June 28, 2007
When this past TV season began, NBC, the critics and anyone who follows television put big money on the success of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Writer Aaron Sorkin’s follow-up to The West Wing, the show boasted some of the finest behind-the-scenes talent working in TV today, combined with an all-star cast. Friends star Matthew Perry, The West Wing’s Bradley Whitford, and hot young movie starlet Amanda Peet took the leads, flanked by a cast of very familiar faces to TV viewers. It was destined to become the breakout hit of the year.
Or not. The show died a long time ago, but it's taken until now tor NBC to burn off the last episodes. Tonight, NBC airs the series finale of Studio 60 after a tumultuous year of episode cutbacks, chronic rescheduling and an increasing apathy towards Aaron Sorkin’s attempts to find a distinct voice for the show.
May 2, 2007
In an attempt to have a good mix of viewing pleasure, NBC has decided to make a few changes to their calendar and return The Biggest Loser and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, while pushing back America’s Got Talent.
Nearly three months after announcing that Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip will be on hiatus from February 19, NBC has decided to revive the “show-within-a-show,” which previously garnered poor ratings. The comedy series, which initially aired Mondays, will return on May 24 and will fill out the Thursday niche at 10/9c. Although Studio 60 will be coming back with six new episodes, the network has not yet confirmed if a second season will take place.
February 26, 2007
Canadian-American Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor Matthew Perry uniquely establishes himself as an amusing and comical celebrity who has captured the hearts of viewers worldwide. He is a distinct icon known not only for his funny roles, but as well as his versatility in drama. Gifted with wit, charms and an appealing face, he lands a spot on the television show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
February 26, 2007
Named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People magazine, Amanda Peet emanates her strong and fierce stage presence as she stands out in the entertainment world. Distinctly gorgeous, she can easily fit in nearly any kind of role and persuasively portray it with gusto. She became part of the television series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, which further established her as a television actress.
February 16, 2007
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.
January 23, 2007
I've kept telling everyone, "Give it time. It'll be fine. The show just needs to find itself."
Yet, as is the norm in television, critics and viewers were quick to write off Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, even after its universally lauded pilot episode. The Aaron Sorkin drama has since gained a vocal base of critics, who have slammed anything from the overt tackling of political issues to the lack of humor on the show within the show. Granted, even I can admit that most of the criticisms, at their core, were legitimate. However, if you couldn't see the ridiculous potential of Studio 60, even in its mediocre episodes, you weren't paying attention.
A TV show as complex as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip does not come out of the gate fully formed. It can't. There are just too many characters, too many issues and only 42 minutes to work with. Sorkin and his staff had to find the character match-ups that meshed, the right tone (comedic, political, satirical), what kind of stories work, what don't, which characters needed more screen time, what characters needed to be added, how much of the show within the show to (ahem) show, and, ultimately, figure out all these issues through subtle trial and error. They had to do all this AND somehow gain the support of NBC, who mercifully ordered a full season. This is no easy task.