I read a story recently in which writer/show creator Aaron Sorkin described himself as an 'aspirational' writer. I would use the word 'idealist' but we both mean the same thing: when Sorkin writes he creates the world he'd like to see, the people we could be. Flawed, but trying to be our best.

He did that most famously in "The West Wing" but you could see it also in "Sports Night" too. And that characteristic is prominent in "The Newsroom" (10 p.m. Sunday, HBO), his latest series, a workplace show about a cable news program.

It's signature Sorkin, full of big ideas, smart talky people, grand gestures, and neurotic love affairs. And I really really liked it.

Here's a tantalizing look at Aaron Sorkin's new drama "Newsroom," coming to HBO June 24. It looks great. My only note to Sorkin: more Sam Waterston, please. Thanks.

It looks like the HBO comedy "Girls" (which debuted last Sunday and which I loved) was way more polarizing than I anticipated (some started trashing it before they even watched, but that rant is for another time).

I do not think "Veep," another new half-hour comedy debuting on HBO Sunday night, will have that same problem.

"Veep" is indisputably hilarious and stars the great Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who has never been better. Louis-Dreyfus ("Seinfeld," "The New Adventures of Old Christine") plays a struggling vice president (and former senator) who is doing a job she doesn't particularly enjoy and isn't particularly good at.

Read more and watch the trailer below.

The Vampire Diaries (8pm, CW) - Tyler returns to Mystic Falls and soon suspects that something has been going on between Caroline and Klaus.  

Parks and Recreation (9:30pm, NBC) - When Leslie (Amy Poehler) learns that the Parks Dept. budget is about to be cut, she persuades Councilman Pillner (Bradley Whitford, "The West Wing") to make the cuts elsewhere, but there are unforeseen consequences for her campaign. Also, Ron and Chris visit a meditation center together. Bonus: Poehler and Whitford get to do a "West Wing"-style "walk and talk," plus, it's a mini "West Wing" reunion with Rob Lowe, who plays state auditor Chris Traeger.

Scandal (10pm, ABC) - The team reluctantly helps a millionaire's son accused of rape. Meanwhile, Olivia takes on Amanda Tanner as a client, but can't put her own past with the President behind her when Amanda asks to meet with him.

Jesus Conspiracies (10pm, Discovery) - Scholars try to determine what Jesus did from ages 12 to 30 in the opener of a new series chronicling the life of Jesus via documents and artifacts from the Holy Land and the Vatican.

Awake (10pm, NBC) - I'm not giving up on pushing this show on you, even if it may get canceled. Tonight, Britten helps a couple adapt to the witness-protection program, inspiring him to prepare for his own new life in Oregon with his wife.

The New York Times has a fascinating article about how the election storyline in The West Wing (which ended in 2006) is eerily foreshadowing the Obama-McCain race. West Wing writers actually based the Jimmy Smits character (young Democratic congressman and Presidential hopeful Matthew Santos) on Barack Obama, who had just delivered a big speech at the DNC in 2004. There are also incredible similarities between John McCain and Alan Alda's character -- a longtime Republican Senator with white hair and a reputation for "straight talk."

Read the story here.