(S01E13) They got stuck on a roof?Really?
Seriously?
They got stuck on a freaking roof!?
Just let that sink in a second. Aaron Sorkin, boy genius, reviler of all things "lowest common denominator", actually had his two love interests... get... stuck... on... a roof.
Excuse me while I go find something to jam in my eye. Repeatedly.
Maybe I'm harping on the whole getting stuck on a roof bit a little too much, but here's the thing: you can't set yourself up as a paragon of good, cliché-free TV and then fall back on a plot device that's so old it makes Family Guy's "My Black Son" parody seem fresh by comparison. And calling attention to it (as Danny does) doesn't make it any better. It just means that Sorkin knew he was being clichéd and thought that he could undo any potential damage by being post-modern and ironic.
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.
(The only time it doesn't suck is when television bloggers do it. Like I'm doing now. Okay, maybe it sucks then too...)
The sad thing about Danny and Jordan being stuck on the roof together is that I think that the time they spent up there was the best between them since the show returned from Christmas break. I thought it was great that Danny admitted his creepiness and that Jordan was only rebuffing him because she thought his love was more pity about her situation than actual emotion. I wanted to see more of that particular conversation. I was just disappointed about how Sorkin got us to there.
(What were the rejected ideas for this scene? Danny tries a magic trick and handcuffs himself to Jordan except that he forgets how the trick works and the two of them are stuck together all night? They get stuck in an elevator? She gets kidnapped by a giant ape and he has to rescue her?)
(And -- sorry another sidenote here -- are you kidding me that the cellphones don't work on the roof? They work inside the building, don't they? What kind of service do they have that it actually gets worse OUTSIDE!? Just... horrible.)
Okay, that's out of my system. Let's get to the other cliched and stupid plot line: Tom and Lucy.
Why didn't he just tell her that he had to go on the date because his boss told him to? Why? Why couldn't he just say to Lucy, "Listen, I really like you and I'd love to go out with you Thursday, but stupid Mr. Rudolph wants me to go entertain some fan for the night because it means a lot to the business. I'll totally be thinking about you the whole time and I'm so, so sorry. Here is some chocolate and also flowers because I know people with estrogen like those sorts of things."
Ladies... wouldn't that have worked? I'm being serious here, because I can't see how any woman in the real world could possibly get upset at that. Or, more to the point, even if she did get slightly angry, how the level of her anger would necessitate Tom Jeter coming up with a ridiculous lie to cover it up.
It just feels like the obstacles here are artificial. Aaron Sorkin is a better writer than this. I can't believe that at the new year, I was complementing him for not making us jump through the normal sitcom sexual-tension hoops. Maybe Mr. Sorkin needs a refresher course on how to make sexual tension be excruciating without ever seeming forced.
The scene where Lucy catches Tom in his lie (along with the ready-to-bust-out-of-her-dress-and-yes-I-feel-like-a-dirty-old-man-for-noticing Kim) felt like a moment we've seen approximately nine million times before. If I wasn't so busy shouting at the screen about how stupid Jordan and Danny getting stuck on the roof was, I would have had time to yell at the TV about how stupid that scene was. What's next for Tom? He accidentally makes two dates for the prom and has to try to juggle both of them?
All that being said, has Lucy Davis ever been as completely radiant and beautiful as she was in the scene where she kissed Tom? I mean, she was super-cute on The Office and all, but maybe American cosmetics are better or something because she was definitely teeth-gnashing, coyote-howling hot tonight (and yes, I realize I'm being creepy).
Speaking of creepy, I think they finally found a way to make Harriet appealing: put her in a cheerleader uniform. I might be hurting any chance of ever running for political office for saying this, but I'm 100% in favor of all women having at least one of each of the following outfits in their closet: cheerleader outfit, catholic school girl uniform, and Princess Leia slave-girl bikini. (If you haven't guessed, my wife secretly hates me.)
By the way, Masi Oka showed why he's been such a hit on Heroes (and just signed a mega-deal in Hollywood) -- he's a bundle of charisma. In just a few brief seconds filming the promo with Harriet, he was incredibly engaging. I'm actually disappointed that I won't be getting to see an actual sketch show hosted by him this Friday. Maybe someone should wake Lorne Michaels up from his slumber and get this guy on SNL stat.
