The End

In case you have not heard yet, tonights airing of "Studio 60" is likely to be the last. The mid-season replacement has been pushed up to next week. While many have speculated as to whether this is or isn't the end, I think the post immediately below this one speaks to network reasoning more than anything else can.

That said, I intend for this blog to continue on in some incarnation or another. I daresay that this is not the last we shall hear about "60", but I can almost say without reservation that it is not the last we will hear from Aaron Sorkin.

"Friday Night Slaughter" Slaughtered

In ratings posts I've typically made statements like: "... tied for worst rating yet", or something to that effect. It's silly, but I've found that raw numbers from Nielsen feel obscure and arbitrary for those of us outside of the confines of Los Angeles or Burbank. They are necessary, however, because they are essentially the only numbers that matter in LA and Burbank.

That said, the "60" entry on Wikipedia has a very comprehensive ratings section in which the context of last nights rating of a 4.3/7 could not be any more clear. It was the worst rating thus far of "Studio 60", and, with 6.5 million viewers, had less than half of the audience of the series' premiere.

"Friday Night Slaughter" Reaction

- Brad Templeton discusses why the show's premise doesn't work. (Or how it was a lost opportunity)

- Jay Black thinks Perry was amazing, and that the show actually worked, but he's torn over the significance of Time Batale.

- Roger Catlin analyzes the flashback.

The Case Against Cancellation

Since the recent news of "60"'s open-ended hiatus, there's been little intreptation of the announcement as anything other than an ominous strike in a series of ominous stikes against the show. Therefore, this piece (entitled "Seven Reasons Why It's Not Cancelled") is notable if only for the contrarian approach:

1. network support. A few weeks ago, Sorkin said that, when Studio 60 was picked up for the additional nine episodes in late 2006, now NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker assured him of the show's future. Zucker told Sorkin that he wasn't focusing on the back nine episodes but more in terms of seasons two and three of the series.

2. Even more network support. At the recent Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour, NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly vowed to stick with several quality freshman shows that have struggled to find a large audience -- including Friday Night Lights, 30 Rock and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Quite honestly, the network doesn't have a lot of other options.

The remaining reasons are predictable (the ideal demo, the ambiguity of the ratings #'s, even [gasp!] that NBC wouldn't dare cancel on Aaron Sorkin b/c he is, after all, Aaron Sorkin).
Network support is, in the end, the only route through which "60" can survive but it shouldn't be underestimated. I, like any other fan of the late, great "Arrested Development" can tell you, that critical network support, as well as a lack of other scheduling options to pursue, can buy a under-performing show two extra seasons (and an offer from boutique cable outlets like Showtime).

Obviously, "60" and "Arrested Development" differ greatly, most important of which being that "60" actually has a an average rating of at least 2-3 million more viewers (though declining) than "AD" did when it was cancelled.

"Friday Night Slaughter"

Tonight's new episode preview is brought to us from Studio60-Guide:
Matt (Matthew Perry) remembers how he and Harriet (Sarah Paulson) first met.

"Harriet Dinner (2)" Ratings

Last night's ep. scored a 4.6/7.

"Harriet Dinner (2)" Reaction

- Wil Wheaton and Bob Sassone of TV Squad have major beef with Jeff Zucker. (Hey if "60" goes down, we're bringing him down, too)

- Liz of Glowy Box tells us: Aaron Sorkin hates black people. (or something like that)

- Jay Black of TV Squad is totally depressed that recent rumors mean that "60" will fade out in a wimper. That said, he loved Danny & Jordan.

- Alan Sepinwall hates that Sorkin doesn't care about what we care about.

Pre-Monday Roundup

- On tomorrow's "Harriet Dinner Part 2" we join Mr. Sorkin's fledgling romantic comedy in progress. Musical guest Natalie Cole will serenade Matt & Harriet at the Catholics in Media awards dinner (which is apparently uber-glamorous) while Danny & Jordan continue to search in vein for a cell phone signal (on a rooftop in downtown Los Angeles). [Read more at S60 Guide]

- Tomorrow is the first of seven new episodes to air before the show is replaced in March by a new show - "The Black Donnelys" - but "60" is supposedly returning later in the season at a date yet to be announced. Hmmmm.

"Harriet Dinner (1)" Ratings

Last night's ep. scored a 4.8 out of either 7 or 9. On a similar note, last week's rating were corrected to a 5.3/8 (originally reported at 4.8) proving that the Nielsen system is neither helpful, nor accurate. Yay for basing success in an entire industry on obscure measurement systems! Anyways, here is the ratings history as compiled at Wikipedia.

"Harriet Dinner (1)" Reaction

Needless to say, there hasn't been much. Stay tuned as new pieces will be added on top.

- Gary Susman of Entertainment Weekly concludes that the Tom & Lucy pairing was the only relationship that approached comedy last night. Marv Wolfman hates that Tom had to lie to Lucy.

- Please read Mike Zimmer's review (on a blog entitled Kegeratornation) if you you're of the mind that many a "60" criticism is over the top. And yes, if he seems insufferable even after he introduces himself as an "Ameteur TV Critic", then be prepared, it gets worse. Much worse.

- TV Squad's Jay Black is unable to get past the onslaught of cliche: "Believe me, I used to be a high school teacher, it sucks when kids try to be ironic and post-modern in their poetry and it sucks when supposed TV geniuses try to do it on their television shows."Alex Epstein agrees.

