Running Studio 60 thread (spoilers)

[BYH]

FINALLY caught up to the show tonight. We had the last five episodes of 2006 backlogged, figuring I wasn't going to get into the show if NBC was just going to cancel it. Then they renewed it and we caught up just in time to fall behind again.

It's definitely inconsistent, but worth sticking with just for the writing and Matthew Perry. He's been outstanding. Enjoying the heck out of his performance.

Not a fan of the Jordan-Danny relationship, at all. I'm not buying that she's fallen for him so quickly after telling him no go. I think the show would be more interesting if Danny was completely smitten with no chance at all at Jordan.

And while I like the show skewering the FCC and morally superior dingbats on the far right, I really liked John Goodman, in the Nevada episode, suggesting the writers could do a lot better than alienating half their audience right off the bat.

DL Hughley is great as well. The New Orleans musical performance was almost as good as advertised. And sue me, the rock bit made me laugh.

Alas, I can't see the show surviving beyond the year. Its focus is too narrow and it costs far too much to produce. I'll still buy the DVD ASAP.

 

[BillySixty]

And another thing ... is Sorkin setting things up to resolve the Harriet-and-gays storyline by having Simon turn out to be both gay and her biggest defender?

I was thinking this too. I think it was the first wrap party that Simon had a chick all over him that he passed off to Tom. When the Harriet vs. Gays story line came about, I figured we were all getting set up for something.

 

[lantaur]

FINALLY caught up to the show tonight. We had the last five episodes of 2006 backlogged, figuring I wasn't going to get into the show if NBC was just going to cancel it. Then they renewed it and we caught up just in time to fall behind again.

They renewed it? Missed that bit of news.

 

[Webster]

And another thing ... is Sorkin setting things up to resolve the Harriet-and-gays storyline by having Simon turn out to be both gay and her biggest defender?

I was thinking this too. I think it was the first wrap party that Simon had a chick all over him that he passed off to Tom. When the Harriet vs. Gays story line came about, I figured we were all getting set up for something.

Billy -- I thought the same thing with Simon. Maybe they just aren't taking a position on the issue yet, waiting to use it in potential story lines if the show somehow gets renewed.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I will be stunned if 30 Rock is canceled... It's a good show. It's paired well with The Office...

I won't be stunned if Studio 60 doesn't make it since it's struggled since Day 1. It will be unfortunate though, it's a very good show...

 

[Webster]

I guess the only issue with 30 Rock being renewed is whether the Andy Richter comedy which is replacing it for a short stint gets much better ratings. If so, it may work its way into the Thursday lineup ahead of 30 Rock (assuming that Scrubs gets renewed or they add another comedy).

They would be idiots to replace 30 Rock. It has gotten better each week (last week's hiccup aside) and Alec Baldwin is a David Hyde-Pierce style lock to win Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy.

 

[Freelance Hack]

It's pretty damning that it's been 11 hours since the last post and the show was on tonight.

That said, it was the best episode of the season by far. The flashbacks worked extremely well, and there was enough comic relief (i.e. the Metric Conversion subplot) to not make me want to take pills and wine.

I'm not sure there's a better actor playing a better role than Matt Perry and Matt Albie.

 

[BYH]

FINALLY caught up to the show tonight. We had the last five episodes of 2006 backlogged, figuring I wasn't going to get into the show if NBC was just going to cancel it. Then they renewed it and we caught up just in time to fall behind again.

They renewed it? Missed that bit of news.

Sorry, terrible phrasing on my part. I meant the show was picked up for the rest of the year.

And Freelance, I agree, tonight was excellent. The in-jokes about Neve Campbell (Perry's former co-star and lover) and the guy who has a chance to save his job if he goes into rehab (a la Perry) were outstanding.

And you're absolutely right: Perry was born for this gig. He said a million words with two facial expressions tonight: When his skit gets cut in 1999 (looked like he was ready to cry) and when he realized he'd made up a co-worker in his mind. I hope his work doesn't go unnoticed, even if the show is perishing before our very eyes.

 

[ifilus]

Did anyone catch what Matt mumbled to the girl singer about Jane Fonda?

 

[Freelance Hack]

Did anyone catch what Matt mumbled to the girl singer about Jane Fonda?

Yeah, and when Harry said "did you think it was drugs?" after Matt pitched Crazy Christians to her?

 

[JayFarrar]

Tonight was one very good show.
So layered, so good. When NBC pulls the plug, I'm going to be super-pissed.

 

[Jinga_Thomson]

How come it is such common knowledge this show is gasping for air? Are the ratings really that bad? I've been with it from the beginning and thought it was doing well. Maybe I'm just in denial.