I could rail at length about Harriet and Matt's on-again-off-again-oh-who-cares relationship, but I think I've harped on cliché enough this post. I still think a charity auction is silly. I think it's sillier still that a professional skateboarder (or was it snowboarder? I missed it) was the other bidder. I think there's no 15 year old on the planet with a crush on Harriet. This subplot was the least of my problems, though, so one paragraph is all it gets.
One quick question: it was a good Star Wars shout-out with the kid, but I didn't understand the 5858 reference. I'm something of a Star Wars nerd (if by "something" you mean "completely and unabashedly") and I've never heard any special meaning with 5858. I tried a google search, but I've come up with nothing. A little help from the commentators please...
The only subplot of the week that I found unreservedly entertaining was also a nod to sitcoms past, but it worked for me: Cal losing a snake and spending two days trying to find it. I guess I should be just as angry about this as I am about our love stories, but I'm just a sucker for a coyote/ferret/viper story. And, really, anything with Timothy Busfield at this point is very welcomed by this reviewer. In fact, there's a part of me that wishes that I lived in an alternate universe where Aaron Sorkin decided to make not Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, but, rather, The Matt and Danny and Cal Show (with special guest star Lucy Davis). Basically, every episode is two hours and has Matt and Danny and Cal doing walk and talks in different locations and every fifteen minutes or so, Lucy Davis comes out in a different outfit -- cheerleader/schoolgirl/Princess Leia.
I'm not sure what was in the note that Darius received from Simon, but I'm not sure I care very much either. I think there was a time in which I trusted Sorkin to make whatever was in the note interesting and special, but after the last two episodes I'm not so sure any more. I guess we'll see...
I just reread this review and I know I'm coming down awful hard on this episode. I think I'm disappointed because I've spent most of September through December defending this show to anyone who would listen and the first two episodes of the new year have made me feel a lot like Hilary Clinton must feel like for having supported the war. Unfortunately, I can't flip-flop my decision on Meet the Press so all I can do is write a bad review and hope that the next episode is better. And believe me, kiddos, I want the show to be better. I've loved this show from day one and with this cast and this writer, I know that the chills I felt in the first episode are right around the corner.
One final thing -- and I know this review is thirty thousand words already, but I just need to say this -- a special shout-out to my friends at SUNY Oneonta. I was doing a gig there tonight and had to get off stage at ten to watch Studio 60 for this review. Not only did the school turn it on in the student center, a whole bunch of the kids sat and watched it with me. It was a lot of fun and a nice change of pace from how I usually watch a TV show. It reminded me of my college days, with the exception that there were people around me and I wasn't crying. The kids, incidentally, weren't too happy with the episode either.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
1-30-2007 @ 2:17AM
bici said...
Ferrets don't eat snakes, mongoose do - remember Rikki-tiki-tavi?
Cell phones are erratic, but I didn't buy that either - however, I did laugh. The sight of them stalking around the roof was amusing: "Can you hear me now?" came to mind.
Nonetheless, this is still the most intelligent show on Monday nights, and I do care about the characters and their foibles. Except for Darius and Simon, that I just can't fathom...
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1-30-2007 @ 2:11AM
Wil said...
Right there with you. An incredibly disappointing episode, from a writer who really should know better.
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1-30-2007 @ 2:17AM
wil said...
Oh, actually, you know what I liked? The mini-rant about the cell phone company putting more effort into getting television shows on the phones than ensuring that their customers can actually make calls. Ba-Zing!
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1-30-2007 @ 2:18AM
Ryan S. said...
I totally agree with your review. It was terribly clichied. The whole episode was. As soon as Danny and Jordan walked onto the roof, I called it that they would be locked up there, because it has been done so many times before.
Also, I'm calling this now, that Danny and Matt are in cahoots with each other, for Danny to lock Jordan on the roof so Matt could get in better with Harriet. Like Danny chose that moment to go the roof. It was all planned out.
