Studio60OnTheSunsetStrip-related stories
Posted Jun 29th 2009 4:29PM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: TV on DVD, OpEd, Reality-Free
About a month ago, I mentioned my
television summer project.
The West Wing was such an excellent series that I stampeded by way through the episodes and am done already. In fact, if you summed up the quality of every reality show on television, it wouldn't come close to the quality of
The West Wing (thus furthering the argument that writers are mandatory for good television).
I agree with most of the critics that the series took a drop in quality in Season 5. With the departure of Sorkin, the characters began to make decisions that seemed inconsistent with the first four seasons (I'll write more about that in a separate article). Seasons 6 and 7 saw an upswing in quality, mostly due to the change in the whole premise of the show (making it about the Presidential Election rather than the Presidency).
The West Wing was a very deep and intelligent program and probably better than we deserve. Next up: Aaron Sorkin's other television contributions,
Sports Night and
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
Posted Apr 10th 2009 11:07AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Celebrities, Reality-Free
According to PopWatch,
Aaron Sorkin might be returning to television. And for the third time, it might be a television-show-within-a-television-show (his first two in this vein were
Sports Night and
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip). This time, the fictional world would be a cable news program such as the one hosted by Keith Olbermann on MSNBC.
His last show utilizing this concept,
Studio 60, didn't fare so well and was cancelled after a single season. However, this program concept would also incorporate the discussion of politics, which Sorkin excels at, as proven in
The West Wing. We may have a winner here.
Sorkin is certainly a multi-talented writer. He's written movies and plays as well as television. I believe he can make this sort of program work. I even confess to liking an earlier incarnation of this concept, Al Franken's
Lateline.
So what do you think? Do you welcome a return by Sorkin to television or is his reputation overblown?
Posted Mar 30th 2009 1:11PM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, Interviews, Reality-Free
Ten years after ABC prematurely cancelled Rob Thomas' dramedy
Cupid, the alphabet net has decided to give it another go. The new version of the show, which premieres Tuesday at 10 PM ET, now stars
Sarah Paulson and Bobby Cannavale in the roles originated by Paula Marshall and Jeremy Piven, respectively.
The premise is the same: Trevor Pierce claims to be Cupid, exiled from Mt. Olympus, and he needs to find true love for 100 couples before he is allowed back home. After Trevor is arrested for one of his stunts and sent to a psychological hospital, singles self-help guru Dr. Claire McCrae is assigned to keep track of him as he makes his way in the outside world. This time around, the show is set in the fast paced and cynical world of New York, complete with all the modern touches of dating in the late '00s (Maybe Cupid will have a Twitter account).
I spoke to the stars of the new
Cupid last week. While I was on the phone, I asked Paulson about what happened on her previous series,
Studio 60. I got a pretty interesting response...
Continue reading Bobby Cannavale and Sarah Paulson talk about the return of Cupid - VIDEO
Posted Mar 18th 2009 10:06AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: 30 Rock, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free
The success of
Slumdog Millionaire and
Frost/Nixon recently inspired me to assess
the ten best movies about television. TV has been a fertile source of entertainment for filmmakers. The TV turf is also a popular setting for TV shows, and there have been some all-time great shows about the tube. Here are nine that I think warrant special recognition -- in no special order.
1. The Mary Tyler Moore ShowIt all started at WJM-TV in Minneapolis.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show was the perfect sitcom blend of home and work, and work happened to be the local TV news team. As Mary Richards, the associate producer, Mary Tyler Moore was the single girl America loved because she was real, funny, gorgeous and lovable. At work, the news was mangled nightly by Ted Baxter, the quintessential news reader anchorman who loved every dulcet tone of his voice and had no idea what he was reporting. In perfect irony, when the show came to an end, most everyone at WJM -- Lou Grant, Murray Slaughter, Sue Anne Nivens, Mary -- were fired. Only Ted was spared!
Continue reading Nine memorable TV shows about TV - VIDEO
Posted Oct 31st 2008 11:01AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Casting, Reality-Free
I like
Bradley Whitford. Chances are you like Bradley Whitford, too. Who doesn't like Bradley Whitford? So, the news today that the Emmy winning star, an NBC favorite from
The West Wing -- and to a lesser-extent
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (although I think he was the best thing on that program) -- is back at work for the network is a good thing.
Whitford will produce and star in Off Duty, a buddy comedy series opposite Romany Malco.
It'll be a single-camera style comedy, telling the story of a veteran, once legendary police detective who has fallen on hard times. He's then paired up with a younger up-and-comer, a straight shooter, played by Malco.
This sounds like a somewhat familiar formula, so what will make or break this project is the chemistry and comic fireworks between the principals.
