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The Canadians Review Tonight’s STUDIO 60 For The Americans!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
Last week’s “Studio 60” did not fry my burger.
First, the stolen routine wasn’t at all funny to me, and struck me as very not worth stealing. And Matt thought it was funny, which makes me wonder why everybody thinks he’s such a genius.
Second, the writer who stole it did the stealing in a ridiculously verbatim manner that made it incredibly obvious that the routine was stolen. How did he believe he would get away with it in front of a national viewing audience?
Third, “Studio 60” owned the routine all along? I fear I found that resolution a bit too … tidy?
On to this week. As many may by now be aware, those wily Canadians get to see “Studio 60” a good 24 hours before the god-fearing Americans! Several of our neighbors to the north have taken pity and now let us in on what’s doing tonight with Matt, Danny, Harry and Jordan. All but one were good enough to send in their reviews as Word attachments! Fie on the fellow who did not! Fie!!!
“RichieIce” says:
What’s it called?
The Long Lead Story
What does TV Guide say?
“The “Studio 60” cast and crew rehearse with host Lauren Graham and musical guest Sting; Matt and Harriet get questioned about their personal history by a reporter (Christine Lahti); and Jordan receives a pitch for a potential hit reality TV series but deems it too tasteless.”
LAUREN GRAHAM!?! Tell me she is prominently featured in this episode!!
Lauren Graham is terribly under utilized this week.
Do we hear Sting play?
We do.
Does the show within a show, Studio 60, keep playing with the Christian right?
Not this week.
Does network executive Jordan McDeere finally start worrying about more than the ratings of one late night show?
Yes.
Do we get any more comedy from Ricky and Ron?
No.
What’s good?
Nate Corddry in a lobster costume. The little interaction we get between Jordan and Jack. Finding out a little bit more about Harriet’s Christian past. Finding out network executive Jordan McDeere actually does have more then one show on her network. ‘The Dr. Nicolas Cage Show’. Nate Corddry in a lobster costume looking for a pen. The ending.
What’s not so good?
The stir the reporter causes isn’t nearly as interesting as the creators of this show clearly think it is. Besides ‘The Nicolas Cage Show’, the sketches on the show within a show are not remotely funny. Not enough Jordan/Jack interaction. Lauren Graham being shockingly under used. The awful first sketch we see this week.
Is this episode as good as the first four?
Not even close.
If this show continues to lose more then 30% of Heroes audience, will it be around much longer?
According to TV Guides seldom-wrong Michael Ausiello’s opinion, Studio 60 will not last this season. http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Columnists/Ask-Ausiello/default.aspx
RichieIce’s Rating for 1.05 (out of 5)
**1/2
“Paul” says:
What’s It Called?
"The Long Lead Story"
Who Wrote It?
Aaron Sorkin
Who Directed It?
David Petrarca ("Everwood," "Dawson's Creek," and short-lived 2004 oddball "Jack & Bobby.")
What’s It About?
Nosy reporter Martha O'Dell (Christine Lahti) continues interviewing the cast and crew for the long lead story of the title, before taking off for several weeks to cover the midterm election. Meanwhile, NBS president Jordan McDeere tries to improve the network's image by passing on a tasteless new reality show pitched by slimy British producer Martin Sykes (Harry Van Gorkum), to the displeasure of ever-deliciously-evil Jack Rudolph.
What’s New?
For the first time, Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford aren't the primary focus of an episode.
What’s Good About It?
Jordan's wrangling with Jack Rudolph. Jack himself, all suit and sneer. The return of NBS big boss Wilson White (Ed Asner) and his plans for Macau. Nate Corddry nerdishly flattered at being called "gentlemanly." Extensive backstory for Harriet, in the form of O'Dell's interview. O'Dell's wildly vacillating interest in Harriet when Sting is discovered to be in the building. Sting, playing the lute. An lengthy Nancy Grace sketch that actually approaches SNL-quality funny. The poaching of a hot young writer-producer from HBO in lieu of the aforementioned reality show pickup, who's less convinced to sign on by Jordan's praise of his play about Pericles, than by street-cred-heavy Danny quietly ordering him to do it. "Start telling your kids to learn Mandarin." There's a bit more of an ensemble cast feel this week with Danny and Matt out of the way, and it starts to work; there's more of a sense that the show is a real, complex operation - a living, breathing thing - and not just a flimsy prop for Aaron Sorkin to vent on whatever subject irritates him at the moment.
What’s Not Good About It?
D.L. Hughley is wasted, even in his bit part. 'SNL-quality funny' still isn't very funny; "30 Rock" is looking a lot better on that count, at this point. Another awkward reference to SNL exacerbates an ongoing problem: "Studio 60," the show-within-the-show, still hasn't credibly constructed a history for itself in a world that includes Lorne Michaels as well as Wes Mendell. Finally, Sorkin's ego grows larger by the minute: in the teaser, he effectively claims his fictional proxies to be the most significant cultural force in the modern American zeitgeist; a later scene imagines them to be the only force capable of bringing Red America and Blue America together, with the power of laughter. The writer-as-character is a fine device when treated with care, but here, it's starting to come off a bit more like M. Night Shyamalan in "Lady in the Water" - a messiah complex alternating with regular old self-indulgent narcissism. If one were to be of the opinion that the show is doomed to early cancellation, this week wouldn't offer any kind of reassurance to the contrary.
Rating (Out of Five)
**1/2
“BuckyDude” says:
What’s It Called?
The Long Lead Story
Who Wrote It?
Dana Colva wrote the story and Aaron Sorkin did the teleplay.
Who Directed It?
David Petrarca
What’s It About?
Martha starts getting some dirt, specifically about Matt, Harry, and the Bombshell boot debacle from last week. Meanwhile Jordan gets her own plotline about her exercising her power to turn down a profitable yet trashy reality show as well as her trying to convince a writer with a smart idea for a show to come to NBS. It sets up for some funny parallels between NBC and HBO.
What’s New?
Matt and Harriet connect at the end of the episode which will definitely be affecting the next few episodes. The tension during this scene is intense, mainly because the two end up staring at each other for a solid twenty seconds. Next, it looks like we may not see Martha for a while since she leaves for Washington at the end of the episode. Finally, there’s no “next time” during the closing credits, at least not in the Canadian broadcast.
What’s Good About It?
The Matt and Danny combo gets some good air time and Harry is starting to really improve as a character. The speech she gives about her childhood and religious roots gives her some depth, even if the speech itself is far too long and a little clichéd. The banter is as sharp as ever and there are some great moving shots throughout. There are some funny sketches in the show itself, especially the Nancy Grace scene, which actually plays out on your TV like an SNL sketch. What’s probably the best part of the episode is Sting. He’s actually in the show and he plays one hell of a lute. Plus he has some witty banter of his own.
What’s Not Good About It?
The humour of the show is getting broader every episode. Last episode we had Matt with a huge slapstick “bat-through-the-glass” joke. Right off the bat we get Tom entering Danny’s office in a giant lobster suit after a speech by Martha about the seriousness of Studio 60. It’s not as though these jokes are necessarily bad, it’s that they don’t seem to fit with the show. Also, there’s a lack of Matt and Danny moments which are some of the best parts of the show. The two talk for a few minutes but your left wishing there was more by the end.
Rating
3/5
“Daniel” says:
What’s It Called?
“The Long Lead Story"
Who Wrote It?
Teleplay by Aaron Sorkin, Story by Dana Cavlo (in his first "writing" credit)
Who Directed It?
David Petrarca ("Everwood", "Jack and Bobby")
What’s It About?
