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STUDIO 60's Aaron Sorkin Counting Down To Another TV-Show-Within-A-TV-Show??
I am – Hercules!!
“A Few Good Men”/”Charlie Wilson’s War” screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who has already created two TV series set behind the scenes of a TV series, is reportedly mulling a third, according to Entertainment Weekly.
As Sorkin’s “Sports Night” fictionalized ESPN’s “Sports Center” and “Studio 60” fictionalized “Saturday Night Live,” Sorkin’s new show could present a pretend version of MSNBC’s “Countdown With Keith Olbermann.”
Perhaps Sorkin will recruit “In Treatment” vet Josh Charles, who played the Olbermann character on “Sports Night.”
Check out the penultimate paragraph of the Entertainment Weekly story here.
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He'll need it
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Since all his characters sound the same, he can do it as a one man show, with one fast talking guy playing all the roles.
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why this guy isnt on tv more i'll never know. He was on angel for crying out loud. did you not see his death scene??!!?!?!?!
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As Hollywood people seem to think. Sure, there's the cult of celebrity, but that's something different. Doesn't mean this will be bad, and Aaron Sorkin is talented - I just hope its not as insulated as many of these Hollywood drama projects seem to be.
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With Dan Rydell 10 years later as a talking head on a liberal news network.
:)
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It wouldn't be entirely unprecedented. The West Wing had an episode about Senator (or was it Congressman?) Stackhouse, whose vote was sought in The American President. And don't think I forgot that Christian Slater's character on The West Wing was supposed to be Kevin Bacon's character from A Few Good Men. But still, would it have killed them to have President Bartlet tune in to CSC to get the scores on Sports Night?
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nuff said.
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wah, his characters talk too intelligently! they're too well spoken!! he's too liberal!! his characters all sound alike!!give it a rest already...there has to be more people out there like me who don't mind someone pushing to raise the bar, when the rest of TV and Hollywood are trying to lower it...
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All sounding alike is. Writing 101.
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I'm having flashbacks to our Studio 60 debates, that was fun times.
I don't think Sorkin's characters all sound alike at ALL. in his movies, they're vastly different, obviously. and I think that, as a complaint, it's mostly derived from The West Wing. and I understand SORT OF where it comes from, in that everyone is very well educated, knows they're stuff, comes up with very clever dialogue very quickly. but to me, that is WHY the West Wing is great. because in reality, the people in those positions AREN'T that capable and well spoken. sure, it's slightly fantastical, but it's also inspiring. if people sound somewhat alike because they're all smart and interesting, that's fine by me.with Studio 60, I don't think that the characters sounded alike, but even in instances where there is more similarity than other comparable shows, it never bothers me, because they're writers and performers! they think well on their feet, they're clever!also, I taught English 101 for a couple years...is that anything like Writing 101? -
sorry, half watching NBC TV...
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I thought it was a great show with lots of potential. No it's not like he wrote for one voice, it was a creative environment where they were all working together, they had commonalities. You could see it when they talked, they were almost in each other's heads.
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Why bother?
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um...what?
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Apr 09, 2009 11:11:08 PM CDT
Studio 60. Not even EW talks about that show anymore
by lockesbrokenleg
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was that it was too much like West Wing and not enough like Sports Night. I'm worried about Sorkin's Olbermann obsession.
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you wrote, "No one watchws the one they have on now."...but you're talking about Studio 60?you don't think that show's still on the air, do you?
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is good Sorkin.
As long as he doesn't get on his soap box too much it will be great. -
I apologize.
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that's even worse. 30 Rock is a ratings and critical juggernaut!I'd just quit while you're behind...
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The show, cast, crew, producers, writers... EVERYONE was awesome... except Sorkin. God DAMN that guy was a prick.
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Really? That's a shame... but I could kind of feel it from interviews I have seen with him. It seems talent and prickishness often go hand in hand.
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Not always, Tommy Schlamme was awesome, lots of other very talented people I've worked with were awesome. I think Sorkin came from the "gotta be an ass to get ahead" school.
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that where never given a chance...just like The Hat Squad!
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TV is in a bust cycle right now; almost no new shows are hitting, and austerity and desperation are heavy in the air. In the current climate, Sorkin won't be given the kind of indulgence he requires to perform at his best.
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I love Sorkin to death. Sports Night is so, so, so good. Those saying Dan Rydell is the best fictional character ever are not far off base. His feuding with Casey is great. His therapy is great. The show's subtle shift from Casey to Dan without you even noticing is great. SLOOP JOHN B AS HE WALKS AWAY WITH REBECCA IS GREAT. After re-watching In Treatment, I'd really love to see Josh Charles do ANYTHING again.
