(S01E01) OK, I'm going to make a bold statement here, so I hope you're sitting down. I assume you are because you're in front of a computer, but if you're standing for some reason, please, sit down.
All set? OK, here goes: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is the best new show of the fall.
And I say that even though I haven't yet seen the other show being touted as the best new show, ABC's The Nine. The tape is sitting to the left of me as I type this, so I'll be watching it soon (thanks ABC for sending me a tape instead of a DVD. What, is this 1999?). But I can't imagine that the show has the combination that Studio 60 has after two episodes. One is the obvious quality right out of the gate (creator, writer, director, cast, etc), and the other is this incredible, palpable feeling you get watching it that, even though everything doesn't work across the board, you know it could get even better. That the strong moments far, far outweigh the bad moments.
And it's straight out entertaining as hell.
The quick premise: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is a long-running Friday night musical/variety show on the NBS network (*cough* SNL *cough*). Creator and producer Wes Mendell (Judd Hirsch) knows that the show has become a stale, unfunny shadow of its former self (*cough* SNL *cough*), and during a live broadcast, he interrupts the opening sketch about President Bush and goes off on a rant, criticizing the network and their shows about eating bugs and becoming Donald Trump (*cough* NBC *cough*). This pretty much guarantees his firing from boss Jack (Steven Weber), who orders new NBS president Jordan McDeere (Amanda Peet) to come up with a solution to fix the show.
Her idea? Hire back the show's original head writer and producer Matt Albie and Danny Tripp (Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford). Both were let go four years earlier. Now, they have become famous in the movie biz (Matt has just won the Writer's Guild award), but McDeere knows that she can get Danny to come back to the show because she knows his secret (it involves cocaine). Will Matt and Danny want to come back to the show that kicked them out?
I'm not giving away any spoilers to tell you that, duh, of course they come back to the show. But it's how Sorkin gets them back and how the cast plays off of each other that's so much fun. Perry and Whitford are a marvel together (you really believe they're best friends), but anyone who saw them together in a few West Wing episodes know that. And the supporting cast? In any other show, people like Steven Weber, Sarah Paulson, and D.L. Hughley would easily be the leads. That's how strong this ensemble is. Add to those names Nate Corrdry and Timothy Busfield. That's impressive.
I'm also impressed at how Aaron Sorkin sets all of this up. Is there anyone else working in TV today that can immediately drop you into a world and make it seem believable, instantly? He did it with The West Wing, making politics entertaining and understandable, and he does it here too.
I sense two problems with the show, but they are more viewer-oriented than show-oriented. One, will people want to invest their time in a quality drama that you actually have to pay attention to every single moment and be able to keep track of a dozen characters with interconnected storylines (Danny has a cocaine problem, Jack is the one that fired Matt and Danny four years ago, Harriet is a Christian who once dated Matt, etc)? I'd like to say "yes" because of Lost, but this show isn't going to have mysterious hatches and action and smoke monsters and clues to follow. It's intelligent comedy, sparkling dialogue, and wit.
The second problem is, will viewers want to watch a TV show about a TV show? One that is really insider-ish about the industry and its history? I would say that people shouldn't be worried about that. It's not like you need a TV encyclopedia next to you to understand what's going on, though it helps to be a fan of television and some of its classic moments. Ultimately, thought, this show is about the characters, the relationships. And even though it's in the "drama" category to the right, this is as much as workplace comedy (The Office, NewsRadio, Dick Van Dyke Show) as it is heavy drama. It's a great mix.
I still find it amazing that everyone from TV bloggers to The Washington Post's Tom Shales is still pushing the idea that a show like this might not work because unlike The West Wing they can't deal with big, important issues. One, they are (censorship, religion, drugs, the media), and two, Sports Night was set at a sports network of all things, and they dealt with important issues all the time, and very well.