Martha Odell tries to find an interesting piece of reporting on the topic of Matt and Harrett; Jordan and Jack disagree over a new reality show pitched to the network
What’s New?
Lauren Graham is the fictional host of the week(albeit sparsely), with Sting as the fictional musical guest, Martha Odell from last week gets a lot more screen time, we learn a lot about Harriett's life, and Wilson White (Ed Asner), someone with possibly more authority than both Jack and Jordan, makes his first appearance since the pilot.
What’s Good About It?
The beginning of the episode is possibly as close to "Sports Night" as the show has been as a result of the banter between Martha and Matt, Danny and Jordan's scene at the bar, the great, great scene between Jordan and Jack over "Search and Destroy", Jordan in general, Matt's makeshift dartboard, the general random lobster-ness, "It's addition and subtraction, Matt. It's not advanced cryptography.", "I was doing a dangling modifier joke.", "I...am...eating...it.", "If I had said it, I would have used more sophisticated adjectives.", "Sting or the lute?", "You're still mic-ed, Matahari."
This episode just clicked for me on so many levels, and I think it is what happens after you have developed characters and situations for four episodes. Every pair up of characters in this episode works, and like Martha states, "You guys really look out for each other here." You can really sense the character caring for, and helping each other. This is my favorite episode.
What’s Not Good About It?
The Christine Lambert sketch runs a little long and wasn't that funny in my opinion, I don't mind that much, but the Matt/Harriett story really is taking up a good deal of each episode, and the episode was only 55 minutes on my watch.
Rating (Out of Five)
****.5
“El Fuego” says:
What’s It Called?
“The Long Lead Story"
Who Wrote It?
Aaron Sorkin, with Story Credit to some Dana Something-or-other
Who Directed It?
Not Schlamme
What’s It About?
Martha interviews a number of people around Studio 60 for her article, while Jordan faces the dual challenges of securing a new highbrow series written by someone arguably based on Sorkin, and convincing Jack Rudolph to pass on the latest series by someone arguably based on Mark Burnett.
What’s New?
We see a musical guest performance for the first time! It's Sting! With a lute! Ed Asner returns for the first time since the pilot!
What’s Good About It?
Seeing Not-Sorkin, a hot new off-broadway talent intending to bring his sharp, intelligent, high-quality show to HBO only to be convinced otherwise. Nate Corddry in general, particularly hints that he might be over Paula. “Great work, Mata Hari!” Jordan's british accent. There's a moment at the end that hints the whole Harriet-Matt thing might actually be as good as the Casey-Dana stuff from Sports Night. It's not quite there yet, but it's there.
What’s Not Good About It?
It feels like the least remarkable episode thus far... nothing really stood out except for the last couple minutes. It just felt like a lot of setup for stuff that's going to come during sweeps, and as such it was decent, but given that this is the 5th hourlong episode... well, to put it gently, Sports Night had covered far more area, and arguably far better, in its first 5 half-hours. It's good, but I honestly expected better.
Rating (Out of Five)
***
For Posterity, what I've thought of the previous episodes
1.1: ****1/2
1.2: ***
1.3: ***1/2
1.4: ****
Defenders of the Earth Vol. 1
$17.49 Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut!!
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I'm jealous that they get it first.
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I've watched the first four episodes and I honestly don't know why, this show is a sure cancel, why bother showing skits if they're not even remotely funny, heck the show within the show should be canceled before they pull the plug on Studio 60.
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Oct 16, 2006 2:49:56 AM CDT
Whitford and the Friends guy are a good pairing, but...
by dirtysouthmouth
...they've got nothing on the chemistry between the two main characters in the film:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7143060291255140694&q=brandon+holeman&hl=en -
to cancel this boring show. Seeing it in the tv listings pisses me off. Not really; just going for a bit of SNL funny there. It's not? Well, neither is Studio 60 (or SNL or 30 Rock!)
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For NBC to cancel Studio 60 would be a double slap in the face -- their critically-acclaimed big splash star of the new season down in flames, and confirmation that one of their long time franchises, SNL, has little to no relevance left in pop culture (as if the latter hasn't been apparent for quite some time already...). For those reasons alone, you'd think they'd keep it around, as well as not pissing off ShroomBoy in case he gets a hit in his head again. Not being a Sorkinophile, it's four eps and out for moi.
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....like this show.
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LOVE this episode. Maybe I was just on some euphoric high when i saw it, but I loved this episode, and definitely thought it was the best. If I'm wrong, let the rest of you tell me in this talkback, but this is crazy.
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The ratings have gone down a substantial amount each week, which is troublesome, but the show has the highest share with viewers with an income of $100 000 or more, which is what the network really seems to be concerned about. Obviously, the show is underperforming, but I Think NBC realizes everything they've invested into it, and how it may take some time, as they've officially stated they're happy with the shows numbers. I suppose we'll see if this week's and next week's ratings go down again, an the following week is a repeat of the pilot, I guess we'll then see if the show ever returns after that.
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Stale, tired, and really really boring. The show isn't nearly as good as some would have you believe.
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I was the "RichieIce" reviewer... Yeah, I just didn't dig it... Like I wrote in my review it definitely had it's good parts, but for the most part was just stale, I'm glad someone liked it though, hopefully enough people do to continue watching it and we get some more quality episodes and it WONT get cancelled. That would be a shame.
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Just like West Wing and Sports Night. At least Sports Night was funny.
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- I know this is supposed to be funnier than the real SNL currently is, but, seriously, it isn't any less funny than SNL.
- They've clearly set up the new writing direction on the show as being satirical more than belly-laugh funny. I could see how the Science Schmience thing would work on that level, because:
- I was in the audience for a couple of NBC shows when I was in NY a few weeks back, including Conan. The jokes on Conan seemed like the worst Conan jokes I'd ever heard, sitting there, but when I saw the show on TV they were the same sort of lazy/wise-ass funny as usual. We see the Studio 60 skits from the studio floor, not as 'real TV', expecting to be entertained.
- Having said all of that, I think they've made a mistake in hiring actors rather than comedians to play the show's performers. -
I loved it....I don't know about the reviewers...valid points..I don't know about the cancellation crack...but I got a lot more into the characters...the jordan character has really grown on me...and anyone who thinks bradley is just channeling Josh and Perry is channeling Chandler are just plain haters.....some really good parts was the reporter asking for a pen...the scene on the balcony between Matt and Harriet and the scene between the 'bosses' rocked...I liked it because this definitely in the Sorkin character-building mode..I remember West Wing and even Sports Night had their lulls after the pilot while characters were being built...(even though I liked the pilot..while most people here didn't)...it's moving along nicely...I really hope it's not cancelled cause it's a great show and last night's ep showed to me just home potential it has....
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The first two episodes were pretty good, but then it fell apart. It is almost as if all they are doing is pimping out stories taken from that book "Live From New York"... the stolen joke thing is obviously from the history of Jay Mohr. If they want to win me back, Matt better announce that he admits that he was lying when he said some of these jokes were funny and that now he's gonna be a straight shooter. Studio 60 needs to hire a serious group to assemble the fictional live show. And the whole religion B.S. is too West Wing. Get rid of it. I know that is also based on a certain SNL cast member... but GEEZ! The audience that would be interested in Studio 60 is either a major SNL fan that KNOWS that history already, or they want to see Matthew Perry be clever.
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Three words:
"Trailer".
"Park".
