TVSquad

The network is honoring some iconic names in music as well. Legendary R&B crooner Al Green will receive BET's Lifetime Achievement Award. Celebrated producer / arranger / composer Quincy Jones is set for BET's Humanitarian Award for his work in the Listen Up, a charity which connects youth with music, technology and culture.

I almost didn't want to review this DVD set. Did I really want to go back into those murky waters again and bring up all those old disagreements? But here we go...

Actually, the DVD set for Studio 60 is much like the TV series itself. It starts out brilliantly and then as it goes on it starts to get worse and worse. But then it ends nicely!

Packaging

Pretty standard packaging, just a regular box containing three plastic holders housing two DVDs each. The artwork on each plastic holder is fairly interesting. Instead of a large pic on the front and the info on the inside, all the episode info is on the front and back of each individual holder, including pics from episodes and promotional pics.

Just in time for tomorrow's series finale on NBC at 10pm comes this announcement from Warner Home Video that they will release Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - The Complete Series on October 16.

The set will not only include all 22 episodes from it's first and only season, but there will be a new behind the scenes featurette and episode commentaries by creator Aaron Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme (hopefully cast members will join in too).

Hello. My name is Keith and I'm a spoiler junkie. This is Spoilers Anonymous, a weekly column here at TV Squad where we'll supply you with the dirt on some of the more popular shows on the air. We'll never put spoilers up here on the main page in order to help the reformed stay unspoiled. If you have anything to add to the group, feel free to step up and let yourself be heard, either with our tips form or by emailing us at tvsquad at gmail dot com or call and leave a message at 917-421-9477 (NY) - your anonymity is guaranteed, if you wish to remain as such.

This week:Veronica Mars, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, House, Prison Break, Lost, The Shield and The Office. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

By the time this post goes out the pilot episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip may have already been removed from the YouTube. However, you can't blame me for trying to inform the public, can you?

Before NBC previews Studio 60 to Netflix subscribers starting on August 5th you can view the pilot on YouTube for free. Of course, due to certain restrictions on the site, the pilot is split up into five parts. It looks like the widescreen version of the episode, but it seems to be smushed together to fit in the 4:3 box of the site.

I took a quick look at some of the scenes and it looks like it picks up steam about halfway through the show. Matthew Perry's character seems to have a bit of Chandler left over from his days on Friends. And, it seems to have all of the frantic energy that is trademark of an Aaron Sorkin production.

I'm only linking to the first part of the pilot here, boys and girls. You'll need to click under the 'Explore More Videos' section of the page to see all five parts.

[Thanks to Eugene for the tip]

I don't envy the network programming executives. Their task is to use prognostication to determine what shows will be picked up for the new season and where they'll go in the schedule to please not only audiences but advertisers as well. Sometimes they hit the jackpot ("Must See TV" Thursday's on NBC, "TGIF" Fridays on ABC, "Animation Domination" Sundays on Fox) and sometimes they go down in flames (Cop Rock . . . need I say more). However, when they go ahead and take a good thing and mess around with it due to fear it really ticks me off.

Case in point:  the new NBC fall schedule. Personally, I felt that after years of mediocrity on Thursday nights the programming executives were about to revive "Must See TV". There were no more subpar sitcoms and reality shows to fill the blank 8:30-10:00 spot that had been the bane of the network for several seasons. Instead, each hour was filled with strong shows. My Name is Earl and The Office were moved up one hour to the 8:00-9:00 PM slot. Following would be the brand new Aaron Sorkin drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip which featured the return of Matthew Perry to the NBC schedule. Closing would be the long-running ER, which is still a top twenty show that could have a new lease on life with the arrival of John Stamos. Three steady hours of TV.

And, out of fear, NBC programming executives blew it by moving the show to Mondays!

At the end of Sunday night's series finale of The West Wing, NBC premiered a 30-second preview of the new Aaron Sorkin series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (which I am calling Studio 60 from now on whenever I mention it.). The trailer can now be seen on YouTube in all its glory (or here, after the jump below).

Matthew Perry appears in a scene at the beginning of the trailer, and Bradley Whitford appears in a scene at the end. In between, a list of the show's stars is rattled off. If you notice, there are a number of people who have worked together before. Whitford, Perry and Timothy Busfield all appeared on Sorkin's The West Wing. Perry and Amanda Peet worked together on the film The Whole Nine Yards and its sequel.

Take a gander at the trailer. I think it will get you pumped up for the premier this fall.

Okay, who gave the executives over at NBC the sensibility pills?

In what seems like an extremely logical move (at least for now), NBC has produced a Thursday night schedule for the new fall season that may make the phrase "Must See TV" truthful once again. As mentioned by the amazingly talented Bob Sassone in his post on the NBC fall upfronts, comedies My Name is Earl and The Office will be pushed back one hour to the 8-9 pm slot. Following will be the new Aaron Sorkin drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (which Aaron will hopefully shorten to just Studio 60). Network stalwart ER will round out the night in its usual 10 pm slot.

Notice something here? For the first time in many years, NBC may have a very solid Thursday primetime. With Earl  and The Office anchoring the night, you are getting away from a curse the network had for many years; pairing a successful sitcom (such as Friends) with a mediocre or poor sitcom (Single Guy, Four Kings, or any other forgettable show). Both shows compliment each other and have been steady performers this past season.