I am – Hercules!!

Actually, at least two critics find tonight’s installment of “Studio 60” better than its pilot, because USA Today’s TV critic agrees with our guy.

One hears “Studio 60” airs in Canada the Sunday before we Americans get to see it on Monday, so we’ll hopefully make these Monday morning reviews a regular feature here in AICN’s pretty blue Coaxial box. (And hopefully our Monday-morning reviewers will start sending their reviews as Microsoft Word attachments so Herc doesn’t have to spend an hour formatting.)

Here’s “Daniel Kurland” with all the grisly details on 1.2:

What's It Called?
"The Cold Open"

Who Wrote It?
Aaron Sorkin

Who Directed?
Thomas Schlamme

What's it about?
Matt stresses over writing an amazing show (particular stress is on the opening) after Jordan sets the bar incredibly high for Matt and Danny at a press conference. Matt also tries to cope with the writing staff. And Harriett stresses over the fact that Matt may be dating another cast member.

What's new?
The show doesn't have a title sequence like West Wing did, but rather just a a title card and bit of music. They are also putting the title on the screen at the beginning like West Wing did. Evan Handler and Carlos Jacott are also seen as fellow writers (Possibly Ricky and Ron, it's not clarified). Also, the introduction of Jeanie "With the light brown hair" Whatley played by Ayda Field takes place, who seems like she'll be sticking around for a while.

What's good about it?
In spite of how many people were simply amazed by the pilot, this episode is much, much better, and any worries I may have had (which were minimal) are now gone. The dialogue is much quicker and wittier, the characters have more room to breathe, and the fact that we all ready know everyone's motivations makes it much more fun to just watch them all interact. Matt and Danny really seem to be the next Casey McCall and Dan Rydell. Especially with Danny's Rydell-like honesty at possibly inappropriate times. The skit Matt does come up with to open is not only a pleasure to watch, but is brilliant
in my opinion, and a nice nod to a certain musical that Sorkin has referenced before on The West Wing. Nate Corddry and D.L. Hughley's characters get a lot more screen time. "Was she calling us Hollywood liberals, or was she calling us gay?" "It’s a fine distinction." "Were you aware of Danny's drug problem?" "I can't recall, I was high when he told me." "It was turned off. How does it still know what time it was?" "It has batteries. Don't give the clock special powers."

What's not good about it?
Sarah Paulson still isn't clicking with me, but she's better than she was in the pilot. Jordan and Jack are only in a bit of the first half of the episode, and Cal doesn't get much time either. This isn't a huge deal, and really not that unexpected due to the huge size of the cast, it's just interesting to see how they are managing it.

Rating (out of 5)
Four (possibly 4.5, but I don't want to seem TOO eager too fast) And I would have given the pilot 3.5

”Owwwwwww My God!! Oh Dear Lord, Oh God, Mother of All Things Holy!! Please Let This Nightmare Stop!! My Ass Is Fire!! My Ass Is Fire!!!!!! Owwwwwwww!!!! My Ass Is No More; It Has Been Replaced By Fire!!!!!”

Twenty minutes into last Monday’s “The Howard Stern Show” Howard played a cut from Norm Macdonald’s new comedy album that made me laugh so hard I nearly passed out. It starred Will Ferrell (doing his Harry Carey voice) and Norm re-enacting the first time two men decided to have sex with each other. It just builds and builds and builds as the two fellows try to overcome a seemingly endless litany of obstacles. Kindly seek it out and listen. It costs $11.97 and is worth twice that price for “World’s First Two Gay Guys” alone.