"Boys". -
I'm one of your Canadian counterparts and I've chosen to wait, weekly, to watch this show on Mondays on NBC so I can get a full two hours of solidly GREAT television (Out of a week that boasts 5 maximum)... I like this show. I like that it's character driven and not just 'let's find out who did it' or 'Let's blow some shit up' or some reality show bullshit tripe! After a few weeks I've started to care about these characters! So Kudos, NBC and creators and cast on a fine piece of programming. The rest of you can go back and watch your tivo'd 'Deal or No Deal' & 'Big Brother' or one of the many iterations of CSI or Law and Order!
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I haven't read the posts above, I usually wait till after the show to do so but I'm looking forward to tonights episode. Hopefully the series keeps improving....
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Oh Canada!!!...reprazent!!!
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That's a bummer, usually you can download it by now...I guess I'll be watching with a US logo in the corner this week.
I really liked #4, 2 and 3 were pretty weak, and they finally got some of it back. The plagiarism thing worked for me, I thought it was funny that they went to all that trouble and made complete fools of themselves and it turned out to be nothing - the humiliation was probably way worse than a minor copyright thing would have been. I hate the Harriet character, but her Juliette Lewis was pretty dead on. They're doing the Nicholas Cage thing again? Already? Ouch, not a good sign, especially considering how horribly unfunny the sketches have been so far - they're out of ideas and recycling by the fifth show? -
I do agree that it seems likely this won't go past the first season, if it even makes it that far. I'm sure NBC will try and milk it as best they can, with they hype and good reviews, but ratings have been iffy and just looking at it, this show HAS to be expensive to make. It doesn't really appeal to the mainstream, and this sort of thing needs to be a slam dunk to really get traction. So far it's good, but really inconsistent and really mired in controversy for controversy's sake.
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It's the money. I'm not sure of the exact figures, but this show has to be expensive. If the network isn't getting a return on it, it will be pulled. Ironic that this is exactly what Amanda Peets character is fighting about every week.
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I love this show seriously. It's right now my favorite on tv besides BSG. I just have to factor out my fanboy rating for the show. So i usually lower the rate by a point or to to deal with my intense love for the show.
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I'm not sure why people are making such a big deal about the skits not being funny--that's not really the point, is it? And the "Cat Lady" skit on the one 30 Rock episode to air was just as lame, so...The reason this show hasn't worked for me--until last week--was that it seemed to lack the inspiration of Sports Night and West Wing. I left those shows wanting to be a better person--these have just been interesting. Last week's was the best by far, though. I hope it makes it.
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...because it speaks to the believability of the show. I LOVE this show but I'm not buying that a) this is a talented cast or the b) Matt is a brilliant comedic writer. The cast is terrible (in sketch form) and the skits are awful. The rest of the show is great but they need to shore up the show within a show if I'm expected to believe in this universe.
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It's the perfect workout show, because you don't have to have the volume on. The graphics keep you updated. So you can slap on the iPod, put on NBC and keep it muted, and set to treadmill to 60 minutes. Perfect!
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show much more rope than i would any other genre. Seriously what else are you gonna watch? some reality show drivel? A sit-com with a Laugh track? I mean i accidentally watched a 2.5 men the other night and i had NO IDEA how horrible that show was.It has good ratings so i ASSUMED it was at least kinda good OMG its atrocious and mostly cause of sheen and that kid.2 1/2 men is why we are trailing the world in mathmatics and science
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They can't cancel the Chandler show, so soon.
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This show has so much potential: great cast, witty dialog, and good scenes. But it is definitely is less than the sum of it's parts, at least right now. Hopefully, they will work the kinks out. They could start, as was suggested earlier, by making the fictional sketches actually FUNNY. You'd think that this would have been one of the first things they thought of.
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This show has so much potential: great cast, witty dialog, and good scenes. But it is definitely is less than the sum of it's parts, at least right now. Hopefully, they will work the kinks out. They could start, as was suggested earlier, by making the fictional sketches actually FUNNY. You'd think that this would have been one of the first things they thought of.
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actually makes you a dumber person as you watch it. It kills more brain cells than alcohol.
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I think it may get yanked around a bit as NBC holds out hope that the emmys will go their way and then they will promote the show with that, and maybe try and run the season on Bravo or something and hope the DVD sales are good. I think they will cut they may cut the season short but not actually admit the show should be cancelled. Then when the second season underperforms in part because people don't like the show, and in part because fans can't find it because NBC uses it as a slot filler rather than giving it a slot, NBC will cancel it.
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Just sayin'.
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I also get to watch Studio 60 in Canada on Sundays and I found this week's episode a bit lacking. The moment with Harri and Matt and the Sting song was quite well done as were some others, but there's something missing to have each ep be uniformly great throughout. And regarding the un-funny sketches, I think we're kinda missing the point of the sketches. The sketches are there to: propel story line, offer a left-wing slant that will cause controversy and to satiate the viewers who say "this is about a sketch comedy show, where are the sketches?". Sorkin's skill and time writing this show is spent mostly on the actual show, he doesn't have time to sit and focus only on funny sketches, and I'm ok with that. I accept that instead of laughing out loud at the sketches, I need to rely on hearing from Matt or Danny or Jordan telling me that "this is funny". Because I'd rather laugh at or think about everything else than just the sketches.
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People in Macau don't speak mandarin, they speak cantonese. It's a small detail, and I get the point they were getting across about China being the next big market but since my parents are from Macau, that was something I noticed. They were right about it being the next Las Vegas though.
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Honestly, this was the first episode where I found myself bored. There were bits I liked, but on the whole, the episode just didn't hold together. It's worth watching for the decent bits between Lahti, Chandler, and Harriet, but the show is getting way too self-referential for its own good. I don't care that the show might have a bit of Sorkin's political views, but it's really grating to see him use the show as a vehicle to suggest that he really should've gone to HBO and never done shit with NBC in the first place.
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Are you trying to displace the ever-annoying warp11 as the most persistent and annoying spammer on the talkbacks?
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for Trailer Park Boys..... and i'm not even canadian.
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...about the stolen material not being funny. It SUCKED. Other than a chuckle at the word 'stupid', it was retarded. Problem with this show is that while you can fake pseudo-lofty drama with politics (west wing), you can't do the same with comedy. Which is why 30 Rock will succeed and this show will fail.
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Not showing ANY sketches on the show if they're not going to be funny. It can only hurt them. I'd rather none than then poor ones we've been getting.
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Studio 60 started to lose me as soon as the "Very Model of a Modern Network TV Show" was on. Here it was...the "amazing" opening skit that was meant to show off the brilliance of Matt, and it was ONE OF THE DUMBEST THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN. And "Science Schmience" was even worse. The suckiness of the show within the show is what totally pops the bubble for me--how can I take this seriously when the characters are calling this drek "brilliant?"
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and I hate sitcoms. It also has the advantage of not having to make the show within a show particularly good, unlike Studio 60.
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Why did NBC repeat the SNL season premiere TWO weeks later? I haven't read the trades. The first two were indeed duds, so why show a bomb a second time in 14 days? I think they know the show isn't working right now. But John C. Reilly hosts a new one this week - guess they gave themselves time to make sure they don't screw him over.
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I don't understand what's not to like about this show.
I love how the pop culture reference you actually have to think to understand.
Also, I've always been dissapointed by SNL skits but entertained by Colbert and Stewart skits. The way I see it, Studio 60 is more in the vein of Colbert an Stewart humour, and I love every minute of it. -
http://blogs.tvweek.com/category/shales/
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It clearly says John C. Reilly. Plus, wasn't Saturday's repeat just TWO weeks after it first aired?