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Do you guys KNOW how great that is?
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Just reading right now that monologue on the interwebs gives me chills--the sheer power of it, although I'm a bit partial to Sam's in "Cliff Gardner".
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Well said.
Studio 60's main problem was that Sorkin wasn't done writing West Wing.
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That puts a smile on my face!
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I like some of Sorkin's work, even if he's one of those "brilliant pricks". But please, please don't give him a show which will LITERALLY give him a platform to preach politics. And I say this as a liberal.
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His Countdown skit on SNL was hilarious.
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I have my complete West Wing boxset and all is well in the world. Over here in the UK, Studio 60 was well received critically and loved by those that watched it. It just needed another series and I think it would have reached critical mass and become huge. I'm sure Sorkin will capture lighting again... I demand Bradley Whitford be in it however. So looking forward to the Joss Whedon film he's doing....
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-well, much of the time - but Olberman is 20% smart and 80% self-important douche. I hope Sorkin's obvious liberal obsession doesn't make excuses for Olberman's douchi-ness. It would be great to see it made fun of, with affection. Sort of like Michael Scott with a WASPy upbringing.
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it'd be hillarious to watch him spin that into the usual "what we do here is really relevant and important to society"
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I'd just love to see Sorkin dealing with people who knew they were working in a dying medium.
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I LOVE Sorkin and think this would be a cool show... but if you dont bring back Dan Rydell, you have to bring in Ben Affleck to be Olbermann (SNL Skit)... But you can also have "guests" for the show made up of people that worked in the West Wing... good times
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Where shall we set the over/under at in terms of the number of episodes it takes before Sorkin goes all meta and has the characters arguing with network execs about giving them a chance despite low ratings?
I say 7. And I'll take the under. -
Apr 10, 2009 8:45:29 AM CDT
I still cry/almost cry whenever I watch The Christmas Show..
by danielkurland
Fuck ratings, Studio 60 achieved some really beautiful things. Steven Weber did a crazy good job as well.
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All of his shows entertain, amuse and infuriate me far mre than anyone else's work. The man's a genius. Even when he's just up his own ass, like with that whole Afghanistan hostage rescue plot on Studio 60 (yes, really) his stuff is still better than 95% of all other TV. A Sports Night sequel would be awesome. Peter Krauss is free now right? That Dirty Shitty Cash show has been axed hasn't it?
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A little over a million people watch the real Olbermann each night on cable. For a primetime show to succeed, they'll need to find 10 million more people who will suddenly want to watch this type of person on TV. Where's that audience going to come from? Does this audience even exist? This is a failed concept through and through.
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Please visit this website and click Play Video. I'm in a contest and all I need are views. Please help, AICN! http://tinyurl.com/dgub9z
And Studio 60 blew. -
Apr 10, 2009 11:19:17 AM CDT
Hey, why didn't the headline read: "Left-Winger Aaron Sorkin"...
by maverick68
blah blah blah blah...
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People don't want anyone's politcal views rammed down their throat when it comes to scripted TV. Sorkin's ivory tower, extreme liberal views was one the reasons Studio 60 failed. I agreed with some of the views and he even made me feel sorry for the Religious Right. He writing on that show came off elitist and condescending to anyone who wasn't a liberal and living in LA or NY.
I assume with this proposed show, he would up his political elitism. I don't know if I will stick around to watch though. I think Sorkin would best do himself a service to stick with shows that are less political and concentrate more on content. The ironic thing is the West Wing was less heavy handed politically than Studio 60 was. -
It was a show about running a presumably well-received sketch comedy show, and all the sketches that made it on air were painfully unfunny. Each week felt like Sorkin unloading his personal baggage on the viewing audience, over failed relationships or network meddling or drugs or whatever. It was preachy, which a show about the White House can get away with but a show about a fictional SNL knockoff really can't. And there was very little chemistry between the two leads. Obviously Sorkin is a talented writer, but I worry that he'll hit some preachy overload in a series about an Olbermann-like show.
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...because those shows were on two different networks. I'm sure NBC wasn't going to give ABC a plug for their show or vice-versa. Although at the time, the NBC mention would have carried a lot more weight.
There hasn't been a Sorkin show I didn't like, but I'd think he'd have a bad taste in his mouth after Studio 60. West Wing was a hit, but his other two shows were tinkered with mercilessly by the networks. He and Joss Whedon could commiserate. -
I agree that people just won't embrace a show so stuck in politics. And this to me sounds like it would have to be more rooted in real politics than even The West Wing was. In that, there were times when politics or party had nothing to do with what the president had to do. But here, if it's really a pundit type of show, people won't want to listen.While it's okay if you want to have a political view, one way or the other, that's fine, but to try and have it come across in a weekly series can become annoying to viewers. That type of thing works better as a movie. Because, honestly, people would prefer their drama shows focus on the drama and not some political views. And people actually like when the theme of dramatized political stuff is "both sides can have merit", etc. It would be more fun to me if Sorkin surprised everyone and made this about a conservative talk host. Almost as a challenge.
