(S01E14) Try this little personality test: when did you stop enjoying summer vacation and start worrying about the first day of school? Some of you, I'm sure, managed to enjoy every last second of the summer, right up until the alarm clock rung. The normal person probably makes it through till the last weekend.Neurotic idiots like me? Fourth of July.
I bring this up because I fear this is a question we'll have to answer soon with regards to Studio 60.
The recent rumor involving the show's shelving is that it won't be back. I don't know any more than you do, but if The Black Donnellys outperforms Studio 60 by a wide margin, you can bet that NBC and good ole Jeff "No Scripted Shows before 9 PM" Zucker are going to be doing some hard thinking about where their expensive little experiment is going to fit at NBC.
This was running through my mind tonight while I watched. The show has a creeping sense of meaninglessness to it in the sense that since the end feels like it's in sight (an ignoble end, that is, not a let's-play-that-Green-Day-song-and-show-a-montage end) it's a little harder to invest in the characters.
I just wanted to get that out of the way before I began the review. Does anyone else feel the same way?
Now, to the episode:
On a scale of "blech" to "whoa", this episode rates an "eh". There was nothing in it that outright offended me (if you don't count the lingering resentment that the bulk of the Jordan/Danny romance is done on a roof), but aside from a single moment -- we'll get to it in just a second -- there was nothing all that spectacular going on.
Tom explains himself to Lucy and she agrees to go out with him except she changes the date from Saturday to Sunday. I liked that. It was a nice touch - Lucy wanted to exert a little bit of power and she does, but she's still clearly attracted to Tom and forgives him for the little white lie. I still dislike that Sorkin created some false conflict last episode, but at least he mamboed his way out of it pretty quick. I'm rooting for these two, if only because both actors bring so much charisma to their roles.
Matt and Harriet: Is it over? Please tell me it's over. When Matt said, "You can't walk away, so you're burning down the house" did anyone else cheer? I'll gladly donate as much gasoline or duraflame logs or flammable children's toys as necessary to end this relationship as fast as humanly possible.
I think it's clear to anyone who actually has use of his senses that the two of them don't belong together and that Matthew Perry and Sarah Paulson have no chemistry. Liam Neeson looked more comfortable with Jar Jar Binks than these two do with each other and neither one of them are CGI (though if someone told me that Harriet was actually Andy Serkis in a green body-suit, I wouldn't be surprised). This relationship needs to end... quickly. If not for any other reason than it brings down the rest of the show. Their scenes together are starting to feel like the "acting" scenes in a porno: something that you want to fast forward through to get to the good stuff.
That being said, though, I did enjoy the tenor of their fight. It was one of the few times I've ever actually seen a fight on television that reminded me of an actual fight that I've had with my wife. The little daggers of dialog coming in fits and starts over the course of an evening where it wouldn't do to look like you're fighting reminded me of about ten million family function fights I've had in my own marriage.
I don't think that everything needs to be spelled out, but there was some odd character motivation in the show. A few examples:
1. Matt hitting on Wendy. Yeah he was drunk and he was blocked and she was hot and Harriet had just broken his heart, but it seemed to come out of nowhere. It was out of character for him (wasn't Matt the guy who had to be talked into meeting with models?) and wasn't adequately explained by the situation.
2. Mr. Tao suddenly speaking English (though with Sorkin's sudden embrace of the cliché, this should have been predictable) and okaying the FCC fight. I suppose he was moved by the frankness of Jack's words ("Commie") and thought the advice concerning the viola was good, but... huh? Is there a scene missing? Some dialog cut for time? Because it felt like something a character might say just to do away with a plotline.
(And is that storyline over? Is the highly improbably hot, almost-jailbait, improv loving, viola playing, daughter of a super-powerful Chinese businessman who is in love with Tom Jeter thing through? Because if it ended, it did so with a whimper.)
3. Simon and Darius coming to a kind of détente. So the letters were from racists -- wow, didn't see that coming -- and it showed Darius that he was black! I think that Darius should have told Simon that he didn't want to work on the Fruit of the Loom sketch not because he was worried about the racial implications but that a Fruit of the Loom sketch is about as funny and relevant as a "Mikey Likes it Sketch." Between that and Dolphin Girl, I'm predicting a pretty bad show on the horizon for the people in the Studio 60 universe.
(I feel bad for the people in the Studio 60 universe. They have to put up with a pretty bad sketch show every week. They make stars out of marginally talented women. They're subjected to horrible Oscar-bait biopics. Actually, come to think of it, that sounds exactly like our world. Pity retracted.)
