tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378385742024-03-13T10:16:26.170-05:00[Blogger|60]on.the.sunset.strip].Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-24534922929226684652007-02-19T15:14:00.000-05:002007-02-19T15:25:48.668-05:00The EndIn 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.<br /><br />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.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-27543022703775235692007-02-13T15:05:00.000-05:002007-02-13T15:19:12.846-05:00"Friday Night Slaughter" SlaughteredIn 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.<br /><br />That said, the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_60#Standard_ratings"> "60" entry on Wikipedia</a> has a very comprehensive ratings section in which the context of last nights rating of a <span style="font-weight: bold;">4.3/7</span> 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.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-61736465973634491742007-02-13T09:26:00.000-05:002007-02-12T18:35:36.320-05:00"Friday Night Slaughter" Reaction- <a href="http://ideas.4brad.com/node/517">Brad Templeton</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">discusses why the show's premise doesn't work.</span> (Or how it was a lost opportunity)<br /><br />- <a href="http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/13/studio-60-on-the-sunset-strip-the-friday-night-slaughter/">Jay Black</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">thinks Perry was amazing, and that the show actually worked</span>, but he's torn over the significance of Time Batale.<br /><br />- <a href="http://blogs.courant.com/roger_catlin_tv_eye/2007/02/flashing_back.html">Roger Catlin </a><span style="font-weight: bold;">analyzes the flashback.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-12809963861187239342007-02-12T18:07:00.000-05:002007-02-12T15:03:42.272-05:00The Case Against CancellationSince 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, <a href="http://www.tvseriesfinale.com/2007/02/studio_60_on_the_sunset_strip_seven_reasons_why_it.html">this piece</a> (entitled "Seven Reasons Why It's Not Cancelled") is notable if only for the contrarian approach:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:-1;"><p><strong>1. network support. </strong>A few weeks ago, Sorkin said that, when <em>Studio 60</em> 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. </p> <p><strong>2. Even more network support. </strong>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 <em>Friday Night Lights, 30 Rock</em> and <em>Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.</em> Quite honestly, the network doesn't have a lot of other options.</p> </span></blockquote>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).<br />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).<br /><br />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.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-48035777834268114852007-02-12T14:57:00.000-05:002008-12-09T04:46:37.294-05:00"Friday Night Slaughter"<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jhImI4bIpw/RdDG4zqAGuI/AAAAAAAAABs/M1ajLKd1OIw/s1600-h/115matt-others.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jhImI4bIpw/RdDG4zqAGuI/AAAAAAAAABs/M1ajLKd1OIw/s320/115matt-others.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5030739463014193890" border="0" /></a><br /><span>Tonight's new episode preview is brought to us from <a href="http://studio60-guide.com/115-friday-night/">Studio60-Guide: </a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span>Matt (Matthew Perry) remembers how he and Harriet (Sarah Paulson) first met.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote></blockquote><br /></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-76879675773480818062007-02-06T14:51:00.000-05:002007-02-06T14:53:01.819-05:00"Harriet Dinner (2)" Ratings<a href="http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-ratings020507,0,680581.story?coll=zap-tv-ratings-headlines">Last night's ep. scored a 4.6/7. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-64119598520367656002007-02-06T09:28:00.000-05:002007-02-06T21:30:59.195-05:00"Harriet Dinner (2)" Reaction- <a href="http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/wwdnbackup/2007/02/okay_nbc_lets_t.html">Wil Wheaton </a>and Bob Sassone of <a href="http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/06/hey-america-are-you-talking-about-studio-60-t/">TV Squad</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> have major beef with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Zucker">Jeff Zucker</a>. </span>(Hey if "60" goes down, we're bringing him down, too)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>- Liz of <a href="http://glowybox.blogspot.com/2007/02/studio-60-snakes-on-set-part-ii.html">Glowy Box </a>tells us:<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Aaron Sorkin hates black people.</span> (or something like that)<br /><br />- <span>Jay Black of </span><a href="http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/06/studio-60-on-the-sunset-strip-the-harriet-dinner-part-2/">TV Squad</a><span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">is totally depressed that recent rumors mean that "60" will fade out in a wimper</span>. That said, he loved Danny & Jordan.