Continue reading Bradley Whitford back to NBC for buddy sitcom
Posted Oct 6th 2008 5:06PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Desperate Housewives, Casting, Reality-Free
You know that scene in the movie
When Harry Met Sally, when Meg Ryan is in a New York deli and simulates having an orgasm? Then Estelle Reiner looks over and says to the waiter, "I'll have what she's having."?
Well, that's how a lot of actors in Hollywood must be feeling about actor Steven Weber -- "I'll have what he's having!" -- because he's been on a hot streak going from role to role to role, TV series to TV series.
The latest is his landing a juicy part on Desperate Housewives.
The former
Wings star will be playing Julie's lover, her college professor who's a serial monogamist, having been married three times. Susan, reportedly, is going to freak out about her daughter getting serious with a guy who's old enough to be her father.
This role is being slated for just one episode, so far, but you never know. He could turn out to be Susan's son-in-law down the road.
Continue reading Steven Weber gets ANOTHER role; this time it's Desperate Housewives
Posted Jun 4th 2008 10:01AM by Kristin Sample
Filed under: Music and Variety, Celebrities, Awards, Casting, Reality-Free
BET is tagging this event as "the hottest ticket on television." And from this list of performers, I can see why. Usher, Lil Wayne, Nelly, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown, Kanye West, and Young Jeezy will take the stage at the
BET Awards '08. The award show will be hosted by
The Original Kings of Comedy member, D.L. Hughley.
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.
Continue reading Host and new performers announced for the BET Awards '08
Posted Oct 20th 2007 1:02PM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: TV on DVD, OpEd
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.
Continue reading Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Complete Series - DVD review
Posted Jun 27th 2007 11:25AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: TV on DVD, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
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).
Continue reading Studio 60 complete series coming to DVD this fall
Posted Jan 22nd 2007 10:01AM by Kelly Woo
Filed under: Programming, Prison Break, What To Watch Tonight
Prison Break (8PM, Fox)
Has 'Prison Break' become totally improbable? Far-fetched? Over-the-top? Yes, yes and yes. But its twists and turns really turn on the adrenaline (and are tame compared to Jack Bauer's life an hour later). Now that they've joined up with Kellerman and with an upcoming return by Patricia Wettig's President, the spring half of 'Break' promises to be one hell of a fun rollercoaster ride.
Continue reading What to Watch Mon., Jan. 22
Posted Nov 22nd 2006 2:02PM by Keith McDuffee
Filed under: Spoilers Anonymous
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!)
Continue reading Spoilers Anonymous
Posted Sep 20th 2006 11:20AM by Keith McDuffee
Filed under: Spoilers Anonymous
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@gmail.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:
Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Battlestar Galactica, Everybody Hates Chris, Veronica Mars, Prison Break and The Office. (SPOILERS FOLLOW!)
Continue reading Spoilers Anonymous
Posted Aug 4th 2006 2:36PM by Michael Canfield
Filed under: OpEd, Lost, Smallville, The Five
From John Madden to Sarah Paulson, Bradley Whitford, and superheroes on the small screen (where they
really flourish) -- here are the five things I'm looking forward to this Fall TV season:
1.
Lex, Lana, and General Zod love triangle: Forget Bryan Singer's not-too-bad film, forget the foul and execrable
My Super Ex-Girlfriend,
Smallville does comics right. And no ditzy bimbo sidekick for television's Lex Luthor, who appears to have won the heart of Clark's ex, Lana Lang, over the course of last season, and now he's possessed by the
Superman II film villain, Zod. That's character development that movies, (even 2 hour 45 minute movies) just don't have time for. A
Smallville cast addition:
Jimmy Olsen? Who cares. And is that freckled goofball the best they can do as a love interest for adorable Chloe (
Allison Mack)? Also, I'm thankful the suits passed on Aquaman. There's a reason
Aquaman is the fake movie on
Entourage -- the very idea is just ridiculous. A superhero should have powers that at least outweigh his weaknesses. (Has gills and the ability to bond with lobster and other entrees, but can't be out of water more than
one hour?) Now,
Justin Hartley is freed up to play Green Arrow on a
Smallville arc. Come to think of it, cut Chloe a break and hook her up with Green Arrow.
Continue reading The Five: Mike C's fall picks
Posted Aug 2nd 2006 8:41AM by Richard Keller
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, NBC, Programming, Video, Web, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
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]
Continue reading Watch the Studio 60 pilot while you can -- VIDEO
Posted Jul 26th 2006 1:18PM by Chris Thilk
Filed under: Programming, OpEd
Warner Bros. was trying to be a bit experimental. They were going to try selling new shows they were producing such as
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and others on their own online retail site. They hit a
speedbump in the shape of at least four broadcast networks, though. Seems those networks believe people have such strong associations with the network they're shown on that they didn't want people to be able to find them on the studio's site. This disagreement may mean that unless a deal is hammered out Warner Bros. new shows won't be available on digital platforms at all.
Continue reading Warner Bros. learns hard branding lesson
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