Very, Very, Very disapointing episode. I can see why this seems very preachy, come on, lines like "Cell phone companies should stop worrying about video on their phone and instead get full service everywhere" and the whole Darius/Simon plot. Ugh, the worst episode yet. Sorkan just doesn't realize that he is in a TV show, not the White House where taking a stand of stuff like this makes since. Very disapointing episode.
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1-30-2007 @ 2:26AM
CrazyJew said...
I laughed harder reading your article than watching this entire episode of Studio 60. Great job, Jay. I wish Aaron Sorkin had better writers like you. And I completely agree with you about Lucy Davis. God, these american cosmetics are good!
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1-30-2007 @ 2:30AM
ghp said...
Why, oh why, would Tom listen to Matt when it comes to advice on how to woo the ladies?
To quote Awesome-O, "Super Lame!"
When it's this contrived, dramatic tension is just silly, not, you know, *dramatic*...
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1-30-2007 @ 5:45AM
aphoward said...
They explained the Star Wars reference to 5858 in the show actually, it is the address of Skywalker Ranch, Lucas' home base. (And no, I didn't know this before, I just watched the show, I'm not THAT much of a geek, lol)
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1-30-2007 @ 2:48AM
radwimp said...
well... at least he didn't make it cold so they would have to cuddle to keep warm /gag
disappointing ep, minus the jack stuff. he is great.
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1-30-2007 @ 2:59AM
Craig said...
I've wanted this show to be good, honest I did. But I think it officially jumped the shark tonight. Why can't it be about putting on a TV show? Must everyone have a thing for someone else? Where's Eli Wallach when you need him?
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1-30-2007 @ 3:00AM
FrankTheTank said...
Glad you're doing this instead of Bob.
I'm pretty sure he would have gushed over Sorkin's use of a cliched scenarios in an entirely new and interesting way.
How long can people keep believing that this is some great intellectually stimulating show?
There is no doubt in my mind that if Sorkin's name wasn't attached to it, this thing would have been cancelled by now.
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1-30-2007 @ 3:29AM
Rhett said...
I have to agree it wasn't the best of episodes, but something my senic fundamentals teacher said in my last class (I go to art college). "writers only get it 1/10 of the time." He was using plays as an example but if you look at any great playwrite that has say 3 famous plays he is sure to have another 30 that sucked. Writing is hard and every show hits its rough spots studio 60 is still the smartest show I watch, the problem is that this couldn't have come at a worst time when more viewers are needed.
That being said I am sure we will see godo episodes come, much better then that CSI drivvle
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1-30-2007 @ 7:02AM
Joe said...
For no matter how we discuss this show at length (which I do feel we have over-analyzed), to what extent are we going to give a break here? West Wing was able to overshadow cliched problems with political satire. When Sorkin was writing unique episodes in the beginning, everyone complained. So he tried making them silly, and everyone complained. Now he's adding the much-needed romantic element to the show, and he's finding that he needs to bring back some of the earliest methods in order to pull people in. Yet we complain. It's one way or the other here people. Either they keep the show "smart" and let it continue its ratings plunge, or try testing the waters to see what people react to. Cut the man some slack. I read one review last week on how the show is reminiscent of "Sports Night" in its approach to certain topics and the development of its character relationships. But the fact is that "Sports Night" failed in the ratings as well. With the pressure for ratings that he is facing, Sorkin doesn't have the time on his hands to develop the sexual tension of "Josh and Donna" from West Wing.
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1-30-2007 @ 7:02AM
Joe said...