<br /><br /><span>- <a href="http://sepinwall.blogspot.com/2007/02/studio-60-wrong-is-right.html">Alan Sepinwall</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> hates that Sorkin doesn't care about what </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">we</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> care about.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-45392155680969289192007-02-04T23:23:00.000-05:002008-12-09T04:46:37.432-05:00Pre-Monday Roundup<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jhImI4bIpw/Rcaxjn0XmuI/AAAAAAAAABg/xksoJItnhU8/s1600-h/114matt-harriet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jhImI4bIpw/Rcaxjn0XmuI/AAAAAAAAABg/xksoJItnhU8/s320/114matt-harriet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5027901259547908834" border="0" /></a>- 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). [<a href="http://studio60-guide.com/114-harriet-dinner-2/">Read more at S60 Guide</a>]<br /><br />- 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.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-49872116093731664912007-01-30T13:06:00.000-05:002007-01-30T13:31:45.086-05:00"Harriet Dinner (1)" RatingsLast night's ep. scored a <span style="font-weight: bold;">4.8</span> out of either <a href="http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-ratings012907,0,1663626.story?coll=zap-tv-ratings-headlines">7 </a>or <a href="http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings.aspx">9</a>. 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, <span style="font-style: italic;">nor</span> accurate. Yay for basing success in an entire industry on obscure measurement systems! Anyways, here is the ratings history as compiled at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_60#Standard_ratings">Wikipedia</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-58448845191410544882007-01-30T12:04:00.000-05:002007-01-30T13:30:35.025-05:00"Harriet Dinner (1)" Reaction<span>Needless to say, there hasn't been much. Stay tuned as new pieces will be added on top.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />- </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gary Susman of <a href="http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20010240,00.html">Entertainment Weekly</a> concludes that the Tom & Lucy pairing was the only relationship that approached comedy last night. <a href="http://marvwolfman.com/2007/01/is-that-shark-way-way-down-there.html">Marv Wolfman</a> hates that Tom <span style="font-style: italic;">had</span> to lie to Lucy.<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />- Please read Mike Zimmer's review </span>(on a blog entitled <a href="http://kegeratornation.com/?p=497">Kegeratornation</a>)<span style="font-weight: bold;"> if you you're of the mind that many a "60" criticism is over the top. </span>And yes, if he seems insufferable even after he introduces himself as an "Ameteur TV Critic", then be prepared, it gets worse. Much worse.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />- </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/01/30/studio-60-on-the-sunset-strip-the-harriet-dinner-part-one/">TV Squad</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">'s Jay Black is unable to get past the onslaught of cliche:</span> "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."<a><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><a href="http://complicationsensue.blogspot.com/2007/01/things-not-to-do-when-youre-famous.html">Alex Epstein</a> agrees.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-15434165693649097142007-01-27T09:48:00.000-05:002008-12-09T04:46:37.618-05:00Weekend Roundup<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jhImI4bIpw/RbtoI4rp7rI/AAAAAAAAABA/Y32jH8cA10Q/s1600-h/113matt-harriet.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 213px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_9jhImI4bIpw/RbtoI4rp7rI/AAAAAAAAABA/Y32jH8cA10Q/s320/113matt-harriet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024724311125651122" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />- Read about Monday's ep. "The Harriet Dinner (Part 1)" on <a href="http://studio60-guide.com/113-harriet-dinner/">Studio 60 Guide</a>.<br /><br />- The Emmys are considering a "dramedy" category, for which <a href="http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117958131.html?nav=news&categoryid=1985&cs=1">Variety</a> says "60" would be eligible.<br /><br />- Reuters <a href="http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=musicNews&storyID=2007-01-27T111028Z_01_N27245393_RTRIDST_0_MUSIC-STUDIO60-DC.XML&WTmodLoc=EntNewsMusic_C1_%5BFeed%5D-1">writes</a> 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.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-89359277460993832402007-01-26T11:31:00.000-05:002007-01-26T11:58:24.626-05:00'Studio 60' finding favor with a key audienceNo, this is not a memo eminating from of Jordan McDeere's office, but instead the title of an article out by the <a href="http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/18954">ScrippsNews Service</a>. 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:<br /><blockquote>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.</blockquote>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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />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)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-88873817182135283392007-01-23T19:31:00.001-05:002007-01-24T09:31:47.569-05:00(More) "Monday" Reaction- <a href="http://johnoakdalton.blogspot.com/index.html">John Oak Dalton</a> has a rather hilarious take on why Amanda Peet is just so much hipper than you.<br />- Travis Fickett of <a href="http://tv.ign.com/articles/757/757803p1.html?RSSwhen2007-01-23_133600&RSSid=757803">IGN</a> is upset that Sorkin is no longer really writing about the "Studio 60" the show is supposedly about.<br />-<a href="http://www.odannyboy.com/blog/new_archives/2007/01/give_aaron_sork.html"> O Danny Boy </a>(Danny Saffer) wishes Sorkin was back on drugs.<br />- <a href="http://danielrandle.blogspot.com/2007/01/studio-60-and-new-attack-on.html">Christ and Culture</a> 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').Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-37559932617797325632007-01-23T12:17:00.000-05:002007-01-23T18:18:42.975-05:00"Monday" Ties for "60"'s Lowest Rating<a href="http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-ratings012207,0,287363.story?coll=zap-tv-ratings-headlines">Zap2It</a> reports the show scored a <span style="font-weight: bold;">4.7/8</span>. (The <span style="font-style: italic;">Heroes </span>lead-in was 8.5/12).<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_60#U.S._television_ratings">Wikipedia</a> has a ratings history.<br /><br />EDIT (6:12pm)<br />Next week's guest (on the show within a show) is <span style="font-style: italic;">Heroes</span>' Masi Oka (you know, the Japanese guy everyone supposedly loves). One can only hope that maybe "60" can retain just a<span style="font-style: italic;"> little</span> of the that lead-in?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-22498585709290534082007-01-23T10:00:00.000-05:002007-01-23T19:09:55.135-05:00"Monday" ReactionI'll be posting reaction here as soon as I can read it (with the latest on top). Stay tight for the overnight ratings...<br /><br />-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Todd VanDerWerff at </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://southdakotadark.blogspot.com/2007/01/theres-another-pretty-girl-at-dance.html">South Dakota Dark</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> explores Sorkin's intention of turning "60" into a romantic comedy. </span><br />-<span style="font-weight: bold;">"crossoverman" of </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://crossoverman.livejournal.com/134244.html">You Can't Take a Picture</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> discusses the ep.'s scattered writing</span> remarking that it isn't justified even if to serve to set up for the upcoming two-parter.<br />-<span style="font-weight: bold;">Rakesh at </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://tvontheinternets.blogspot.com/index.html">TV on the Internets</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> likes "Sorkin's maturing exploration of race"</span> putting it in context with his past shows.<br />- <span style="font-weight: bold;">"discreet_chaos" posting on his blog "</span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://discreet-chaos.livejournal.com/268703.html">Chaotic Convergence</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">" describes himself as one of "the self-loathing people who have been watching </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Studio 60</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">."</span> (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.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">- Jay Black at </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/01/23/studio-60-on-the-sunset-strip-monday/">TV Squad </a><span style="font-weight: bold;">sums it up as the "love episode"</span> (but he thinks Danny is creepy) and discusses Sorkin's penchant for "wish fulfilment" as opposed to, um, actual character development.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-32535377667318175792007-01-16T13:55:00.000-05:002007-01-16T14:06:44.985-05:00Odds 'N Ends- <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/Schedule/search.bravo?keyword=Studio%2060&start=today">Bravo</a> will be running a "Studio 60" marathon this Sunday, the 21st.<br /><br />- Monday's new ep. is entitled <span style="font-style: italic;">Monday</span>: <br /><blockquote>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. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">[</span><a href="http://www.tv.com/studio-60-on-the-sunset-strip/monday-1/episode/934539/summary.html">from TV.com</a>] </blockquote>- Sarah Paulson was the sole Emmy-nominee from "Studio 60", and last night went home without a statue.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-57255957391594569112007-01-08T21:45:00.000-05:002007-01-08T22:02:03.624-05:00Arianna Pushes "60" Harder Than CrackYet 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:<br /><blockquote><p><span style="font-size:85%;">"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. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;">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.</span></p></blockquote>It's an intresting theme that's been playing out at HuffPost lately: "Studio 60" <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> shit, but even Sorkin's <span style="font-style: italic;">shit</span> is among the most important television there is. (Even if it's not going to win anybody an Emmy)<br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br />HuffPost: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/how-not-to-talk-about-_b_37127.html">How Not to Talk About Studio 60 Over the Holidays </a>(Chris Kelly)<br />HuffPost: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-weigant/studio-60-snl-gerald-fo_b_37517.html">Studio 60, SNL Gerald Ford, Cheney's Melodrama, And Other Odds And Ends</a> (Chris Weigant)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-72269606035494522622006-12-31T17:17:00.000-05:002006-12-31T17:52:00.419-05:00Some Stale, Old News for a (Nearly) New YearYou've undoubtedly heard by now that "Studio 60" is <a href="http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-studio60mosttimeshiftedshow,0,4559331.story?coll=zap-tv-headlines">the most "time-shifted" program of the year. </a><br /><br />This raises the all-important question for NBC, who, despite all the romanticism the show puts upon the Television as an artistic medium, is primarily concerned with cold, hard numbers that lead to cold, hard cash. The short-term question is: "Do we give it a new timeslot?", but the long-term question is: "How do we continue to make money off of this new model?" It feels like for "60" to just exist for no more than one season would be the total cop-out: it would represent network television's ignorance of their impending irrelevance. If they cannot adapt to make a show like "60" profitable for them, then they cannot adapt to remain relevant.<br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br />Zap2It: <a href="http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-studio60mosttimeshiftedshow,0,4559331.story?coll=zap-tv-headlines">'Studio 60' Gets Bump from DVRs</a><br />Jon Robin Baitz: <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/studio_60/139560.html#cutid1">The Numbers and Why They Lie</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-84628440962540937662006-12-27T22:36:00.000-05:002006-12-27T22:45:09.363-05:00The Pretend Show within a ShowNearly everyone can agree that the actual "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" - the sketch show they are supposedly creating each week - is complete and utter crap. Somehow though, many followers of the Sorkin (myself included) seem to obscure this fact from what are the show's percieved bigger issues. The<a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-studio25dec25,1,7793332.story?coll=la-headlines-entnews&track=crosspromo"> LA Times </a>offers a whole different look on the topic:<br /><blockquote>Sorkin's "West Wing" was meticulously researched and seen as largely accurate about life in Washington: Did the auteur producer-writer raise the bar so high for himself that "Studio 60" is unfairly scrutinized? Is this segment of viewers in Hollywood simply too aware of what "Studio 60" gets wrong to enjoy the show?<br /><br />One comedy show runner, who asked that her name be withheld, said: "The New Orleans crisis or the war has never touched my life in television."<br /><br />"They never laugh," Levine said of the show's characters. "We laugh all the time. It is the one saving grace of the job."<br /><br />"The fact that they don't seem to know how a sketch comedy show like 'SNL' is written, that needs to be remedied," said Joe Reid, who recaps "Studio 60" each week for Television Without Pity. "It doesn't seem authentic at all."<br /><br />Gillette said Sorkin's approach to comedy just seems off. "He wants to get big ideas across and change people's minds," she said. "No comedians work that way. They go for the laughs first and the lesson second."</blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-23020021703654350382006-12-19T13:01:00.000-05:002006-12-19T13:05:04.794-05:00Ratings for "Xmas Show" Repeat"The Christmas Show" maintained its 2nd place slot (against "CSI: Miami") scoring a 3.1/5 and beating a new ep. of ABC's "What About Brian". The original airing scored a 4.9/8.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-71971136954119563062006-12-19T10:01:00.000-05:002006-12-19T10:17:46.583-05:00Envelopes and Other Stuff:- The Writer's Guild of America yesterday nominated "Studio 60" for two awards - Best Overall New Program and Episodic Drama for the Pilot. Winners will be announced on Febuary 11th from Los Angeles.<br /><br />- After garnering four nominations from the Satellite Awards (given by the International Press Academy) the cast of "Studio 60" walked away empty-handed last night. Ouch.<br /><br />- Richard at <a href="http://www.screenhead.com/reviews/a-new-look-at-an-old-studio-60/">Screenhead </a>realizes that "The Christmas Show" is "White Christmas":<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">Think about it. You have a show within a show, with the exterior show being produced by two showmakers (replace Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye with Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford) who are doing the show partially in the benefit of holiday charity - in this case for struggling musicians out of New Orleans. You also have one of the showmakers struggling to admit his feelings for a woman (Bradley Whitford’s Danny Tripp for Amanda Peet’s Jordan McDeere). And to top it all off, you’ve got a quest for snow - in the middle of L.A. of all places.</span></blockquote><br />- The fast overnight ratings for last night's repeat should go public after noon eastern, so I'll be blogging them then.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-6631536093896023892006-12-18T09:09:00.000-05:002006-12-19T13:06:38.137-05:00Don't Forget...Tonight's the rerun of "The Christmas Show".<br />New eps begin airing three weeks from tonight.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-42398406419204330822006-12-16T16:14:00.000-05:002006-12-16T16:42:28.424-05:00Golden Globes Snup Sorkin, "60"'s A-List CastBy now you ought to know that "Studio 60" did pitifully in Golden Globe nominations on Thursday. The show was nominated for a single statue (Sarah Paulson for Best Supporting Actress). The disappointing showing is even more dramatic when put in the context of <a href="http://www.defamer.com/hollywood/golden-globes/will-the-golden-globes-pretend-to-like-studio-60-221698.php">this quote</a> from Aaron Sorkin earlier in the week:<br /><blockquote>"I try not to think too much about the stuff that's out of my control, like awards," Sorkin says. "But that said, it meant a lot to me and everyone connected to 'West Wing' to get that recognition from the Hollywood Foreign Press right out of the gate. We were by no means a slam-dunk hit at that point, and it helped do for us what that organization historically seems to do best: turn critical hits into popular hits."</blockquote>Wow. You really can't blame the guy: after "West Wing" basically dominated the Globes & Emmys for every year it was on television, and after NBC spent millions to lure back Whitford and got Matthew Perry & Amanda Peet to jump back to the small screen after moderately-successful careers in film, you'd think you have as a successful 'formula' as ever. It's wholly ironic then that Paulson, the only prominent player without anything approaching the success of her co-stars, is the show's sole nominee.<br /><br />SEE ALSO:<br />Defamer: <a href="http://www.defamer.com/hollywood/golden-globes/will-the-golden-globes-pretend-to-like-studio-60-221698.php">Will the Golden Globes Pretend to Like 'Studio 60'?</a><br /><blockquote></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-79185994510131669172006-12-15T23:34:00.000-05:002006-12-15T23:46:45.128-05:00This is hilarious:<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VuS71qH1k8E"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VuS71qH1k8E" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37838574.post-60090012549906084002006-12-09T13:44:00.000-05:002006-12-09T14:27:30.723-05:00A Dose of Reality(?)So, the last episode was effing amazing wasn't it? (And it's being rerun 0n the 18th!) After a brief creative hiatus (i.e.: every episode between "Pilot" and "The Christmas Show") Sorkin has returned and everything's coming up roses, right? Someone named Ashgiel at <a href="http://www.fangasm.com/01television/deepsixing-studio-60.php">fangasm</a> lays out the reality in all its naked starkness:<br /><br /><blockquote>Rumor has it that "Studio 60" won't be around very long. You know the end is near when more than half the viewers from its lead-in "Heroes" drop off. Over at the big eyeball CBS, they are getting 10 million more viewers in that time-slot than the peacock.<br /><br />Sure, there was an order put out for nine more episodes, but no amount of spin control can fix the fact that it has been on a steady ratings decline since the pilot aired back at the start of the fall season. It's sad for NBC which seemed to be defending this show from the outset, but that's the word from people involved with the show. It won't be long before it's cut completely from the air.<br /><br />There's a big reason this show didn't work. The pilot which had a boatload of viewers was a different show than the rest of the season has been. The initial episode was more people and character oriented. The show has since degenerated into being plot driven rather than character driven. In my opinion, this is what has brought on its steady decline in viewership.</blockquote><br />And so the big question now is: "Is it too late?" Has "60"'s audience already tuned-out? I think it will be particularly interesting, and frustrating, to look at how well the rerun of "The Christmas Show" does.<br /><blockquote></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0