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He should be doing this, despite Studio 60 falling on its ass.
Bush is gone, and I think this would be the perfect time to bring back The West Wing - Josh as Chief of Staff, Sam in there.
The big question mark is do they keep Santos as Prez as I wasn't that into him compared with the perfect Bartlett. -
I enjoy "A Few Good Men", hadn't realized he did it. Didn't watch "The West Wing", but I did watch most of "Studio 60". I might be willing to give this a shot, but, like someone else said, only if he stays off his soap box.
If it starts taking shots at christians or people of other religious beliefs every episode, count me out. I can find other entertainment that doesn't revel in taking shots at people because they believe in something.
I can sit through the politics, even if I don't agree with much of it. -
Seriously, the greatest show ever. Just continue it as though Bartlet had no MS, and term limits have been repealed, so that he can run indefinitely.
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are too full of their own self-importance. It worked with The West Wing because being the leader of the free world (so-called) IS kinda important. But being a two-bit writer on a crappy light entertainment TV show a la Studio 60...not so much! Hence I think viewers were turned off by the pretentiousnous (if that's a word)
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Really why base a show off a show that makes up their own stories, doesn't check facts, misquotes people, has no one on who disagrees with the host, and cheerleads for Obama? The only way this will succeed is if the host is portrayed as an ego-maniac who spends more time smearing his competition and boasting his own self image while getting his exclusive stories the Daily Kos.
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the most overrated show ever. It wasn't funny in the least. It was not smart. It was predictable and overwrought, at least the few first season episodes I watched were.
Never watched West Wing and kind of liked Studio 60. It grew on me. Still wasn't a great show. -
West Wing MOWs... sorta the way they did with Columbo for years.
Produce a couple of MOWs with the Santos Administration... then a couple of years from now have a totally new administration - even, dare I say, a Republican Presidency?
Structure it the same way the show was with timely stories "ripped from the headlines". In theory this show could go on forever.
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I love Sorkin's writing... but he's not to everyone's taste. Still, for those who don't like him, I'm pretty sure your remote comes with a channel-changer just like mine. ;-)
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Sorkin knows that doing a show based on an Olbermann type of character, it gives him a perfect way to have that character do a 2 minute monolog every episode preaching from a soap box.
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I'm still not entertained by the way he says it. Talking intelligently about an issue is great on a talk show, or radio, or in a magazine article. But TV is a visual medium. The best way to communicate ideas in a visual medium is through symbolism. If you're just TELLING everybody, then that's boring. If what you're SHOWING people symbolically relates to what you're trying to say, but you're not really saying it out loud, then you've got a great episode of the original Star Trek, or The Wire, or something else that was good TV and had a good message. Sorkin needs to either figure that out, or just write a book describing his personal philosophy. Like we'd read that.
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Thank goodness they canceled it quickly.
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about a writer writng a tv show about a writer writing a tv show. It would blow everyone's fucking minds.
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I'm not really sure why.
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... that it centred around a show that was meant to be funny.. but it wasn't!!!
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Where are we, in pod land? Sorkin has no talent whatsoever. A Few Good Men? With that incredibly cheesy final courtroom scene? "You can't handle the truth!" Does anyone really believe that character would be that easily goaded? It's like a movie written by grade schoolers, for grade schoolers. No subtlety or connection to real life at all. One dimensional stock characters. Strictly by-the-numbers, screenwriting 101 (before you realize you have no talent and go back to harvesting mushrooms for your alcoholic uncle). Studio 30? On one of the first shows, they have to come up with something incredible for the fictional show, so what do they come up with? A choral group singing risqué lyrics? Like we haven't seen that a hundred times before? He's a hack! There is incredible TV out there. Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, The Wire, Dexter, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, The Shield. We should be encouraging those people, who truly are creative, rather than some talentless piece of shit like Sorkin.