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The people that say this show is doomed because it must be expensive simply don't know what they are talking about. An average hour long prime time show costs between $2-$4 million and Studio 60 falls right into that range at around $2.5-$3 million per episode. It might seem expensive because of the pedigree of the cast, but think about it...they spend almost nothing on special effects and other aspects of production that drive prices up elsewhere. The pilot of "Lost," for example, cost somewhere between $12-$14 million to produce. It was a huge gamble that paid off.
I think that there is no way NBC cancels the show this season. They have already ordered 13 episodes and with everything they have invested so far they need to give this show a chance. They might switch it to another night, but I'll be shocked if they cancel it during the first season. Shocked and really pissed. -
Just kidding.
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Hughley should have been given one of the lead parts. No question.
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For all those bitching about the politics in this show I don't remeber anyone complaining about the politics in Sports Night, a brilliant show. Same thing here, politics and lofty drama around entertainment, yet this for some reasons raises people's ire.
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You know post boards in general have become quite disturbing. On one hand they can be used for the constructive means of the exchange of ideas, but more and more they become a tidlewave of cowshit opinions that are more times than not lies to elicite outrage, for some sycophant type pleasure. This show for me that is, is the best of the new season it's smart and entertaining in it's peak behind the scenes of network telly. I for one hope it is renewed a plenty! Peace
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Not this one. AICN Talkbacks have always been disturbing.
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You guys that are confused about why people grumble about the show: here's why. The premise of the show is about how great Matt and Danny are and about how they make the show kick ass. So when it doesnt kick ass we can't suspend disbelief. It jars us out of the show. When a dumb old cliche sketch gets called great by Matt, we stop believing that Matt is the character they say he is - the superhuman kickass writer. Its the same problem that plagues any show about the greatest comedian or greatest rock band or greatest whatever. If the show writers let you see them performing their craft and their craft doesnt kick ass a bunch of the audience immediately says "fuck this." And you cant talk them out of not doing that. Its like if Geoffrey Russ in Shine played nothing but chopsticks and then we panned to audience members going "he's miraculous!". Its just not quality theatre. They have two choices - dont show the sketches or show kick ass sketches. calling mediocre or bad sketches awesome will NEVER work. and you cant ignore that kind of shit away. Sorry.
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Seriously, I really like Studio 60 and all but I keep checking back every hour and have heard absolutely NOTHING about the new episode of Heroes. Maybe this is a good thing as it won't be spoiled... BUT I NEED MY HEROES!!
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I even wrote the first review in this post (Richie's) any I want a Heroes Talkback! That show is amazing and deserves the ratings and full season it has gotten.
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I agree, we need a posting for Heroes. I gave up on Studio 60. With all the good shows out this one didn;t pull me in as quick as it should have.
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Some gush and goo to the extent that my gag reflex kicks in. However, yes, the site has steadily gone downhill for a few years, in regards to talkbacks. Lots of snarky tweeners and angry dweebs. I'll say it again...make this a pay site.
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I was thinking about this, guys, and if we were to view Wayne's World or Blues Brothers or The Cowbell Skit through the eyes of an hour long (dare I say the word) "dramedy," I doubt that we would find them funny. I realize that we would expect some really funny skits, but I think sketch shows are only funny when you watch them as sketch shows, not within others. That being said, I like what Studio 60 has done - it puts the humor in the fast-paced dialogue and quick wits. If that's not your cup of tea, perfectly understandable. It is mine, however, and I will appreciate and respect the fact that the "skits" on the show are not as funny as a normal sketch show. It's just not the same medium, and it can't be.
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I should clarify: Studio 60 will never be as good as the best years of WW. The ensemble of actors on the WW are far more talented then the "just competent" bunch on S-60. Also, the setting in the WW with complex (and often familiar and timely) political story lines are naturally going to be better then the less exciting goings on behind the scenes at some TV show. Finally, comedy is just too subjective and very hard to pull off. The comedic bits/skits that they've used on S-60 have been flat and thus the whole idea of a genius/maverick comedy team saving a dying show loses credibiity.
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Huge hits like the West Wing, or shows that are underappreciated like Sports Night. It's painful to think that this show may not last over a year, but I say at least try giving it a second season. I've always thought one of the toughest things to do is write the second season premiere. It's definitely a daunting task, and can completely change the feel of the show, and set it up in a new direction, and I'd love to see what this show would do with it.
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Valid point. The skits are by no means great, I just mean to say that it would be hard to tell what a good skit IS through the medium of a dramedy. Of course, bad skits could just be an homage to the current shitty state of SNL, which has produced ONE funny skit in my opinion in the last three years - Lazy Sunday.
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seriously, who believes anyone watches this show on a fictional friday night?
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I am also one of the, er, "Canadian counterparts," and I have been watching this show only because I heard Lauren Graham would be on. Once she's gone, I am too. I don't watch 'Deal or No Deal' & 'Big Brother,' or the L&O franshise. I *certainly* don't watch the fucking CSI franchise because it's subsidized by Alliance Atlantis and has gutted the Candian Film and TV industry. So stick a toque in it, hoser. Studio60 sucks. It's not he most significant cultural force in the modern American zeitgeist. That would be the interweb.
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That's the problem with this. West Wing works because politics is mostly very boring - it's not too hard to make it interesting fictionally. But with comedy or music or whatever, which is more of an art form, it's pretty clear when something is hacky. Seinfeld was funny, Kenny Banya was not. And I personally think that if Sorkin had come up with BOC - Behind the Music with the cowbell - I would definitely be thinking this show was brilliant. but science shmience? please.
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I like the show, but there's problems. I know it's called STUDIO 60, but too much of it is in STUDIO 60. It is unnecessarily setbound and that's boring. Even the parts that aren't supposed to be in the studio look like they are in the studio. The show is already getting repetitive. 30 ROCK was all over New York. Yeah, Baldwin in the best thing, but Tracey Morgan was great, too, and Rachel Dratch was funny enough. Tina Fey was doing a smart thing by being generous with the people she's writing for. I say, combine the two shows, focusing on 30 ROCK's cast. And frankly, I'm not sure about Christine Lahti. I mean, she's okay and I know she's Tommy Schlamme's wife and all, but c'mon: Chandler is in the dressing room of the Pussycat Dolls or whatever they're calling 'em but he pops his eyes out at a little cleavage from Lahti? Like I said, she's okay but this dude is supposed to be in show business and would apparently have actresses, models, singers, whatever throwing themselves at him. Weirdly, I like the guy playing the hack best of all. Evan Handler! Whether he's playing Larry in a THREE STOOGES bio pic, or the husband of the best looking SEX IN THE CITY, or guesting on LOST, this guy has never given a bad or boring performance. I'm actually rooting for Ricky! Maybe it's for a George Costanza reason: you know that Chandler and the guy married to Malcolm's Mom think they're better than me, but not Ricky!
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Check for yourself. And Herc, enough with all the "the sketches aren't as funny as they should be" talk. Is that really what you're watching this show for?
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In fact that entire episode was golden. The Jack Black SNL, the Natalie Portman one and the Julia Louise Dreyfus ones from last season were laugh out loud funny from beginning to end. I think people harp about SNL so much they don't even actually watch it. Especially the Jack Black one. There were 5-6 musical numbers in that episode (including Lazy Sunday, that Spelling Bee Song, Kong, Christmastime for the Jews, etc.) and ALL of them were awesome. SNL's biggest problem is consistent funny, not producing funny period. Now the Jamie Pressley SNL from last weekend, that was another story... WORST EPISODE EVER.
