Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

[Cheesebeef]

this show won't last long. it's too good for the American TV public.

 

[Espo]

I had this same conversation about an hour ago with a friend. He thinks it will last two seasons. I give it three because NBC owes Sorkin for the fact that he gave them The West Wing. What this means is it will last one season.

 

[TBaslim]

Great show. A bit strange that it comes after Heros - totally different vibes. Oh well, means it makes for easy viewing on Mondays.

I do wonder how Sorkin will keep things interesting over the course of years. The Sat. Night Live angle seems to have only so many plot options.

Then again, who would have thought a show about the inner, day-to-day workings of the White House would be so amazing?

 

[mesacardsfan]

Great Show! This has to be one of my new favorite shows just smart comedy!

 

[Joe Mama]

I just watched Monday's episode. It's a solid show, but I have to admit that I'm not really in love with it. I'm not sure exactly why either. I mean it's got solid acting, good dialogue. I guess at the end of the day I just don't carol whole lot about what is actually happening on the show. Maybe next week's episode will do more for me.

Joe

 

[D-Dogg]

Have eps two and three on DVR, but haven't watched them. Missed the pilot episode too.

Want to watch it, but just haven't yet. Maybe I'll start watching the DVR eps right before it is cancelled and be mad as hell.

 

[SO91]

I love the show...great writing and terrific acting, but I have a feeling it won't last. I just don't know many people that will be interested in the inner-workings of skit comedy show.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I love the show...great writing and terrific acting, but I have a feeling it won't last. I just don't know many people that will be interested in the inner-workings of skit comedy show.

That was the problem with Sports Night...great writing, get cast and acting, but no one cared about the behind the scenes of a sports show...

Even though I did

 

[D-Dogg]

Have eps two and three on DVR, but haven't watched them. Missed the pilot episode too.

Want to watch it, but just haven't yet. Maybe I'll start watching the DVR eps right before it is cancelled and be mad as hell.

Make that three episodes on DVR now and haven't watched one yet. I have a feeling I may never watch this show.

 

[CardFan67]

I love the show...great writing and terrific acting, but I have a feeling it won't last. I just don't know many people that will be interested in the inner-workings of skit comedy show.

I think these formats are hard on viewers... I like the idea, typically enjoy the show but then am always left feeling empty because I don't get to see the actual show they put together... Kind of like watching someone build something without ever getting to see the finished product... IMO they need to do what they are doing for the first 45 minutes of the show and devote the final 25% to showing the actual product or at least more than a 30 second cut on a scene. It would help me in a little episode closure.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I think these formats are hard on viewers... I like the idea, typically enjoy the show but then am always left feeling empty because I don't get to see the actual show they put together... Kind of like watching someone build something without ever getting to see the finished product... IMO they need to do what they are doing for the first 45 minutes of the show and devote the final 25% to showing the actual product or at least more than a 30 second cut on a scene. It would help me in a little episode closure.

I agree in a way, but I think they show as much as they need to.

I mean, the pilot showed the entire first skit, which was great.

I think if they focus energies on making funny skits, they will lose focus on writing about the characters, which is the most important thing anyways.

 

[CardFan67]

I think if they focus energies on making funny skits, they will lose focus on writing about the characters, which is the most important thing anyways.

Agreed, that is why I said that the format is a hard one... Also, like you, I think the focus should be on the characters and they should spend the majority of an episode on that, as they are, but perhaps 25% on the actual end product. Eh, who knows, I like it but my desire to watch it will dwindle due to that lack of closure on each show. What can I say, I must be a high maintenance viewer.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Another good episode this week...

 

[CardFan67]

Seemed to be a few more minutes of the end work, whether in rehearsal or towards the conclusion... I like that being in there but I thought the actual sketches themselves sucked bad, so... If that is what the sketches will be, I prefer, as you said, for them to NOT focus on the end product at all...

 

[D-Dogg]

Well, I'm officially not watching this show. Burned it off my DVR and just chalked it up to not interested. I may watch it on DVD.

 

[thirty-two]

'Studio 60’ Cancellation Iminent

Here we go: despite receiving an order for three more episodes on Friday, the Aaron Sorkin NBC drama “Studio 60 on Sunset Strip” is about to be put out of its misery.

Cast members are already confiding in friends that the end is near. It’s likely NBC will pull the plug shortly I am told by insiders.

Last week, Studio 60 had 7.7 million viewers. Compare that with competing "CSI: Miami," with 17.5 million. That gap cannot be closed.

But ‘Studio 60’ has trouble internally at NBC, forget its intramural rivals. According to ratings stats, the “Saturday Night Live” behind the scenes soap opera loses almost half the viewers delivered to it a few minutes earlier by another new show, “Heroes,” which has become a surprise cult hit.

On Monday, ‘Heroes’ had 14.3 million viewers. The substantial drop off with 'Studio 60' is probably the last nail in its coffin. The order of the three extra episodes is considered by insiders to be a contractual move, and not one based on faith that they will ever be made or aired. The all important demo situation didn’t help: 'Heroes' had 15 percent of viewers aged 18-49. Studio 60 had 8 percent. The notion that 'Studio 60' is a big draw for NBC among desirables is, sadly, blown on those stats.

Sorkin and friends will argue that NBC has done something wrong, or that the audience isn’t smart enough. Alas, in this case, neither is true. 'Studio 60'—as I wrote on August 7th after viewing the pilot—is just a bad show. There’s nothing wrong with the acting, directing, or dialogue writing. But the premise is faulty. No one cares whether a bunch of over caffeinated, well off yuppies, some with expensive drug habits, put on a weekly comedy sketch show from Los Angeles.