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I loved that it said something about just taking pride in a job. These characters weren't changing the world, they were just doing a sports show (as other characters occassionally pointed out), nothing special, just a group of educated, intelligent people who worked incredibly hard and took pride in their job. West Wing was great too, and for a lot of the same reasons, smart, funny, engaging characters, but these people literally were changing the world with their job which gave it a different slant. Thats what bugged me about Studio 60, it took the self importance of West Wing (though in the world of West Wing that made sense) and then put that into this comedy show, and it was just embarassing to watch this show full of people congratulating themselves on how important and influential their world was. But I will say I've since rewatched the show on hulu and found it more enjoyable the second time around, though as others have said Sorkin will never ever be a sketch writer. He should have taken a cue from 30 Rock and just given hints of the sketches going on around the show, rather than trying to actually write a sketch. Watching Tina Fey tell someone they have to fire 5 bears or Tracy Morgan in a panic because the fart machine has too many farts is funnier than Science Schmience or that cringe worthy Gilbert & Sullivan parody.Oh, but to be on topic, this show sounds like it'll be more like Studio 60 then Sports Night, oh, and if we're talking about revisiting the casts of previous shows, I wanna see Weber, Busfield, and Josh Charles.
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So instead of my above post I'll just say ditto to Muki's post. And I loved Sports Night.
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That they used a laugh track for the 1st season of Sports Night... I always felt it was a poor and very awkward fit. The humour in the series was not written in a sitcom setup-and-punchline manner.
Now, 10 years out, one is hard pressed to find a primetime hit comedy series with a laugh track. -
Aaron must be chasing the dragon again, due to the failure of Studio 60. It sounds like a mixture of Studio 60 and The West Wing. I agree with Sorkin's political views, the Democrats are the good guys and the Republicans are evil bastards. However, by the end of West Wing I was done. Maybe Sorkin can do a TV show about a TV producer who is trying to balance his work and a herion addiction.
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Apr 10, 2009 10:04:37 PM CDT
West Wing - Brilliant. Studio 60 - Below Average
by justanothermoviefan
Sorkin's four years on The West Wing are absolutely brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
Studio 60 did not work at all. Matt Perry and Bradley Whitford were fine, but everyone else was miscast. But TWW had an amazing cast and everything clicked. Here's hoping that he can make a compelling show once again. -
Sorkin + Olbermann = canceled in four episodes or less.
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There was a show in Australia called "Frontline" that took apart (via satire) the current events new business. It was fantastic. It should be required viewing for every high schooler, as it really showed the lack of morals news reporters have (and some of the techniques they use to generate a story).
If (and he won't) Sorkin made a Olbermann show filled with horrible, but funny, people, it would work. The show needs to take apart the talking heads cable news people (right or left).
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it will be heavy handed and self-righteous one way or the other - either with a liberal Olbermann type as hero or condemning a conservative Limbaugh type.
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it would be nice if liberals in TV and the movies could laugh at themselves more and less be all righteous rage about the evil conservatives. OK, we know as soon as we see a person take a religious position that he will be exposed as a hypocrite within five minutes. Latest example, The Unusuals. We know as soon as we see the conservative businessman that he's a baddie. OK, we know that. We expect that. Surprise us with something different.
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it could be a good show i liked alot of sports night, but on occasion, they shoved in a bit of cheese to tug at viewers heart strings...it was irritating
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Apr 11, 2009 12:18:53 PM CDT
Sorkin is a good writer, but this premise sounds LAME.
by orbots commander
I hope to tries something else outside of his comfort zone, i.e. heavy handed political themed drama. I would definitely be interested in a Sorkin written Heroes or Lost type show. How about a Sorkin science fiction show? Shake things up, Sorkin!
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Studio 60 was self-important tripe from a guy who clearly had no idea what the environment was all about. The writing was stale, although the dialogue was pretty good, and it wasted its cast with the exception of D.L. Hughley who shouldn't have been there at all. Also the "Network" ripoff was unforgiveably lame. As for this, it seems like a good fit. I don't agree with all of Sorkin's politics but this is probably an environment he understands better. Plus this is an industry that deals in caricatures so I can't wait to see who plays what.
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Because the problem with Studio 60 was that they were treating sketch comedy like SERIOUS BUSINESS, when it clearly isn't.. and the sketches blew, considering how much time was devoted to them.
Whereas the news actually does have a bit of importance to it (or at least it's more conceivable), plus there is room for a lot of justified drama. However, being Sorkin I'm likely to imagine that it'll be a utopian envisioning of a news station, and won't deal much with the shady politicing and lazy journalism in the newsmedia nowdays -
Put me in and I'll rip the fascists a new anus.
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the horrible, satire-worthy truth of cable "news" shows like Olberman's is that they're NOT nearly as important as they think they are, except in perpetuating the vapid manipulation machine, and are probably less culturally intelligent than the best sketch comedy shows. This show will only work if Sorkin goes at it from that angle - make Olberman like a Peter Sellers' Clousseau, or Steve Carell's Michael Scott - a bumbling, self-important man-child with the occassional stumble into insight. It could work, but that's what Studio 60 should've been but just wasn't.
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