Timothy Busfield deserves his own sitcom. When Studio 60 ends (hopefully in 2015, but probably in April), someone should give him his own show. Here's my premise: Cal and the animal handler have to move into an apartment together. The landlord won't allow animals, so every week they get into wacky adventures trying to hide all the animals. Here's the twist, it's an all-woman apartment building and Cal and the animal handler have to dress as women to fit in!
You'd watch it.
As for the one spectacular moment: Danny and Jordan. Okay, Sorkin, you got me. If you need to use a cliché to produce dialog this sharp and moving, then go right ahead. Next week have Danny overhear Jordan telling something to Jack and Chrissy and get all worked up over it with Mr. Furley if you want. You're forgiven (somewhat) because I was completely moved by the two of them.
When Danny tells Jordan that "I was trapped on the roof for four hours and it was the best night of my life because I was with you" my wife involuntarily released about nine cubic meters of estrogen into the air. Seriously, I grew boobs and the dog lost his testicles (though that might have been caused by Terra chips and the vet, respectively). That was a great moment made even better by how Jordan tells Danny she's crazy about him. Their kiss was a good payoff to a rocky courtship.
And I think that's what frustrates people so much about this show. The Danny and Jordan kiss was literally thrilling. It was everything that we watch episodic TV for. But for every right note Sorkin hits, there's two or three that don't ring quite true. Sometimes I think this show would be better served if it would just go to HBO and only get 13 episodes a season. It would give Sorkin time to edit out all the unnecessary fluff and concentrate on making more of these golden moments. At the very least, Matt wouldn't have to say "Motherfreaking" (which no one in the history of the real world has ever used when they are angry).
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-06-2007 @ 7:17AM
Christian H. said...
I think your review hits it pretty well. "Studio 60" doesn't stay in my mind longer than 5 minutes after the show has ended. It has no impact whatsoever... other shows I watch do. And this is a shame because I find myself wanting to love the show. But I don't love it as a whole, I love just small parts of it (like the Danny/Jordan scene you mentioned). Aside from this I did not care the slightest bit about any of the characters or the story. And being 14 episodes into the show I don't think that will change. I honestly think the ship has sailed. And "The Black Donnellys" is awesome - I saw the pilot several times (esp. the end). With some luck it will be a hit.
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2-06-2007 @ 7:27AM
courtney said...
Actually, I thought the I'm crazy about you and the subsequent kiss kinda creepy - as in stalking seems to be be an appropriate courting strategy. Ick.
Maybe the Matt/Harriet thing would be even remotely compelling if we had seen them in a relationship and then break up - but the series started with them apart and you are right, zero chemistry.
And I agree about Timothy Busfield - his scenes were really funny and his timing was priceless - maybe he has been so rarely on screen since Thirtysomethign because he does so much behind the scenes work - but, he always adds spark to any scenes/shows he is in.
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2-06-2007 @ 8:03AM
Bill said...
I'm still kinda bummed about the Tom/Lucy pairing. I felt like when they brought Darius on that he shared some nice moments with Lucy, and then they go hook her up with Tom.
http://popculturejunk.blogspot.com
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2-06-2007 @ 8:42AM
corbett said...
(please delete #4 - correct typo)
You know, I need to say something that I've not wanted to admit to myself about this show - It's just not that good. I loved Sports Night, and The West Wing was absolutely one of the finest shows ever created, and so I came to Studio 60 with expectations. I tempered them as best I could, so not to get too overly excited... but I've been left disappointed by this show week after week. And I'm just about ready to abandon it completely - I'd rather go play on the xbox 360, I think.
What surprises me is what keeps me watching... Timothy Busfield. Yeah, I know, isn't that the strangest thing? I do the love the play between Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford, but there just aren't enough scenes with them together to really make that a point to tune in. Sorkin should see the writing on the wall and admit to himself that this experiment failed; then he should come back in a year or two with a show with Busfield as the star.
How do I ultimately know that UNLESS this show really turns around soon that I'm going to drift and stop watching? Simple - because around 10:30, I start watching the clock and saying to myself "Is this almost over?" Whereas with the lead-in, Heroes, or with Battlestar Galactica on SciFi (Sunday's at 10), I start watching the clock around 45 minutes in and saying "Oh no, it can't almost be over."
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2-06-2007 @ 9:39AM
ron said...
what a good time to go to bed. this show is a yawner. im surprised they havent cancelled it. What a waste of money and talent.
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2-06-2007 @ 9:51AM
e said...
The only reason I got addicted to the show is because of Jordan and Danny. Last night's episode was one of my favorites of the season because of their moments on screen.
I guess I'll have to wait to see what buzz comes from "The Black Donnellys", but I'm not impressed with what I've seen of it so far (the previews).
http://www.allaboute.net/blog
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2-06-2007 @ 10:00AM
Benjy said...