Even worse: no one cares whether or not the people from the Bartlett White House puts on a comedy show. That’s what 'Studio 60' is, essentially: the "West Wing" annual talent show. There’s so much earnestness involved in this endeavour, you start to think that nuclear war will be declared if the 'Studio 60' staff doesn’t air some joke—usually one we don’t hear anyway. The whole thing just feels weighted down and frankly, not entertaining.

There is one winner to come out of 'Studio 60,' however: Matthew Perry. In this show he’s proven himself to be a star on his own separate from "Friends." His comedic timing and ability to ad lib, toss off lines, and give restrained physical reactions is what keeps 'Studio 60' even remotely interesting. We can only be hopeful that someone comes up with a great new show for him quickly—but a comedy that’s funny, not a drama that isn’t.

NBC will probably fill the lost 'Studio 60' timeslot with 'Deal-No Deal: The Next Generation,' or some such thing. So the losers here will be the audience, which is about to be pummelled by more reality and game shows. It’s too bad because around the dial there are good new dramas. Despite its heavy “thirtysomething” feel, “Brothers and Sisters” is worth keeping if only for Sally Field, Ron Rifkin and Rachel Griffiths. (But there a mistake was made, too: killing off patriarch Tom Skerritt in the first episode.)

Oh well: I hope Regis is warming up the holiday edition of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." We’re ready!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,226092,00.html

 

[Boomer]

Unfortunate. I'm a big fan of Sorkin and I do like Studio 60.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

 

[Espo]

I don't like how the article dismisses the fact that NBC mis-scheduled this show. You have a lead in of a game show and a high paced action packed show in Heros. Honestly this show has the elements of a great show to bad America would rather watch trash like CSI Miami. Television panders to the lowest common denominator and to spending as little as possible. That is why NBC has decided to only show reality and game shows next year in the 7pm hour. I think Studio 60 probably pisses of execs because it makes them look bad and Sorkin's main point in this show is that television sucks and people need to have enough balls to stand up to the current structure and make television better. 17.5 million can have CSI Miami, as for me I'd rather watch a test pattern it has about as much mentally to offer me as CSI Miami.

 

[TBaslim]

I don't like how the article dismisses the fact that NBC mis-scheduled this show. You have a lead in of a game show and a high paced action packed show in Heros. Honestly this show has the elements of a great show to bad America would rather watch trash like CSI Miami. Television panders to the lowest common denominator and to spending as little as possible. That is why NBC has decided to only show reality and game shows next year in the 7pm hour. I think Studio 60 probably pisses of execs because it makes them look bad and Sorkin's main point in this show is that television sucks and people need to have enough balls to stand up to the current structure and make television better. 17.5 million can have CSI Miami, as for me I'd rather watch a test pattern it has about as much mentally to offer me as CSI Miami.

Agreed 100%. From the very first shows, I thought the lead in from Heros to Studio 60 was just not a good fit. Two different kinds of shows.

I think the Fox News reviewer is way off on saying the show was bad from the start. The pilot and second episodes were some of the best tv I've seen in years.

I do think the comedy sketches were mediocre and have gotten worse. I was actually not surprised to learn Sorkin was getting help from a Sat Night Live writer. It shows in the sketches.

The real problem is that the show is not a comedy, but a drama. People are fine with comedies that are set in more 'trivial environments' (Cheers, Taxi, Friends, etc). But dramas need the gravitas...and a late-night sketch comedy show is not gravitas.

Sorkin's style would have worked better set behind the scenes of an entire network, rather then one show. Then he could skewer modern tv and the like right and left, but keep the plots fresh and compelling. Bounce from the news division and it's issues/crisis to the game show division, or whatever.

That, or he needs to do the U.N. show that is referenced in Studio 60. J He did make the White House pretty interesting….

 

[D-Dogg]

Well, let's hope Friday Night Lights continues to outdraw Studio 60. At least NBC might keep ONE good show during their unreal cost-cutting philosophy they have now, replacing scripted shows with crap like "Let's See What is Behind Door Number Two" or "Dancing with NBA Draft Picks" or "Super Heart Talk for Singles with Cardinal Offensive Lineman."

Please, 60 fans, start watching Friday Night Lights...great acting...great characters. Let it live for God's sake. 8.8 million this week...let's all push this to ten million plus.....

 

[abomb]

with crap like "Let's See What is Behind Door Number Two" or "Dancing with NBA Draft Picks" or "Super Heart Talk for Singles with Cardinal Offensive Lineman."

An unscripted show with NBA Draft Picks would be the funniest thing ever.

 

[Espo]

An unscripted show with NBA Draft Picks would be the funniest thing ever.

Are you kidding. It would consist of a lot of guys with the munchies.

 

[mesacardsfan]

Just shows the stupidity of America in general, who would rather watch mindless dribble like CSI: Miami cause it shows a little tail, rather than a well written great show like Studio 60. I told my brother right from the start its a great show and they will cancel it to put on some dumb crap people would rather watch! Ridiculous!

 

[thirty-two]

Exclusive: Studio 60 gets Full Season!

So much for all that cancellation talk.

Just got word that NBC has given Aaron Sorkin's struggling Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip a full-season order. (That recent Lauren Graham cameo must've marked a turning point.)

http://community.tvguide.com/thread.jspa?threadID=700011511

Well then!