After playing Chandler Bing on the hugely popular television sitcom Friends for 10 years, Matthew Perry attempts to make another huge hit role as he stars on Showtime’s The End of Steve.  The dark comedy series has been given a pilot order with a substantial penalty attached with it: the promise that it will showcase a darker side of Perry viewers have never seen before.

After his stint on Friends, Perry starred in the telefilm The Ron Clark Story, where he played the title role.  He then returned to primetime television with his role as Matt Albie on NBC’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip where he received strong reviews for his performance.  Unfortunately, the series only lasted for one season.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.