I recall a certain point in my life where I thought I was better than those who watched television on a regular basis. I’m not sure if would call it being elitist, but it’s just one of those things that results from the “you mean you’re not watching [insert name here]” craze of the 90’s, or at least how I remember things. I blame prime time sitcoms, reality TV, and the communication studies department at the University of Iowa.
No matter what anyone tells you, education and entertainment should not mix. Write enough papers about social ramifications of anything and your take on everything else in life can, and most likely will, change. If you’re really good, then you’ll find some way to enjoy some of the things you can see in this short life that we all have.
Rebecca already made a post about this the other day, but “Studio 60 on Sunset Strip”[imdb] is something we’ve been enjoying quite a bit. It’s another Aaron Sorkin creation that is probably too good for this era of over hype and the need for instant success. I was never impressed with the commercials that I saw for it, but someone said that if I loved Sports Night[imdb], which I do, then I would dig Studio 60.
Sports Night was one of those shows that I caught on Comedy Central while eating lunch between classes in college. At that point, it was in syndication, which is odd being that it had only been on the air for a short time. Actually, I was completely wrong, and the show ended after barely two seasons. It won a few Emmys, but the ratings never went where ABC wanted them. A quality show that never produced the quantity of viewers that the big guys calling the shots wanted. Such is the formula that makes up network television.
Needless to say, I fell in love with Sports Night and bought the entire series on DVD. I don’t care a whole lot about sports, asides from hockey, baseball, and some football, but the way the series was written, I liked it a lot.
Studio 60 is the same way. Sketch comedy is a love/hate genre in so many ways, so this show already had me saying nay. Like Sports Night, Sorkin brings the story of the characters to the forefront while putting the premise of the show into the background. It’s less about making a west coast version of SNL every week and more about the lives of the people making it happen. The interaction breeds drama for and about the show, but you get the picture that there is more to series than just execs, producers, and cast members.
Of course, and in true typical fashion, mentioning this is all in vain.
Here we go: despite receiving an order for three more episodes on Friday, the Aaron Sorkin NBC drama “Studio 60 on Sunset Strip” is about to be put out of its misery.
Cast members are already confiding in friends that the end is near. It’s likely NBC will pull the plug shortly I am told by insiders.
Last week, Studio 60 had 7.7 million viewers. Compare that with competing “CSI: Miami,” with 17.5 million. That gap cannot be closed.
But ‘Studio 60’ has trouble internally at NBC, forget its intramural rivals. According to ratings stats, the “Saturday Night Live” behind the scenes soap opera loses almost half the viewers delivered to it a few minutes earlier by another new show, “Heroes,” which has become a surprise cult hit. [foxnews]
I am almost betting that Sorkin has another Emmy on his hands with Studio 60. It’s smart, well produced, funny, and, most importantly, keeps me coming back to the story every week. Granted that the show has only been on the air for five weeks, but that is saying a couple things. For one thing, the show is highly under estimated by a lot of potential viewers. It might not have mass, wide appeal, but it stands a far better chance than some of the other junk that has come and gone.
The other aspect is the fact that there is no such thing as allowing buzz to grow for the television industry, unless it is in present tense. There’s no room for buzz to take effect outside of what the ratings say about what a select portion of television viewers watch, aka Nielsen ratings. No room for people spreading the word so people can set their VCRs, PVRs, DVRs, DVD-Rs, or whatever they use to record this thing that someone said they should check out because it might be an enjoyable program.
Hollywood always seems to know what’s good for you, and what is good is usually replaced with crap.
I am a comic geek, but ‘Heroes’ rocks. I even dreamt about it last night.
Oh you know I’m watching Heroes as well. We’re totally digging that.
Petrelli in his jammies mmmm…..
It’s true. Studio 60 will be cancelled and it is a TV tragedy. Unfortunately, NBC is looking at its cost, its lack of substaintal 18-49 demo points, and the lack of a lead-in audience from Heros. By those measures, the show is doomed. I just hope that Sorkin gets back into TV or movies asap. He’s too damned good to be locked in a closet. Here’s to getting Aaron Sorkin back in the saddle sooner rather than later!
I guess you don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Just caught this story via The Vancouverite.
“A FOX NEWS REPORT THAT NBC’s heavily promoted “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” would be dropped from the schedule created a frisson Monday, but appears to be premature.
An NBC representative said in an email the show hasn’t been cancelled. The rep wrote: “It is profitable at this point.” In fact, the network has ordered three more episodes of the show.
“Studio 60” is scheduled to air next Monday in its usual 10 p.m. slot, although a boffo performance by “Friday Night Lights” in the slot last night–where it was placed for a trial run–could potentially change things. But a more likely scenario would be a time-period change for “Studio 60″–not a retirement–a source said.”