Okay. Guess what? I have ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS with Studio 60! I think that, because it is not doing so well, people are looking for excuses to fix something that isn't necessarily broken. Every week I tune in, I find the show to be up to my expectations for Sorkin. The dynamics between the characters is dead-on Sorkin. I even get the Matt-Harriet thing! Matt loves Harriet but is afraid to commit because 1) He thinks it will look like he's selling out given Harriet's underlying Christian views and (more importantly) 2) He's a guy!!! -- he just doesn't want to commit. He wants Harriet AND he wants his freedom.
I like the chemistry between Paulson and Perry and I find Paulson downright radiant at times! Obviously, for the sake of the all-important sexual tension factor, they can't get together anytime soon (and probably not until the last episode).
Now that the Danny and Jordan thing is out there, the only two sources of obvious sexual tension are Matt/Harriet and Tom/Lucy. That's why the Tom/Lucy angle is so nice: it's an innocent and fresh break from the cynicism and dysfuntionality of Matt/Harriet.
As for your comment about this show being on HBO, I say that about many shows! Could you imagine "24" on HBO? "Sports Night" on HBO? If "Studio 60" gets dumped by NBC, I think it would be a great property for HBO to acquire!
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2-06-2007 @ 10:05AM
Ryan said...
I like the Matt Albie character and continued to watch the show because of him. But I agree that his scenes with Harriet are definitely dragging the show down.
I actually like Lucy/Tom. It's those characters I actually care about. Something I can't say about most of the characters in this universe.
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2-06-2007 @ 2:29PM
jDub said...
I have given this show such a long rope and it's slowly strangling me. I loved Sports Night (own it on DVD) and The West Wing and had very high hopes for this show. I've watched every episode and even got friends to start watching. But the past few episodes have beaten me down. How am I supposed to care about the Matt/Harriet relationship when those two have NO chemistry? They are both doing a fine job acting anguished and petulent, but I can't understand what they are fighting for - they don't really seem to like one another that much. And god help us, we get their back story next week. Does anyone still care? Now Matt and Wendy, I would believe. Just in her act of taking care of him, they had more chemistry than the other mess.
I liked the fact that once Jordan was sure that Danny would stick and was attracted to her, she admitted her feelings for him. But his line when he found the note in his watchband, "How did that get there?" was so awful. WE ALL KNOW HOW!!!!!! Seriously?!? It was just so ham-handed.
Cal is great and his animosity with the animal control woman could turn into a hot relationship (I can't remember if his character is married). Yes, I would watch a Cal sitcom. And I like Tom and Lucy, but not enough for a whole hour.
Here's my other gripe - Tom, Simon and Harriet are supposed to be the three biggest stars, the funniest people on the show and perhaps in the country. Does anyone actually get that from their characters? It's just not believable - Tom is too young and sweet and bumbling, Simon is too full of himself and Harriet is too boring. Where are the Jane Curtain/Cheri Oteri/Jan Hooks moments? Dolphin Girl is never going to be funny.
I am about two episodes away from giving up, much as that pains me. How many episodes are left?
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2-06-2007 @ 10:23AM
Craig said...
Remember when the show was about putting on a TV show? Like in October. Remember those days? Ah, good times.
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2-06-2007 @ 10:47AM
Lane Wright said...
So far, Benjy is the one commenter (is that a word? should be) who I agree with about "Studio 60." It's witty, sharply written, with compelling characters and a terrific cast, and it's been plunked down in probably the worst time slot possible. And for some reason people here feel the need to nit-pick it to death. Apparently they're watching the show in order to try to find as many things wrong with it as possible, though I can't understand why that brings anyone pleasure. Anyway, I continue to watch the show with delight and hope that someone will wise up and either move it to a better time slot or to a network where it will be treated with better care.
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2-06-2007 @ 11:18AM
Rufus Firefly said...
I seem to be in the minority but I'm just not interested in the Danny/Jordan story. Danny's line about having "the best night of his life" stuck on the roof because he was with Jordan was just that--a line. Does anybody believe it really was the best night of his life? Or that he really believes it? Maybe he's had a horribly pathetic life. It's just more of his classic adictive behavior--say whatever it takes to get what he wants. He's like an obsessed teenager. And I can't believe Jordan would fall for it.
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2-06-2007 @ 11:17AM
David said...
As much as I don't care about the show I will be pissed if they cancel it without even trying to move it! Once again NBC shows it's dumb and deserves to be in last place. Medium after Heros!!! Whoever thought it was smart to move Medium is an idiot. Then move Studio 60 to Wednesdays at 10. yes I know that's now Lost's time, but they could have tested the waters in that timeslot before Lost came back. Too late now. Dumbasses at NBC.