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Don't come on here and call a bunch of people idiots when you don't even know what you are talking about. Last week Studio 60 finished in 47th out of 91 shows. To put that in perspective, more people watched a repeat of Prison Break, and Heroes, which airs right before Studio 60, finished in 26th. http://www.abcmedianet.com/pressrel/dispDNR.html?id=101006_05
Check for yourself. -
lie like crazy.
http://tinyurl.com/yhfudk Read the last paragraph. Key word "Underperform". I like this show, but at least I don't flat out lie about it. -
Here's the source on the huge budget: http://tinyurl.com/tqeyq Also, West Wing was the most expensive pilot ever made at the time. It's a huge cast and a huge set, and that's not cheap. The ratings for the opening episode barely made the top 50, and they've been dropping since. A show that's dirt cheap can hang in there, but this one is losing money. I completely agree that the problem isn't bad sketches, it's bad sketches that the characters on the show praise as fucking genius. They need to either not show the sketches at all (or maybe one line from a sketch), set it up as a BAD comedy show, or get some great writers to actually write good sketches. What they're doing now is the equivalent of a medical show having a doctor stick a banana and a toilet brush into the patient's abdomen, then everyone around pats him on the back and says what a medical genius he is. Totally wrecks any suspension of disbelief. Better to just show as little of the show as possible, and even in the off-show material, don't have the characters always cracking each other up and telling each other how brilliant they are. Comedy is MUCH funnier when the characters are deadpan and the audience is the one laughing. Just look at WW and Sports Night. You barely saw the sports show at all, and you only heard tiny snippets of presidential speeches - often you didn't hear the "brilliant" rhetoric at all. S60 would be MUCH improved if they did the same.
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I think that's the word I was groping for. The show has '24' level gravitas in a 'Larry Sanders Show' situation. That's what comes off as pretentious.
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And on Fox, it's more like 42 and 21. I've liked everything I've seen on this show thus far. The christian fanatic was grating at first, but her Holly Hunter and Juliette Lewis impressions were first rate and just out-if-leftfield enough to make me believe that the character is a s good as everyone says she is. Frankly, it will be cancelled because people are stupid.
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Then showing unfunny skits is just being realistic.
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Here's why Herc hasn't posted anything on Heroes yet: the episode is so ridiculously mind-blowing that he doesn't want to spoil ANYTHING and he's sitting in his big ass recliner (you know he has one) just giggling at how good it is and how much we're going to like it. God, I hope this prediction is accurate.
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SNL is predominantly lowbrow in its humor, while Sorkin aims higher. Just as we wouldn't expect Jimmy Fallon to have the wit of Oscar Wilde, why would we expect Aaron Sorkin to be able to effectively imitate SNL? The solution is obvious: he should bring in a *different* set of writers for the skits.
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she probably has a hot pink beanbag.
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If the show had the sense to show just as much of a skit as you described in what you wrote (I know in a different context), it would be much closer to succeeding. Doctor opens up a patient, sticks in a banana, placing it ever so carefully, and everyone in the operating theater breaks into applause. Cut from skit to the show. The great advantage of doing a show like Studio 60 SHOULD BE the ability to show an out of context, absurdist bit from an imaginary skit and by never having to fill in around it or support it not only get a free laugh beat but also make the audience wish they could see that skit, thereby getting emotionally involved in the characters who created it. You know, when I was watching Sports Night I often thought they got the beat of those old ESPN and CNN hour sportslongs down just right, but were maybe just a little too clever. And as a sport's fan that made me wish their imaginary show existed and like the characters who made it. Watching Studio 60 you're left with the impression that the skits for the show within the show were written by the guys who write Studio 60, hurriedly and without interest, so they can get back to telling the stories of the characters. And as long as that's true this show will keep bleeding.
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Wow. However, with no other high values left, it would've been foolish to keep playing.
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I know how long dramas and comedies ACTUALLY are, what I simply meant was that the episodes end titles came up at 9:55 as opposed to 10, like they usually do.
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Spoken by someone who CLEARY never made it past the pilot. Don't like the Heroes posts, don't fucking read them.
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"Heroes" was really cool tonight.
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And I DO like Studio 60, as you can see from the review. The pilot of Heroes was good but not spectacular, every episode since then has been remarkable... apparantly liking 2 shows makes me a hypocrite though? (i.e. you are retarded) Regardless of your bigotry, however, Heroes has an amazing cast that gets deeper with every episode, and although any idiot could say with great confidence that superhero shows have been done before (NO SHIT!!) the point is that this show has a completely different approach then an X-Men or a 4400 and all 3, and every other comic based show can EASILY coexist in the same universe. Check out the site you're on, its comic based, buddy.
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if only Sorkin was writing the dialog, it would be classic.
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HEROES WAS FUCKING AWESOME TONIGHT. I'M HIJACKING THIS FUCKING TALKBACK FROM THIS BORING PRETENTIOUS OUT OF TOUCH SHIT FEST SHOW TO TALK ABOUT THE BEST FUCKING SHOW ON TELEVISION. HOLY FUCKING SHITLORDS!!! HEROES BROUGHT IT SO CRAZY TONIGHT. HEROES KICKED SO MUCH ASS!!! IT'S LIKE THEY FIXED EVERYTHING I HAD A PROBLEM WITH IN ONE FEEL SWOOP. IF THIS SHOW GET'S ANY MORE AWESOME IT WILL FUCKING KILL. "MY NAME IS HIRO, I'M FROM THE FUTURE." FUCKING BRILLIANT. Okay I'll give the caps a break. How the fuck is Clair the key to saving the world? Is her Malcolm X glasses wearing Cigarette Smoking Man rip off dad actually a good guy? How awesome was the scene where we actually see Isaac use his powers? Fuck Studio 60. They lost me last week with that lame fake ass pussycat dolls bullshit. HEROES RULES!
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I SAW HEROES!HOLY FUCKING SHIZNIT, HIRO IS *SPOILER* MUTHA FUCKING CABLE!!! *END SPOILER*GOD THIS DESERVES A WEEKLY TALKBACK!!!HERC, THIS SUCKER IS THE NEXT BIG SHOW HERE ON AICN, IT COULD POSSIBLY RIVAL LOST AND BAUER HIMSELF!!!WOW. JUST WOW.
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is nightmarishly bad. this show just lost me.
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HEROES WAS SO FUCKING AWESOME IT WAS LIKE A SWEEPS EPISODE AND IT'S ONLY THE SECOND WEEK IN OCTOBER. WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY GOING TO DO FOR SWEEPS.
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HEROES WAS SO FUCKING AWESOME IT WAS LIKE A SWEEPS EPISODE AND IT'S ONLY THE SECOND WEEK IN OCTOBER. WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY GOING TO DO FOR SWEEPS.
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See, nobody likes you, ShiftyEyedDog. Well, maybe that's not true, but if the people of this talkback had a vote to either talk about Heroes in here, or read another one of your gobshite posts, I think we'd all take option A... Sorry if i stepped on anyones toes and made assumptions...
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Had the exact same Nancy Grace thought about Poehler... wasn't that sketch just TERRIBLE?
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The beginning stuff with Matt and Martha, and Danny and Jordan were great. The Jordan and Jack scene was FANTASTIC. If you think the "sketches" fucking suck, oh well, we've gotten the point, focus on the other stuff.
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was funnier than anything on studio 60. I laughed out loud. I'm done.
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Valid point. These first 6 were all filmed before any of the episodes aired and such, so possibly afterwards we'll see much less of the sketches, I'd like to think they have some inkling of what's not so great about the show, and they're now trying to fix it before the ratings drop more.
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Like i wrote in my review, I like the Nic Cage show, unfortunitely the other sketches ruin it.
