Running Studio 60 thread (spoilers)

We're TiVoing both S60 and "What About Brian" ... latter isn't that bad. Just has the will-they-won't-they dynamic that can't possibly be dragged out for a full season. The actress' name is Sarah Lancaster ... very nice ...

 

When I saw that guy's scene in the pilot (actor's name is Nate Torrence, BTW), when he drunkenly tried to tease Harriet and got put in his place, I immediately thought to myself that this guy was the Farley archetype. That thought was cemented in a subsequent episode when he was picking up another cast member and spinning him around; just a guy who seems to revel in having a good time and maybe doesn't realize it when he's taking it too far.

The guy may very well stay a very minor character and even disappear from the show, but I can also see them using the character as an example of a TV star on a self-destructive road and how he is dealt with. And with the histories of the Matt and Danny characters, that could open the door to a lot of possibilities.

 

The Neilsen rating is inclusive of same-day Tivo viewing. Any Tivoing beyond same-day doesn't mean much to advertisers -- not sure about the thinking there, exactly.

I can see why the 'alpha consumer' concept would mean something in the print world, where people who read are more affluent anyway.

And this kind of demo actually means a lot to niche cable channels. The Golf Channel has made a living on them despite hash marks for ratings.

But that particular demo means less to the b'cast networks. That Sorkin points out this 'alpha consumer' concept via one of his characters tells me he's trying to make a case for his own work. But I'm not sure how far that kind of thing will take this show on a non-niche, non-cable network.

 

The Cage impression is so fucking dead on....

 

Do you know who Chris Farley was?

 

Update:

Webby, I think those might be last week's numbers. I just got my daily e-mail from TVWeek.com, which reports:

NBC's "Deal" posted a season-high performance of 5.2, followed by another strong week for "Heroes" (5.7). In the 10 p.m. slot, however, "Studio 60" had a worrisome drop and its lowest-rated episode to date, at 3.1.

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Based on the overnight rating, MNF on cable actually beat all the broadcast networks in households. Amazing.

 

The numbers I got from zap2it.com were updated today... Here's the full article...

 

Here's what I just got:

October 17, 2006
'Deal,' 'Heroes' Lift NBC to Nightly Win
By James Hibberd
NBC scored a Monday night victory thanks to the ongoing ratings driver "Deal or No Deal" and the popular freshman drama "Heroes." The Peacock Net had a 4.7 preliminary rating among adults 18 to 49, according to Nielsen Media Research, though CBS handily won in households with an 8.9 rating due to its sitcom block anchored by "Two and a Half Men."

NBC's "Deal" posted a season-high performance of 5.2, followed by another strong week for "Heroes" (5.7). In the 10 p.m. slot, however, "Studio 60" had a worrisome drop and its lowest-rated episode to date, at 3.1.

Over at CBS, "Two and a Half Men" continues to perform, matching season-high numbers in the key adult demo (5.2). The show led into "New Adventures of Old Christine," which drew its third-largest audience to date (4.2). But "The Class" at 8:30 p.m. dropped 11 percent from last week's time-period premiere to 3.1.

ABC's reality block performed solidly, with "Wife Swap" garnering a 3.6 and "The Bachelor: Rome" enjoying week-to-week gains (3.7). The 10 p.m. J.J. Abrams drama "What About Brian" delivered surprising double-digit growth over last week's premiere to earn a 3.5.

Fox aired two "House" repeats instead of a Major League Baseball game that was rained out, which earned 1.5 and 1.6, respectively. The CW maintained its average with a 1.3 for its sitcom block.

On the cable side, ESPN's "Monday Night Football" scored a 10.2, up 13 percent over last week's game. Based on overnights in metered markets, ESPN bested broadcasters to rank No. 1 in households.

 

Okay, I see.

TVWeek is only concerned with The Demo: Adults 18-49.

zap2it.com is including 50+.

 

Frankly, I thought what we saw of the Nancy Grace and Nic Cage bits were better than anything seen yet this season on SNL. That's what ought to trouble NBC.

Loved the character development brought on by the exchange between Lahti and Sarah Paulson (who I think is absolutely stunning, always have, even if ). Really added layers to the Harriett character.

Agree completely that there's just no point to bringing TWW into any discussion with this show. If anyone is letting the comparison keep them from enjoying this season, they're cheating themselves.

I'm still at the point where every episode of this show is a "happening" to me, a highlight of any given week. Can't argue with the ratings, except I'm disappointed that this show isn't through the roof.

 

From the L.A. Times TV blog ... not an upbeat look for Studio 60 as it stands:

http://hollywoodhotline.latimes.com/watcher/2006/10/studio_60_drags.html#more

 

I've heard so many people complain about the sketches not being funny enough. One friend said, "They should hire a real sketch comedy writer to write them." First off, they did ... Mark McKinney, formerly of the Kids in the Hall and SNL writes them. Secondly, if they had a sketch comedy writer who was churning out "gold" [/banya] they would probably have him or her writing on SNL.

The Nic Cage bit was great and the guy did a great impression. The sketches this week were the funniest so far.

I understand the argument that they should be funnier, but they really aren't the point of the show, IMHO, more of a funny break from what's really going on.