Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - The
Complete Series starring Steven
Weber, Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet,
Bradley Whitford, Sarah Paulson
Best Prime-Time Show
Aaron Sorkin, bless him, believes that the people who watch television
shows arent dumber than the people who make television shows. He also
believes that quality is not anathema to profit. He puts these idealistic
words into the mouth of Jordan McDeere (Amanda Peet), the new,
impolitic NBS TV president whose first order of business is to revitalize the
networks cash cow, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, a long-running live late-
night sketch-comedy series reeling from the Howard Beale-esque on-air
meltdown of its creator (Judd Hirsch, alas, limited to the pilot episode).
With this Upstairs/Backstage look at Studio 60s tumultuous network
politics and stormy personal relationships, Sorkin, the creator of Sports
Night and The West Wing, once again tried to raise the bar of prime time
fare. That he didnt quite clear it makes this one-season wonder a
fascinating object lesson of great hopes and dashed expectations. Studio
60 was perhaps the most hotly debated series of the 2006 season and,
love it or hate it, all its strengths and flaws can be savored and savaged
anew with this complete-series set. Pretty much above reproach is the
ensemble. Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford head the cast as comedy
writer Matt and executive producer Danny, former Studio 60 hands whom
Jordan brings back to save the show. Steven Weber costars as network
chairman Jack Rudolph, who clashes with Jordan over reality
programming (he wants it, she doesnt), is embroiled in network
negotiations with China, and must fend off angry affiliates offended by
such sketches as Crazy Christians. Jordan contends with becoming tabloid
fodder after her ex-husband leaks scandalous details of their past.
Meanwhile, Matt, a sardonic atheist, is in a whole Ross and Rachel thing
with Harriet (Emmy nominee Sarah Paulson), who is devoutly religious and
the shows galvanizing star performer (she does do a mean Holly Hunter).
Studio 60 has much to say about comedy in wartime, the divided states of
America, the creative process, and patriotism. Some of it is deftly handled,
some of it is ham-handed and some of it patronizing. Most of it is delivered
in Sorkins signature chock-a-block style and with walk-and-talk urgency.
But even at its most maddening, there are enough riveting moments (a
performance by displaced New Orleans musicians in The Christmas
Show), jaw-dropping developments (Im coming for you, Jordan, warns
Danny, suddenly-turned romantic stalker), and indelible performances
(John Goodmans Emmy-winning turn as a plain-speaking Pahrump, NV
judge not impressed with the Hollywood types before him in the two-part
Nevada Day) to make Studio 60 a series worth revisiting, if only as a guilty
pleasure. The pilot episode commentary by Sorkin and director Thomas
Schlamme, as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette, were produced
before the show was canceled, robbing this series fervent fans of the
opportunity for some closure. --Donald Liebenson
Features:
* What goes on behind the scenes of a nationwide late-night comedy
sketch show? Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing, answers that
question with a must-see show within a show filled with engaging
characters, ear-grabbing dialogue and a Hollywood hive of insider
buzz.Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford portray the likable hotshots
brought in to revive NBS-TVs sagging flagship comedy series and Aman
Sometimes it feels empowering to be a little smarter then the "Norm". That
the time and hard work spent improving one's mind, one's perspectives
and one's talents, was well spent. Most of the time, though, it's just plain
frustrating, that nobody seems to "get" you. That your ideas and concepts
are a long way from being heard or understood by the folks around you.
On days like that, and there must be lots of them for him, it must be pretty
hard to be Aaron Sorkin.
Aaron crafts characters 'out of plain words' that build people, about whom
we think "I wish I could be more like him...or her." Characters who make
honorable choices, about life, love, career, ethics, relationships...and who
stick around to deal with the fallout and consequences of those choices,
rather than hitting and running away to hide.
Studio 60 is nearly as filled with these types of characters as was The
West Wing. Sadly, it was just a bit too far ahead of it's time and was
cancelled just as it was hitting full stride.
I've only watched the first eight of the 22 episodes in this "Complete
Series", six-disk, boxed-set, because, like sipping a fine wine, I prefer to
savor the experience, a small taste at a time.
If you're a person who'd like to believe that there is intelligent life on this
planet...that it's not just "A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury (like
Fox News) signifying nothing." then this is, in fact, MUST SEE TV.
Television creates templates of possible realities. We watch it, learn a set
of values and style choices, and work toward being a little more like the
characters we identify with. These characters we can ill afford to miss.
Aaron, I think you're casting your pearls before swine, most of the time, but
thanks for making the effort, from someone who does "get" you!
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