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I fell in love with Sports Night, absolutely head over heels in love, during that episode...specifically when Boogie Shoes starts playing. Mark my words: next week's episode will have the same effect, hopefully to more people than me.
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Best episode of the show so far, and possibly the best hour of TV so far this year. I love these characters, and Harriet most of all. I hope desperately that it does not get cancelled. At least let me buy a DVD of the first season for myself, and then a bunch for all my friends, before you cancel it, NBC. Let me mail you a check every week. I don't care. Please keep Sorkin writing.
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Don't listen to the haters, NBC. All they want is cynical shows with actors dry-humping each other and cursing, or, yet another sitcom where the housewife belittles her blue collar husband. Yeah, the show was hyped up, know why? Because it was the only show that COULD be hyped up long before it aired; Big stars getting cast, written by award-winning writer, etc. If you don't like the show DON'T-WATCH-IT. Don't ask for it to be canceled just because you can't stand fifteen second promo spots and TV listings. Newsflash guys: Just because you're an "aspiring screenwriter/director" doesn't make you smarter than everyone else.
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And MemBirdman, I realllyyyyy hope you're write, as "Dear Louise" is all sorts of brilliance, especially the way Dan dances with the the woman. Jordan being drunk next week holds promise, and I just really want this to become "Sports Night", like I've stated countless times...
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"Sports Night", can someone else PLEASE agree with me how brilliant the scene at the end of "Celebrities" is where Jeremy, by himself answers every question correctly, with no one to share it with. Goddamn that show was something.
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Good to see you enjoyed tonights episode.. Good pacing and to see it work without showing Matt or Danny the whole episode is definitely a good thing. I do somewhat agree with everyone as far as not showing too much of the skits because it'll ruin Matt's "supposed genius" if the sketches aren't funny. I'm still on the fence about the actress who plays Harriet. Maybe I'll warm up to her eventually. -
and not one single person has said this show needs to be cancelled... people have speculated that it might be due to ratings underperformance... but noone has said it should be. Pretty much everyone likes at least a part of this show, just not the show within a show.
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And Heros was a tasty bit-o-awesome. Fun night.
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...it still can't top the this tomfoolery:
http://tinyurl.com/wraah
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...I really hope you are right. Next week's preview looks like it could be a classic episode and I hope it is brilliant enough to get everyone to realize how great this show is.
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The endless Nancy Grace sketch was a perfect illustration of why this show is going to be cancelled. It makes SNL seem funny by comparison. If Matt is a genius for writing that shit then Amy Pohler is Stephen fucking Hawking. Her Nany Grace parody was MUCH funnier. Also, Sarah Paulson has no fucking talent whatsoever. She can't do the drama, she can't do the sketch comedy, and she's not even that hot. Plus, I just can't respect a character who believes in craetionism and I don't believe "Matt" would either.
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I just can't get into it...its missing something and i think if they don't fix it soon we will Matt and Amanda making the Whole 11 Yards :(
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... easily the best episode of "Studio 60" I've seen yet. Loved all the Lahti & Harry. Loved the Jordan stuff. Loved the Busfield stuff. Loved the musical guest. When Matt says "Almost funny" about that particular sketch, that was exactly what he should have said. This is the kind of Sorkin I bought and paid for, your honor. I trust Lauren Graham will be put to better use next week. And for all of you knocking the coke and mushroom abuse, you really don't know what you're missing.
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The problem with the STUDIO 60 sketches so far is that they go for the obvious joke (the media cares too much about white women, Christians don't believe in science, kids today are too drugged-up) instead of making their own jokes. Either that, or they take a celebrity and make them the host of a talk show (Nicolas Cage hosting his own "Dr Phil" show, "Meet the Press with Juliette Lewis). Which is pretty much the laziest thing a sketch comedy writer can do. "Whatisface does a good Nic Cage impression? Let's have him host a talk show!" And "News 60" is so damn weak, mostly because D.L. Hughley is not a good anchorman. He's got marbles in his mouth. Nate Cordry should've been the obvious News 60 choice. He came from THE DAILY SHOW, for Pete's sake!
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But I, for one, have been largely ignoring the 'sketches', or at least never looking at them as if they're supposed to actually be all that funny. I mean...it's rather impossible for them to be in this context, isn't it? It's just one of those things you sort of have to suspend disbelief on, or they'd have to actually have sketch comedy writers coming up with stuff every week for this damn show...which isn't why I'm watching. And even if they did, again, I'm not sure how funny they would come off given the way they're presented here. That may be one of the inherent problems with the format, but it's simply not a part of the show that's holding me up. There's still some pacing problems, and I found myself yawning a bit during the interview with Harriet. (And yes, DK, the bit at the end of 'Celebritites' was brilliant. But the episode that always gives me giggle fits is when Dan has writer's block and Natalie pulls an air horn on him. I swear Peter looks in that shot like he had no idea that was going to happen.)
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It's late...It's when Natalie tosses a glass of water on Dan that Peter looks like he breaks up.
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That's the same damn episode, "Dear Louise". Don't mind me, too many martinis whilest watchin' ep 10 of the Wire I finally found on a torrent.
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And catvutt is totally right about the sketches...I look at them as filler between the real character scenes. All you Talkbackers seem to look upon them as the crux of the show.
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this is why we are focusing on the sketches - because when they fail, they drag the rest of the show down with it.
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And the sketches don't bother me too much, there was an exception tonight. That "Jenny doesn't have a baby" sketch was absolutely fucking awful. He shouldn't have said "It was almost funny", he should have said "I should murder myself and everyone in my bloodline for being involved in the creation of such a comic abortion." But other than that complete bomb, the show was great. Also, more Jordan please. She's hot and interesting.
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What is this obsession with the sketches? Sure they're mostly unfunny. But we ARE usually seeing them out of context, in a run through for cues (which is just going through the motions for tech and not intended to be a full on performance), or a rehearsal. But who gives a shit? It's about the characters and the process of producing a show. Was the Sports Night show within a show a good sports show? Besides some funny lines for Casey and Dan's intro, it was pretty pedestrian. It's about the people. Matt and Danny are successful with a reputation, no one ever said they were supposed to be "the best." Even if they were, I don't watch this show for sketch comedy. Some of you can't seem to get beyond the concept that this is NOT a sketch comedy show. The character stuff was great. I loved the little stuff with Simon and Tom. Jordan and Jack. Matt and Danny. And after the interview and the final scene, I think I'm kinda in love with Harriet now. This is the first time where I felt she really connected with the other characters, and to the audience (so much of it was her eye contact with Lahti and Matt). Her lines about comedy and religion were great. Still digging it.
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I've been hooked on this show from day one and I never watched a single episode of West Wing. LOVED Sports Night though and I feel Studio 60 is one of the best new shows on TV. For you idiots to sit here and bash Sorkin? Get a clue. We run Sorkin off the air and we'll be stuck with SEARCH AND DESTROY for real. This is television writing at it's finest. Yes, Sorkin is hammering home some personal messages....he's the writer--that's his right. The only people and institutions he's indicted deserve to be slammed. And as for the religious debate--He's not indicting believing in God. He's indicting taking your belief in God and telling people what they can and can't watch, read, laugh at...he's indicting frauds who call themselves ministers on TV....the message I've been getting is that when you strip away all the bullshit and static that the religious right (and leftist hollywood) throw up at one another, you're left with real people and feelings and humor and the differences don't have to be so vast. I understand this is way above your average "It Sucks!" talkbackers head and I think most of the people who hate it, hate it because of the hype and the intelligence involved in it -- That said, NBC is righting it's wrongs of the past years and they will bring back the smart TV viewer by keeping shows like Studio 60, Heroes and Friday Night Lights on the air. I thought last weeks Friday Night Lights was one of the best hours I've seen on TV in some time. NBC has their groove back...they just need to be patient and let these shows grow. I was ready to flog NBC for cancelling Kidnapped, but at least they are letting the full story be told in 13 episodes. I think the networks would be wise to take a page from HBO (and showtime) and schedule series that only run 13 episodes and may only run 1 season. It's working for HBO. It's about time the networks catch on.