And I love your ratings scale and complete agree about Timothy Busfield, he is the real I watch this show. Him going "I'll get the animals out and then eat them!" was the funniest line ever on Studio 60.
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2-06-2007 @ 12:12PM
Jimmy said...
If there was ever a show I was more disappointed in, it's Studio 60. The pilot showed so much potential, but the series has quickly gone from medicore to bad to just plain terrible. I no longer have an interest in ANY of these character -- especially the sketch comedy characters. Hell, I might as well watch CSI: Miami.
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2-06-2007 @ 12:21PM
BigTed said...
I think if a massively pregnant woman got locked on the roof of a building, she would be a) worried to death and b) furious at the person who caused it to happen. What if she has pain, cramps, gets dehydrated or, worst of all, goes into labor?
And Danny forgets there's a key up there until they throw it off the roof? That's not plotting, that's idiocy.
I agree that the bitch-bitch, kvetch-kvetch fight between Matt and Harriet was realistic. That's why it made me want to run screaming from the room... As Matt should want to whenever Harriet starts talking.
From next week's previews, we're going to see the origins of their relationship? (With her having even worse hair, and him in a backwards baseball cap to show how young and carefree they were?) Can't wait for that one.
I absolutely understood Matt hitting on Wendy. Not only is she hot, intelligent and apparently talented, but she's the only woman who's actually been nice to him in ages. Although she could have thrown the "I'm getting married to the man of my dreams" thing into the conversation a little earlier, just to be clear.
This show isn't terrible... There's just something about it that makes you think that it should be much, much better than it is. It's like going to Harvard and discovering that all the professors were imported from Cleveland Community College... it might be okay, but your expectations have already been raised much too high to appreciate it.
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2-24-2007 @ 2:47PM
RedStarRevolution said...
I was looking forward to this show like no other (Lost excluded) during the summer. But now, its just so...meh. I squealed like a little girl when I finally found it online in August 06.
I want to care, and I still love the dialogue, but i just can't care about the people. It's just so cliched at times, and it seems like everyone that can get together is having a love story.
My wife gave up on this show almost right away, and I thought she was nuts. But now, a few months later, I'm fighting not to give up on it myself. You're losing me Aaron, and plenty of others.
I think I hit my breaking point when I fell asleep during Harriet Dinner Part 1...seriously, I did....
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2-06-2007 @ 6:24PM
David said...
"Here's my other gripe - Tom, Simon and Harriet are supposed to be the three biggest stars, the funniest people on the show and perhaps in the country.'
But this show isn't about the fake Studio 60, it's a behind the scenes look and blah blah. I agree, but others, aka Bob will not and try to defend the show.
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2-06-2007 @ 10:31PM
Pete said...
Sorkin should lay off the relationships. Of all the male/female relationships he's written over the years, the only one that rang true was Jed and Abby's. They're the only ones who had a visibly deep-rooted friendship on which their love was based. With everyone else it's, "You annoy me so much that I have to be in love with you!" (Everyone's Dorris Day.) He's done nothing to establish or prove why Matt loved Harriet in the first place. Maybe that's why no one cares. His constant pining make me long for Joe Quincy over Matt Albie any day.
All the non-relationship stories were very good. Jack and Tom's...great. (Jack rocks.) Cal and Bibo...very funny. Simon and Darius...a little cocky but fine. They are where the true potential of this show lies. So get over it, Aaron! You're not good at everything!
Oh, and..."2000 Miles"? Really?
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2-07-2007 @ 8:55AM
Alicia said...
@ #7.... I agree whole heartedly with your first comment. There is nothing there to be fixed. Period. It seems as if S60 has a strong fan base. (Just like BSG and the Wire(which I don't watch but I don't bash people for watching it either!))
Back to Jay's review:
1. Matt hitting on Wendy. Yeah he was drunk and he was blocked and she was hot and Harriet had just broken his heart, but it seemed to come out of nowhere. It was out of character for him (wasn't Matt the guy who had to be talked into meeting with models?) and wasn't adequately explained by the situation.
Um... they used to be a thing. You got that fromt he episode where he wanted her to sing the boot. He was rejected, a bit drunk and once you score with a chic you will try and score again.
But... the kiss... That kiss was awesome.
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2-07-2007 @ 9:39AM
doug said...
Boy, I cannot remember a show that I was so looking forward to that I ended up so disappointed with as Studio 60.
As bad as the cell phones not working on the roof, though they work in the building, that we had last week, I think the hide-a-key "rock" mistaken for a real rock was even worse. Ugh!
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