Weekend Roundup

- Read about Monday's ep. "The Harriet Dinner (Part 1)" on Studio 60 Guide.

- The Emmys are considering a "dramedy" category, for which Variety says "60" would be eligible.

- Reuters writes that "60" is a hot commodity - for the music biz. The article says that we'll probably be seeing a lot more artists in the wake of Sting and Corinne Bailey Ray's successes on the show.

'Studio 60' finding favor with a key audience

No, this is not a memo eminating from of Jordan McDeere's office, but instead the title of an article out by the ScrippsNews Service. And while the article seems to lack any nuanced perspective (it maintains that "60" is still a darling of the critics) and full of Sorkin talking points, it does provide this informative little nugget:

However, that does not mean "Studio" won't try to broaden its audience. There are plans to reach out to those of us who don't want so much "insider" stuff in the plots.

This statement makes about as much sense as saying that the biggest issue with "West Wing" was that it was too politically-intelligent or that the worst part of watching "Project Runway" is gaining insight into the creative process.

"60"'s potential lies in that it is in a unique position to critique Television and how it is made. The reason it is bleeding viewers is not because there aren't enough people interested in that premise (the ratings for the pilot would seem to invalidate that theory), but because its portrayal of how television is made is seemingly disconnected from reality. This undercuts the credibility of its critique and makes, in and of itself, for uninteresting television.

Trying to expand the show's appeal (via making it an overt romantic comedy) is not so much a strategy for gaining new viewers as it is for avoiding the existing problems with the show and losing those "key" viewers who have faith in the show's premise. I'm not saying that these two issues cannot be tackled simultaneously but it must be recognized that Sorkin cannot put all his eggs in the romantic comedy basket. (Especially if said basket isn't actually funny or similarly, unbelievable)

(More) "Monday" Reaction

- John Oak Dalton has a rather hilarious take on why Amanda Peet is just so much hipper than you.
- Travis Fickett of IGN is upset that Sorkin is no longer really writing about the "Studio 60" the show is supposedly about.
- O Danny Boy (Danny Saffer) wishes Sorkin was back on drugs.
- Christ and Culture is mad that Sorkin is still a Christian-hater. (Though they seem to validate the over-the-topness of his epic [though now wanning] 'culture war').

"Monday" Ties for "60"'s Lowest Rating

Zap2It reports the show scored a 4.7/8. (The Heroes lead-in was 8.5/12).
Wikipedia has a ratings history.

EDIT (6:12pm)
Next week's guest (on the show within a show) is Heroes' Masi Oka (you know, the Japanese guy everyone supposedly loves). One can only hope that maybe "60" can retain just a little of the that lead-in?

"Monday" Reaction

I'll be posting reaction here as soon as I can read it (with the latest on top). Stay tight for the overnight ratings...

-Todd VanDerWerff at South Dakota Dark explores Sorkin's intention of turning "60" into a romantic comedy.
-"crossoverman" of You Can't Take a Picture discusses the ep.'s scattered writing remarking that it isn't justified even if to serve to set up for the upcoming two-parter.
-Rakesh at TV on the Internets likes "Sorkin's maturing exploration of race" putting it in context with his past shows.
- "discreet_chaos" posting on his blog "Chaotic Convergence" describes himself as one of "the self-loathing people who have been watching Studio 60." (Oh yes, it's one of those commentaries) Nonetheless, he gives an interesting perspective on why a recent court ruling has all-but invalidated the FCC storyline.
- Jay Black at TV Squad sums it up as the "love episode" (but he thinks Danny is creepy) and discusses Sorkin's penchant for "wish fulfilment" as opposed to, um, actual character development.

Odds 'N Ends

- Bravo will be running a "Studio 60" marathon this Sunday, the 21st.

- Monday's new ep. is entitled Monday:

Part 1 of 3. When an old cast member returns to host, Matt has to write for a whole new person. Meanwhile, Danny continues his pursuit of Jordan while Matt competes online for a date with Harriet. [from TV.com]

- Sarah Paulson was the sole Emmy-nominee from "Studio 60", and last night went home without a statue.

Arianna Pushes "60" Harder Than Crack

Yet another edition of debating the merits of "Studio 6o" at Huffington Post: This time David Vaina relates embattled pro-lifer actress Patricia Heaton with "60"'s own Harriet Hayes. The ensuing discussion is of some interest:

"Studio 60" might not be the vehicle for Hollywood to turn things around with Middle America. The scenes that pit conservatives versus liberals are not just preachy and self-righteous, but may be too dichotomous and fail to capture the complexity of how people really think about and debate political and cultural issues.

But I do hope the show gets better and I know I'll be watching. Because what are the other alternatives on television where we can see the two sides of the culture war duking it out with one another and really letting us know how they feel? "Hannity and Colmes?" "Meet the Press?" Please. As much as "Studio 60" struggles at times, it's another reminder of how the intersection of politics and culture can be so much more understandable and compelling in the realm of fiction, a tradition that's been with us as far back as Homer and Virgil.

It's an intresting theme that's been playing out at HuffPost lately: "Studio 60" is shit, but even Sorkin's shit is among the most important television there is. (Even if it's not going to win anybody an Emmy)

SEE ALSO:
HuffPost: How Not to Talk About Studio 60 Over the Holidays (Chris Kelly)
HuffPost: Studio 60, SNL Gerald Ford, Cheney's Melodrama, And Other Odds And Ends (Chris Weigant)