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Oct 17, 2006 5:48:58 AM CDT
AMAZINGLY, "CORPORATE BEHIND THE SCENES" ARE FUNNIEST
by osamabinplayah8a
NBS scenes w/Peet, Weber and especially Asner are much funnier than anything Perry, Whitford and Paulson. Maybe it's because the "suits" are actually doing something "important," taking risks, being Large and In-Charge. While the "creative" characters just seem to be fucking around on some bullshit skit show we never get to see. That said, Sarah Paulson's amazing upper lip is evidence that there is a God.
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El Perro Fumundo (sp?), Dan's writer's block, stamps, republican boyfriends, "I killed him, I killed him, I killed him dead"...what isn't to love about "Dear Louise"? It's between that and "Shoe Money Tonight" for my fave. I've gotten hooked by the first promo I've seen for four shows now: Sports Night, Firefly, Veronica Mars and Studio 60. It doesn't bode well by my track record, but I REALLY hope things turn around in the ratings department. It's not as though the writing is lacking, which brings me to another post...
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It's easy to see what's funny when you've got a studio audience pointing it out to you. It's MUCH harder to see when you're doing it in a vacuum, as a rehersal does. The Maggie Grace thing, there were at least three places where I would've laughed, had I been in the audience. Because I was at home, I didn't, but saw the funny. Could've been better? Sure, but if it's so hard to write funny, how much harder is it to write a sketch that is INTENDED to be "almost funny," so it can be mentioned as such later in the dialogue? That's talent and it's a shame some of you can't make the distinction.
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Where Casey gets his eyes checked and is wearing shades the whole time, and everyone fucks around with him. Good, good stuff. "I killed him, I killed him, I killed him dead." is great, as is, "I told many, many people." The acting during "Celebrities" while they play the game, and just the way Casey yells and "ROO TEE, ROO TEE", it is all so, so good. Really, instead of re-airing Studio 60's pilot in two weeks, just show two episodes of "Sports Night". And get fucking Krause or Charles on Studio 60 NOW.
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I've always thought the natural "in" for a cross-over would be getting Natalie in. Since she turned down SNL, Studio 60 seems easy. And if rights are a problem, call her Natalie Goodman. And you're right, "I told many, many people" is classic!
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delivering the line "The Nancy Grace sketch is really funny". Wow! Was that painful. It made me long for "The Falconer". And they dedicated like three or four minutes of screen time for it too. I have a new respect for the crappy SNL of the last decade. If Sorkin can't put together five minutes of funny bits an episode, how can you blame SNL for not being able to put funny bits in a 90 minute show? Also, enough with the Religious Right. I am not fan of the Pat Robertson crowd, but let's stop piling on. SPOILER>>>>>>>>>Another thing, I can suspend disbelief that the comedy sketches are funny, but I cannot believe that a network president would reject a guaranteed hit reality show for an intelligent drama that is too high brow for network television by a relatively unknown creator. Not in my lifetime. This show has potential, but they need to hire comedy writers for the comedy bits. Also, I guess since I am a middle of the road politcally, I have always felt a little put off by Sorkin's heavy doses of his liberal beliefs in the show. I think it works for a show about a Democratic Administration in the White House and tolerable with an excellent written show like Sports Night, but I don't think Studio 60 is either right now.
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Of all the new shows this season, S60 has the most.
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My wife bought me the Sports Night on DVD last week as a "congratulations on leaving your awful job" present and I found myself watching every episode waiting to be let down. Didn't happen. A brilliant show, with classic lines and great acting across the board. "I told many, many people" still kills me, just like it did the first time; Natalie's shock treatment for Dan's writer's block; Eli's coming; "You're wearing my shirt, Gordon"; William H. Macy in the best relief pitching job on television; Dan's on-air meltdown and betrayal of Casey; and the best wrap to a series ever. Just great television. My theory on Studio 60 is that there are a number of problems and most of them begin with the characters. This show is not West Wing -- there is too much self-importance and an excess of navel-gazing for people making a TV show. I work in production and while the job can be stressful I keep coming back to what I was told my first week when I was going out of my mind: we're not doing brain surgery. It's possible to have fun while doing your job. I'm not seeing that. Even the WW characters enjoyed what they did, but I'm not seeing that with S60. Secondly, there seems to be an assumption that we will automatically care and I don't. Not yet. And episodes that spend 10 minutes with one character giving us her bio and family history don't help -- that felt like lazy writing, and I find it hard to believe that of Aaron Sorkin. And that brings me to my concern about the tone of the show. I believe it's been described as a dramedy, which is an awful word but seems annoyingly appropriate. Four episodes in, we've seen some comedy and a little drama, but not an even blend. The network stuff has been the most developed facet of the show, which hamstrings the rest of the cast that isn't involved in that side. I'm with the show for the duration, as I believe in the talent of those involved, but I'd like to see the following: The characters having fun while working. The characters reacting to a situation that develops naturally (the stolen sketch seemed to be the closest we've come, and yes, Herc, it was a tidy ending.) The characters revealing themselves in parts, as opposed to having entire back stories laid out before our eyes -- why did DL Hughley's character knock back the girl who was throwing herself at him? And I'd like to see some tension between Matt and Danny -- one is creative, the other is controlling, there has to be drama there and the pressure cooker of a live TV show should bring that out. Finally, here's my hack and slash fix...cut the show to 30 minutes. There's a lot of meaningful stares and wasted exposition in Studio 60. Tightening up the show would make everything flow and would also make the deadlines the characters are under feel more palpable to the audience. It would require the actors to move fast, make the dialogue sing, and would force the creative team behind Studio 60 to dispense with extraneous material. Sorry for the long post, but I don't want this show to fail. And I think it's going to unless there are changes made.
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I won't be watching anymore, and I don't think much of the rest of the country will, either.
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Seeing other posters reimisce about "Sports Night" makes me miss that show all over again. I've gotta see about picking up the box set for that -- although if I did that I'd probably give up on "Studio 60" once and for all. Hell, I'm close to giving up now.
As far as suspension of disbelief re the greatness of "Studio 60" vs. crappiness of sketches -- it all comes back to Harriet. She's supposed to be so great, so talented, so funny, so attractive ... I don't see it and with each ep leaving me so unimpressed I doubt I ever will.
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i gotta agree that if S60's sketches aren't funny, it pulls you out of the show's reality. remember that old Tom Hanks movie 'Punchline?' Tom Hanks and Sally Field are supposed to be these absolutely brilliant stand-up comics competing in some comedy competition and yet every time you saw them do their routines, they were so jaw-droppingly unfunny you'd get annoyed at the other characters in the movie going on about how brilliant they are. i actually don't have that problem with Studio 60. the comedy bits have been just funny enough that if Matt says they're funny, I can suspend my disbelief and go along with it. i agree that sorkin should bring in some other writers to work exclusively on the sketches. maybe do a Law and Order/Larry Sanders thing, half the show will be the drama, and the other half of the show will be nothing but the show within a show. hey, just throwing ideas out.
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the second half of that episode's story arc carries into next weeks episode.
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O.K.! M'yeah!