And why is everyone shaking their heads that NBC has two shows (this show and 30 Rock) on the air about the behind the scenes goings on at an SNL-like show? So what? CBS can have 12 CSI shows and NBC can have 35 Law and Orders, but two shows about the same thing is too much!
This show is typical Sorkin: smart, fast-paced, idealistic, and, ultimately, romantic (and more than a little autobiographical). By the end of the first episode, when Matt and Danny have a heart to heart in the back of fake cab on the set and Jordan tells them they can do a controversial sketch on next week's show, you'll be rooting for Matt and Danny to come back and take SNL Studio 60 to the top. And, at the same time, rooting for Aaron Sorkin to do the same with Studio 60. It's TV for adults, and there isn't much on TV for adults these days.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
9-18-2006 @ 11:17PM
Robert said...
So I wanna talk about how Studio 60 rocked my world. Amazing pilot, it was like 60 minute orgasm for my eyes. I love everything to do with SNL, so I couldn't take my eyes off of my tv screen when I watched this. It's amazing!
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9-18-2006 @ 11:20PM
Zachary said...
Tonight was my second viewing of the pilot. Thanks YouTube for the 1st!.
I can't wait for episode 2. Terrific cast, writing, direction, even lighting (heh!). I had no problem believing Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford as best friends. The rest of the cast is superlative. I hope we see Wes back as a consultant or something.
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9-18-2006 @ 11:24PM
Carl Winslow said...
Really liked the pilot. I think the cast could turn out to be a great combination. Although I don't think Amanda Peet changed her expression once through the whole show.
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9-18-2006 @ 11:29PM
Gin said...
I loved it! It definitely had that "inside Hollywood" vibe, incredible dialogue, and great characterization.
And I can see how the character of Harriet Hayes was based on Kristin Chenowith. Great job, Sorkin!
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9-18-2006 @ 11:33PM
Danny Cohen said...
Simply amazing television, more than just TV, it was television. It was Aaron Sorkin yelling at the television industry. The characters are so well crafted.
It was very enjoyable to watch and unlike what else is being offered this year on TV... there is no sci-fi fantasy mouthful of twists and hidden secrets like everyone trying to copy 'Lost'. This is something new and wonderful on Monday nights.
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9-19-2006 @ 8:20AM
MRE said...
This was my second viewing. AOL had it this morning. Great show, very well writen, well acted. First time in years that I've been unquestionably hooked the first time I see the show. Last time it happened was "24" two seasons ago.
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9-19-2006 @ 12:03AM
Jim said...
I thought the pilot was very good. I never watched "The West Wing," so it immediately took me back to "Sports Night." My only criticism: I thought Stephen Weber was miscast.
I loved the shots on Pat Robertson!
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9-19-2006 @ 12:18AM
Rich Keller said...
You know, after watching the fast-paced scenes of Sports Night and The West Wing, I actually found the pilot a bit slower than the usual Sorkin production. That wasn't it bad, because I was able to absorb more of what was going on.
This was a great show. We established the characters right out of the box and began to see the alliances that would be made. I thought Bradley Whitford would be the main guy, but it turns out that Matthew Perry had the stronger role this time around. I wonder if it will continue to be this way.
Who really surprised me was Steven Weber. I haven't seen much of his work since Wings, but he was a real prick in this episode.
Looking forward to next week's show.
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9-19-2006 @ 12:25AM
stacy said...
i couldn't stop smiling while i watched this show. it brought me back to the warm, fuzzy feeling i would get watching sorkin-written/schammle directed episodes of the west wing. even the typeface for the end-titles were west wing type. this show brings a great mix of writing and acting, excellent casting choices, and intelligence that a very few can bring to an hour long television series.
bravo mr. sorkin!
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9-19-2006 @ 12:52AM
nOva said...
Thumbs soooooo up!!
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9-19-2006 @ 1:21AM
Ryan said...
Wow. Just wow. I was quite impressed.
