Watching Studio60

I also came across this skit on Studio 60 which aired on Mad TV. It is quite risque but very funny and all the main characters of the show are very recognizable.
There is a saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - so I think this prooves the point that despite the ney-sayers, Studio 60 must have something if it is getting parodied! Again, enjoy!

I think I have said it before, but I am staggered by the number of blog sites out there devoted to TV in general and Studio 60 in particular. I came across another one today: tvsquad.com and they also reference the Ted Levine page that I mentioned in my last blog. They also agree that despite the number of people who claim to dislike the show, they keep watching. However, the really interesting point about the article on tvsquad, is the breakdown of Aaron Sorkin’s work. They compare The West Wing, Studio 60 and Sports Night as well as breaking down the five Aaron Sorkin trademarks. I wont spoil the fun - go check out the blog.

Yet another article bemoaning the awfulness of Studio 60, but this one is special because the writer actually admits in the beginning that he hasn’t watched the show since the pilot so is not qualified to give an opinion, and then proceeds to do so! Chris Kelly seems to have a problem with the dialogue of Studio 60: “My problem with Studio 60 is its unspeakably awful dialogue. In particular, its relentless overuse of a trope that will eventually kill all drama on television: The Middlebrow Slightly Wrong Reference, Corrected.” and gives examples of this “trope”.
What I find interesting is that this type of banter is soooo prevelent in every day America, that to me it is no surprsie to find it on TV shows. I hear it all the time in elevators, coffee shops, in line at the Bagel Cafe - it passes for conversation between friends and strangers, alike, and the impression I get is that those participating in it think they are being clever and witty. If this is the norm, why is there such a strong objection to hearing it on TV shows? And, as an aside, if we get a little bit more knowledge and education by hearing a wrong reference corrected, even in this contex, isn’t that a good thing. Now many more Americans will know that the “Hell hath no fury” quote is actually from Congreve and not from Shakespeare - and that has to be beneficial to all!

I read this article this morning and it seems to me that any show that generates such interest, albeit negative, has to be a success. If we determine that a TV show needs to grab your interest, as well as entertain you, it is a success if it just grabs your interest, and you watch it because you hate it, and continue not only to talk about it but to have an enitre blog site dedicated to hating it as in:
“Take Ken Levine, a seasoned writer who has worked on “Frasier,” “Cheers” and “The Simpsons.” His blog, By Ken Levine, has become the hub of an online community of viewers who loathe “Studio 60,” thanks to his running commentary on the first several episodes.”
That is a quote from the aforementioned article, which leads me to conclude that there are enough people taking the time to write about the show to ensure that it will remain on the air and allow those of us who enjoy it to continue to do so.

Well as I sit at home after friends and family have left, the dishes are done and I can finally sit and reflect on a job well done. I have to admit I am exhausted. I am enjoying the peace and quiet and gathering reserves to begin another work week.
But it is a good time to look back at the year we have had and to look forward to the year ahead of us. I have been to New Orleans, Greece, New York, England, up an down the West Coast, and had visitors from Calgary. So a good year for travel and catching up with old friends and family.
My major plans for next year are to be skinny and completely out of debt by the end of the year. So wish me luck and I look forward to hearing your comments and feedback as we watch Studio 60 together.
More tomorrow…

You have an opporunity to let NBC know what some of your favourite and least favourite moments of 06 have been. Go to this site and make your voices heard.

Again - not a commission I know a whole lot about - so off I went to Google and pulled up this web site for the FCC. Pretty dry reading, but informative, nonetheless. It is amazing how much information and knowledge I am gaining through this blogging job. I set out to get information about Studio 60, and end up in some really weird places - but it’s fun and informative and keeps me off the streets.
Just as an aside and because it is somewhat related to the FCC - My mother, who still lives in England, does a General Knowledge crossword puzzle every Saturday and, without access to the Internet, and despite the largest private collection of reference books I have every seen outside of a public library, she can’t always get the answers, so our weekly Saturday morning call always ends up with her reading me clues and I then go to the faithful Google and retrieve her answers. One of these days she will win the 500 pound prize and I will be very proud of her!
However, the point of my telling you this is that one word she had me find was Comstockery! Do you know what it means? Well, the clue was that it is related somewhat to the FCC. It originates from a gentleman called Anthony Comstock and was defined by George Bernard Shaw as “censorship because of perceived obscenity or immorality”. To read more follow the link - it is highly entertaining. I am not suggesting that the FCC in any way censors the media or arts, but following The Christmas Show - this word did come to mind.

