Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip just hasn't found its audience and NBC's patience is wearing thin.  A show whose merits I have time and again touted, Studio 60 has not received the ratings to justify its gaudy budget (over $2 million per episode) and big-name cast.  NBC has had confidence in the Aaron Sorkin-run show, but the audience that they thought would eventually come remains absent.  America would much rather watch its time slot competitor CSI: Miami, it seems. 

Studio 60 was originally supposed to air another brand-new episode next week, but NBC is pulling it in order to air the premiere of The Black Donnellys, a mob drama from the mind of Paul Haggis (“Crash”).  NBC's official word is that Studio 60 is merely being placed on hiatus, and will return sometime in March.  We've heard that one before.


The dreaded premature hiatus is usually the death blow for a television series.  Maybe NBC really does want to give The Black Donnellys a shot at the 10PM Monday time slot and see if anything can compete with CSI: Miami.  Maybe they do plan on giving Studio 60 the rest of its season.  My prediction: I think that we've seen the last of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.  This is unfortunate, but I understand.  Both the show itself (as well as it's plight to get ratings) has left me frustrated. Studio 60 has shown flashes of brilliance, but continues to be a cesspool of unfulfilled potential, much like a busted NBA lottery draft pick. 

I hope I'm wrong and Studio 60 finishes its first season and gets a second.  But I'm not holding my breath.

-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer