"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.

"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)" 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.

(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" 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.

Envelopes 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.

- 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.

- Richard at Screenhead realizes that "The Christmas Show" is "White Christmas":

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.

- The fast overnight ratings for last night's repeat should go public after noon eastern, so I'll be blogging them then.

"The Chritmas Show" Reaction...

A roundup of the latest"60" reaction from across the internets:

-DownWithTyranny! loves Ed Asner as the hero of the newly-emergent epic battle of Network Chair vs. the FCC.
-Just Another Pretty Farce has the goods for those of you wanting more of the "Christmas Myth" plotline from last night.
-BuddyTV sums up the conventional wisdom in saying: "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip finally delivered on its potential last night."
-John Eggerton at BCBeat (the blog of industry mag Broadcast&Cable) reacts to the new NBS/FCC battle: "Studio 60 is pretty darn preachy, which is no surprise for an Aaron Sorkin production, but fortunately for me its my favorite sermon."
-Dorothy Surrenders disusses the new implications for "60"'s female characters after the new Jordan/Danny and Matt/Harriet developments of last night.

That's a very cursory look at the general reaction, but, as I said, the general CW out of last night's ep was that "'Studio 60' has bounced back".

Weekend Buzz Roundup

- "Studio 60" leads in television nominations for the Satellite Awards (tied with "Ugly Betty" with 4 nominations a piece) which will be held December 17th. Sarah Paulson and Amanda Peet will be competing for Best Actress in a Series (Drama), while Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford will head off for Best Actor in a Series (Drama).

- While Harriet Hayes' position on gay marriage set off that whole fun little adventure known as "Nevada Day", two headliners of "Studio 60" have made a stir taking the 'opposite' position (Harriet would disagree). In November's election Madison native and U. of Wisconsin graduate Bradley Whitford called Wisconsin voters urging them to vote against a ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage (it ended up passing, however). More recently, Amanda Peet appeared in ads for World AIDS Day appealing to gay males to avoid the increased risk of HIV that crystal meth use can cause.

- Monday is the last episode before the traditional holiday hiatus. Here's the brief synopsis from TV Guide via Studio 60 Guide: “Matt wants to bring the spirit of Christmas to Los Angeles when he and the “Studio 60” team put on a holiday show. Meanwhile, Danny tries to figure out his true feelings for Jordan.” The title is going to shock you: "The Christmas Show".

UPDATE 5:40pm: More linky goodness...

-Defamer profiles the ideal "60" viewer per their consistantly snarky graphic skills. Consider it a much less romantic version of the "alpha consumer" theory. Use their handy-easy-to-use flowchart to find out if you're one of them.

-THE FATHER IS WHO? NBC leaked a 4 minute clip of Danny & Jordan at the doctor's office "talking baby". You'll have to watch to find out. h/t Chris @ Studio 60 blog.