may just be Sorkin's biggest trademark. It needs a (TM) too.

What do you want to see in Sorkin's new show?


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