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now that I have your attention. I meant sycophant, I read the same definition on Wikipedia that you did but came away with "In modern English, the term has come to mean one who seeks to please people in positions of authority or influence in order to gain power themselves, usually at the cost of pride, principles, and peer respect. However, in modern Greek, the term has retained its ancient classical meaning, and is still used to describe a slanderer or a calumniator. An argument can be made that they seek favor from anyone to prop themselves up at any cost. aaaaaaaand your wrong Studio 60 is funny and great!!!!! Peace.
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I believe it pulled a 5.7/9 last week, in which case 6.6/10 is a nice improvement. I expect the numbers to be even better next week thanks to the tease for what appears to be a great episode. However, the Giants-Cowboys Monday night game could pull some people away. Who knows. Just let NBC be patient, for the love...
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they must be doing something right, huh? So, tiredpm, you want them to have more fun at their job, but you also want to ratchet up the tension? So which is it? I found most of your criticisms valid - with Sports Night, you see the fun that Casey and Dan have before it goes south in the second season. Although I do disagree about the interview, because whatever bio we learn about Harriet is really pointing to the fact that Harriet and Matt's careers and destinies are intertwined, plus the fact that it allowed for some great work from Paulson. And there's really too much going on with too big a cast for this to work as a half hour. SN was smaller, tighter with less balls in the air. Which might make it a better show if less ambitious. But even if 60 fails, I'll take an entertaining failure over Search and Destroy any day.
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The ratings went down AGAIN, making last night's the worst ever, and for the best episode. Even What About Brian beat it! It only seems like this show will be sticking because NBC knows it is good, in spite of ratings, like what FOX did with arrested Development through the first two years...
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Eli's Coming is great, as well as Dan's explanation to Dana about why her dating plan was stupid. Him saying to her "insanity masked as cuteness" is DEAD ON for her character, and it was just so real for Casey to stop liking her..."If I asked you out tonight, would you say yes?" "No.", and also the Dan/Casey tension is great, and the focus on Dan happening from Casey and Dana was so gradual and perfect.
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Considering ABC's relentless promos, I feel like I watched it anyway, so I'm not terribly surprised it pulled decent ratings. It looks like the kind of psuedo-drama crapfest, 'Gray's Anatomy' nonsense that's passing for hour-longs these days in the ratings department.
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Isn't Monday at 10pm considered a horrible slot for a promising show? NBC should seriously think about moving S60.
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Anyone? As for S60, I think it's a perfect followup to Heroes. Why? Because a) I love it, b) it's great brain food after the fluff of Heroes (which rules, don't take that the wrong way), and c) it makes me forget that I have another 167 hours until Heroes :P In all seriousness, S60 is great. I admit that some (most) of the sketches really aren't that funny, but the beat down that Science Schmience is taking is kind of undeserved. I thought that bit was great. The grand re-opening of the show was pretty bad, other than the intellectual reacharound part. But you know what, I don't watch this show for the fucking skits of Live From Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. I watch it for the well-written dialogue, the witty banter, and the openly displayed veins of network television being feasted upon. Seriously, the rant in the pilot episode said it all. PERFECTLY. That is the state of television. Having a show where a major player is a network exec that "gets it" and makes the right decisions can only be a good thing. If people believe that TV can change anything, that is... if only life would imitate art in this sense.
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All around a better effort. Even the skits were pretty funny (esp. the Nic Cage big). I liked seeing Jordan fighting for more than one late night show. And the Vanity Fair reporter is a nice plotline. Well done, Aaron.
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I agree with you, and jsut due to past history, I do think NBC will stick with Studio 60, the problem with more advertising is though that people who gave up on it all ready probably want to give it another chance, and to claim the show is the "best thing since ever" may not work, as that's what they did with the pilot. They were advertising for the show a lot more before it aired...I don't know what they'll do, but as long as they keep it, I'm content, because this latest episode is proof that things can and will improve, and when Sorkin gets things to click, they're just amazinng.
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paulh above quotes overnight ratings as 6.6/10 and beating What About Brian by some margin. Although I don't understand how it can retain 73% of Heroes' overnight rating but only 59% of the total audience since shouldn't they be pretty much the same thing? Even if one is households and the other is individual viewers?Anyway, I know there's always going to be a difference between fast overnights, overnights and the final figures but this is huge. Zap2it has the fast overnights as:"CBS capped the night with "CSI: Miami," 11.3/18, at 10 p.m. "What About Brian" was second for ABC at 5.7/9, topping the 5.3/8 for NBC's "Studio 60"."That's below Brian and a long way out from 6.6. So which figures matter and can any of them be trusted?I like this show a lot and want it to succeed but I don't see it getting a full season. NBC's investment will guarantee it 13 episodes but no more than that. I just hope I'm wrong.
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Here's the thing, I REALLY don't think that half the country hates the other half. I think that there is a split in a political sense, but there's almost no way that we'll see a Civil War in our lifetimes, nor our children's. The chances are much better that the Earth will be asteroid struck before then, and neither option seems likely.
And, on the other hand, Sting kicks ass.
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But in Canada, the ratings actually improved with this episode. Are Nielsens strictly a US thing? Are the Canadian ratings at least being considered?
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where near zap2it's or thefutoncritic's... so they're definitely wrong. What About Brian somehow beat Studio 60 last night. DanielK, NBC, which owns the show, doesn't give a shit how the ratings are in Canada, therefore will not effect possible cancelation.
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"What About Brian (up 1.2 mil, to 8.3) bested Studio 60 (down a mil, to 7.76) to claim 10 o'clock's No. 2 spot." from TV Guide. Pull this boring show already. I am tired of reading about it.
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The show does.
Crappy scetches would work fine if the show was supposed to be about a lousy show with lousy writers. I wouldn't be complaining about the scetches if they were followed by Matt Perry saying "God did that suck ASS...I'm so effing fired." -
That's a good link and I'll keep an eye on it for future ratings. It is worrying that Studio 60 is still shedding viewers in week five. Every week I expect to see some improvement in the ratings and every week it still manages to lose some of the few people who watch it. Less than half the total number of viewers for CSI:Miami is just embarrassing. I want to be wrong because I love the show, but I think Studio 60 is beyond saving.
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This is the best ensemble cast I've ever seen for a show at its inception. It's a real shame the individual episodes already feel repetitive and dull. Aaron Sorkin isn't keepoing any kind of momentum on this show.
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...get back together, the sketches within the show will get better? That was the implication last night, and it just might happen. The show-within-the-show can't be automatically great just because Danny and Matt were asked back. They are shown stuggling with the show, just as it would in reality. I agree that they should cut down on showing us the sketches, but this is called an arc, buttholes.
And hell, was the show-within-the-show on Sports Night all that good? -
I'm switching to 30 Rock. This show bores me. It's like The West Wing on a TV set.
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just watched tonight's 30 Rock. this show is too cute for words. hope it lasts awhile.
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It's bad enough that we have to endure two mediocre shows about essentially the same thing, but to use the SAME joke in the SAME week (oops, you left your mic on) is just plain lazy.
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NBC budget-cutting. Friday Night Lights being tried out in its slot (and I'd be surprised if it wasn't a permanent move). ER not going on hiatus so The Black Donnellys is going to have to be put somewhere in the new year. That's one less slot that Studio 60 can occupy if it does get a full season order.I can't see Studio 60 staying where it is, so where can NBC move it to if Friday Night Lights does take the Monday slot until the end of the year? There don't seem to be any suitable slots unless NBC rearrange the entire schedule and I can't see them doing that. Does anyone else get the feeling that it's already been cancelled but they're not admitting it yet?
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