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9-19-2006 @ 1:17AM
Bob Sassone said...
Jim: Really? I thought Weber was excellent. A departure for him, and I think he nails the role.
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9-19-2006 @ 2:20AM
Neel said...
Loved the episode too. I know a lot of people/critics have complained that the material is a little TOO inside for most viewers. It reminds me of what Roger Ebert said about David Mamet movies- that it's ok if the audience doesn't understand what is behind every single word or expression. Personally I think the "inside" bits help draw the viewer into the Studio 60 realm that much more....
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9-19-2006 @ 2:46AM
Eric Philbin said...
Best new show in quite some time. Mondays are going to be busy for me and my TiVo.
But a couple of nit-picks: something wasn't quite right in the transition to/from commercial. Felt like a timing thing or something. And Amanda Peet felt a little Moira Kelly/ "Manda" to me (you West Wing fans know what I'm talking about.) Hopfully she'll grow out of that.
Overall, bravo!
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9-19-2006 @ 3:21AM
jonathan said...
i guess im the one person that thought it was really boring. i almost fell asleep. it feels like im too young to watch this show to actually appreciate it. it feels like an "older" type of audience that studio 60 is shooting for. however i will give it another shot next week. all of you probably hate everything i just said, but its the truth. and honestly, it feels like the other commenters are all execs from nbc to give this show more hype. of course im wrong, hopefully.
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9-20-2006 @ 12:34PM
Stigmata said...
great cast, amazing writing, but a show about a TV show? oh boy, i think its gonna be hard for ppl to soak this one up.
we turn to tv to escape, to fantasize, so when a drama about a tv show comes along, i just cant help but say "who gives a f***".
although i am rooting for the show to be a success and come up with some interesting plot twists and turns, the basic premise, as it is, IS boring!
why couldnt they do a behind-the-scenes show on something a lot more interesting? like, say, the UN for example?
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9-19-2006 @ 4:02AM
MG said...
Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, Jonathan. You're already better than most people in that you're willing to watch another episode before writing a show off.
I liked this episode. I'm cautiously optimistic about future episodes.
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9-23-2006 @ 10:55PM
IRMA said...
DID I DREAM IT OR DID MATTHEW PERRYS CHARACTER COMPARE THE 700 CLUB AND ITS MEMBERS TO THE KKK?? PLEASE TELL ME I AM WRONG. IS THIS GOING TO BE CHRISTIAN BASHING OUTREACH? MAYBE I SHOULD WATCH ANOTHER EPISODE TO SEE WHAT OTHER GROUP IS BASHED. COME ON NOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER GROUPS, THE MORMONS, JEWS, MUSLIMS, GAYS, OH, WAIT, THOSE GROUPS WOULD CAUSE TROUBLE WOULDN'T IT, BUT US CHRISTIANS ARE FAIR GAME.
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9-19-2006 @ 6:26AM
Julie said...
I liked the show, my husband is on the fence. I missed the pace of "West Wing" and "Sports Night' (loved the inclusion of "Dana" - Felicity Huffman - as the guest!). Amanda Peet needs to lay off the botox. But I did like Matthew Perry as not Chandler and am intrigued to see how this goes. Just would like a tad snappier dialogue...
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9-19-2006 @ 1:35PM
Thomas said...
I think I'll need another episode at least to get a true picture. In the pilot, whilst we pretty much hit the ground running in terms of understanding the characters, we didn't see much of the format the show is likely to take. Since the whole story was about establishing the changeover in terms of who was running Studio 60 and so on, we didn't get to see much of what is likely to be in the rest of the series - the making of a show during the week, the writing, the rehearsals, booking guests, whatever.
I think, more than with the West Wing pilot, this had to do more setup in terms of the Universe we're in. That said, I did enjoy it and I enjoyed it more the second time - maybe it was an increased familiarity with the characters. Most of the actors are still very much their West Wing/Friends/Other characters to me.
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