Running Studio 60 thread (spoilers)

and we have a winner!!

DING! DING! DING! DING! ;D ;D ;D

WELL DONE, WISPORTSWRITER!!!

 

I said that I wouldn't watch it, but I did. I guess that I'm a glutton for punishment. It was marginally better than past episodes, but still a long way from good and a even longer from Sorkin-esqe expectations.

I thought that the Sixth Sense twist was really stupid and not needed. Amazing that they could have a staff of 40 or so writers before and now can get by with about a tenth of that number. I agree with the Lysistrata thing -- why in the world would a struggling junior comedy writer on a sketch show in LA would have the opportunity and desire to see a dramatic production at Yale? And making Matt look younger by putting a baseball cap on his dome -- like something out of a soft core porn movie. I didn't get the point of it -- Matt's trying to relive his glory days with Harriet? In the immortal words of the great Josiah Bartlet, "what's next?"

 

Here's the thing. Matt was an accomplished writer before coming to Hollywood. His works had been selected in the Humana Festival and another festival -- both pretty big things for any writer. What he wasn't before then was a comedy writer. Apparently, Harriet was his muse.

 

I scoured the interwebs for Studio 60 nuggets last night as I was battling insomnia.
* Studio 60 is No. 1 on the most-Tivoed list
* The show is No. 2 on the making over a 100k, high-end consumer list, The Office is No. 1
* The NBC head said he was committed to putting out quality TV, despite poor ratings. He cited Studio 60 and Friday Night Lights as examples.
* The show costs $2.5 million an episode to make, so a full season 2 would cost more than $50 million.
* The show is going on hiatus to accomodate the Black Donnellys, with four episodes in the can.
* The show is likely toast with those four episodes never making it on air and being packaged on the Season 1 DVD as a way to boost sales.
* A pay channel like HBO might step in to keep the show going.

 

No way that HBO can afford the show -- Peet, Whitford and especially Perry would be way too pricey. I don't know why, but I think that NBC gives it another shot. The biggest issue might be Friday Night Lights, which is reviewed far better but also gets crappy ratings.

 

Agree on Studio 60 being great this week.
A thought on 24: Although I tape it and watch it every Monday night, I have a lot of friends who simply wait for the DVD to come out and then rip through it. That could be hurting the ratings a little bit.

 

I think this was the best epsiode of the season, including the Christmas episode. I tend to like flashback episodes and I'm a sucker for those transitions when someone will close the door in the present and walk into a room in the past. I like that there was a little meat to this episode. You get to see what's made Matt and Harriet what they were and obviously getting into the pill addiction is pretty heavy... interesting to see Perry play that role with his real-life experiences.

One thing that this episode was light on was the stupid type comedy of some other episodes (the snake-ferret-coyote fiasco being the most recent example). I have no problem with Tom and the guy from the car rental commericals being goofy but I don't need it out of Danny, Matt or the other guy (Tim Busfield?). I don't look for this show to be a comedy. I think it's funnier when it's understated, with the banter and dry humor, than when it tries to slam you over the head with it. Unfortunately next week looks like an hour of slap-stick crap.

 

"I'm glad Jane Fonda ... found (pause) you. Have a great show."

In other words, he was trying to say "I'm glad Jane found you," but for some reason he misspoke.

 

Matt: "Is this (her Christianity) what you meant by 'the things you don't know about me'?"

Harriet: "Weren't you happier when you thought I was talking about drugs?"

 

I know a lot of people who wait for the DVD releases of 24 and Lost so they can watch an entire season in a week or so without getting confused or having to wait...

 

Wasn't there something about Studio 60 being popular with TiVo people? In other words, more people than the Nielsens know about recording the show and watching it later?

 

I believe that it is has the highest ratio of Tivo/DVR viewers to live viewers.