This episode by far and large exemplifies why Studio 60 will be cancelled this spring. Now before you jump to any conclusion understand that I could not be a bigger fan or defender of this show, but you are all right in assuming that Sorkin should know better. I was amazed at how absolutely nothing actually occurred in this episode. I will also complain about the laundering list of technical errors but allow me If you would for a moment to elaborate on what needs to happen on Studio 60 for it to return next fall. The most amazing thing about tonight's episode was that one moment when Jordan looked at Danny with the realization of these feelings. This moment was made amazing by the look of honesty on Peet's face, realistic reactions of Danny, and simple dialogue. The moment was absolutely crapped on 4.5 seconds later by wonderfully horrible intercutting with the ol snake my 50 year old radio hall routine. Im not saying I didn't like this subplot, I'm just saying it didn't need to be in one of the most real moments in this show. The reason this show has failed is because it was sold to us under false pretenses. During summer it was billed as a serious representation of an 'SNL' backstage, NOT! It's 'West Wing' but with a vaudeville feel. The relationships although they exist to string show and plot along are not the beauty of the show. The beauty of the show are the aspects of the show inside the show. 'Sports Night' was perfect in this way, an absolute perfect blend of relationship conundrums mixed with the need to actually produce a television show; often giving us incredibly dramatic and memorable moments with characters we cared about. I remember watching the first episode of 60 and when he refused to cut to commercial literally screaming "Let it Roll!" at my screen. I felt like I was watching Television history. Like I was taking in one of those great moments that people end up talking about years later (in this fictional world of course). From that point we've seen less show and more blow. I want to see the writer's room more (how does a show survive with 4 people, 2 new; the director is amazing show him doing his thing; do more last minute rewrites ie spit-take theatre; more sketch) in short I want to see more Studio 60, not what happens on the Studio 60 property. At this point the only ones watching 60 are dedicated loyal folk, and if Sorkin thinks he can churn an episode of 'OC' pulp out and expect us not to know he's got another thing coming. I love TV, I want 60 to come round next fall, I just want to care if it does.
Technical reasons this episode sucked:
1) The snakes where not vipers, the were nonvenomous banded snakes. Very much not a viper. And ferrets don't hunt snake. Mongoose do and they don't track em, its more like you toss them into a jar an watch them go at it.
2) If a cell phone works inside a building it works on the roof, especially in downtown frickin LA.
3) Tom's character would not have lied. He would have told Lucy the truth. I can't stand when characters act against their nature, they should do what that character would do.
Additional info:
For the authors information the Star Wars reference as mentioned in the episode was that Lucas Ranch address was 5858. Additionally, I happened to have watched this ep with my 56 yr old mom, who had never seen the British Office and just as I was thinking that she looked quite cute in the dressing room scene, my mother indicated to me that she had the face of a horse. Just though you guys my like to know. Thanks for listening to my garbage. Enjoy.
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1-30-2007 @ 7:11AM
KenKoz said...
Couldn't agree more with your take on this episode. I DVRd it and didn't even see the scene on the roof because I turned it off after Tom lied to Lucy for no apparent reason.
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1-30-2007 @ 7:08AM
sean tubbs said...
I really enjoyed this episode. It was silly, and I like silly.
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1-30-2007 @ 7:32AM
Christian H. said...
I completely agree with your review and it's sad that I do. Like you I was defending this show again and again and then they pull this one out of their hats. Totally stupid writing, maybe they were trying to appeal to the "According to Jim" demographic.
I was watching "Battlestar Galactica" just before I saw "Studio 60" and I was shocked with the difference in quality - and keep in mind that Battlestar was also about Love-Angst half of the time. I still love Amanda Peet though, she's adorable!
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1-30-2007 @ 7:32AM
Christian H. said...
@Joe
Perfect summary of what I would like to say, too. You are exactly right. And regaring that scene on the roof with Amanda Peet: I think I was throwing stuff at the TV and banging my head on the table when they cut away from that. The high-point of the episode (for me at last) and they ruin it :(
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1-30-2007 @ 8:25AM
Kevin O'Shea said...
Last nights episode just solidified my complete and utter hatred of technology in film and television. I know it's been harped on already, but seriously, no signal? This review is spot on, especially Lucy who looked stunning.
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1-30-2007 @ 8:56AM
courtney said...
Please, someone needs to enlighten to me as to why anyone, anywhere thinks this is an intellectual show. God, if anything, the romances seem straight out of 10th grade. The review was spot on. And, I see absolutely no chemistry between any of the purported romantic pairings and the worst yet is that I was bored to death.
It seemed like there was no effort made whatsoever to put anything interesting or clever in this episode - maybe Sorkin has seen the handwriting on the wall and is not putting much time or thought into it.
Biggest disappointment of the season for me, by far, given the early expectations.
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1-30-2007 @ 9:32AM
Brian Sheridan said...
I think I have the same cell phone service as Danny and Jordan.
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