I promised to write about some of the topics covered during Studio 60 episodes and The Hollywood 10 was one such topic. I remember watching “The Way we Were” with Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand and I never fully understood that whole thing - it started when they were watching the movie and the screen ripped because of the wire tapping device, and then Barbara’s character went to protest and Robert’s character ended up in a fight. Never got it. I guess because I wasn’t born when it all went down, and I grew up in Europe, without access to newspapers and TV so never really heard anything about the whole McCarthy Era. Anyway, I have found a really good web site that gives a brief bio for each of the 10 plus the works for which they were known - it is a start for anyone wanting to persue the topic. Enjoy

I have been receiving harassing phone calls on my cell phone, and finally reported it to the local police. The incoming number is blocked and only shows up as “Withheld” but the police told me to take the report to my provider and that they would be able to trace the number. However, my provider tells me that they cannot do that because of Privacy issues. Well - imagine the scene - me standing there, upset because of the calls, hopeful that my provider can trace them and make them stop, and they tell me that they are protecting his privacy. What about my privacy? Apparantly that doesn’t matter. This jerk can invade my home evry night and there is nothing I can do about it, because his privacy is protected. Needless to say I was livid, and even more so when they told me all I can do is change my number. They didn’t respond when I suggested that they could pay to have all my business cards and letter heads reprinted! Why am I the one being inconvenienced here when the Jerk who keeps calling me is getting all the protection. And Yes I have stoppped answering calls with Witheld numbers - but that doesn’t solve the problem. Oh and the connection to Studio 60 - his last attempt was right in the middle of “O Holy Night” last Monday. Double Whammy!

I just picked up a story with the Headline Joile’s - Cheating Outrage it which she claims that she had a hard time playing certain roles in her new movie “The Good Shepherd” with Matt Damon, because she has to seduce a married man and trick him into having a baby!! Excuse me! Isn’t that art imitating life and isn’t that exactly what she did with Brad Pitt. Even though she claims that their relationship didn’t take off until after he split from Jennifer - how naive does she think we are? I have vowed never to go to another Jolie or Pitt movie becasue they broke the Golden Rule - you don’t mess around if you are married or with married people, because someone will get hurt! OK - I’ve vented - officially down of that particular soap box.

Studio 60 has received two more nominations - this time from the Writers
Guild of America - Best Overall New Program and Episodic Drama for the Pilot. So, all I can say to the many viewers who are watching - keep watching, and to those who aren’t - Maybe it’s time to give this show some of your time. Tonight would be a great time to tune is as a repeat of The Christmas Show is airing in the regular time slot of 10.00pm. This episode was the one that had me crying at the end, with that wonderful rendition of “O Holy Night” I will say no more except to encourage everybody to watch it, even if you saw it before.

This Johnson and Johnson movie . first aired on TNT in August 2006. It stars Matthew Perry in the title role and tells the real life story of a teacher who left his home in North Carolina to teach in a New York Public school.

Matthew received much accliam for his role - one of his first real break aways from Chandler

Just announced - the Golden Globe nominations:

Matthew Perry - Best Actor - Mini Series, The Ron Clark Story
Sarah Paulson - Best Supporting Actress - Mini Series - Studio 60

The winners will be announced on January 15th at 8.00pm, shown exclusively on NBC.

Go to TV.com to vote for your favourites.

Well - I have never heard of this web site - which I suppose it not too surprising given that I am not a man, but I happened upon it while looking for news today, and they have a survey for the Top 49 Men of 2006 - so of course I had to go see if any of the Studio 60 men made it! They didnt but the survey was left deliberately vague as to what criteria had to be used. It was left to the voters to decide what they thought made a man a man.

I was surprised at some of the men who made the list, quite frankly, I had never heard of some of them, but I went from bottom to top, 49 through 1, to see who was in the list, and Roger Federer came in at #37, behind the likes of Justn Timberlake, who clocked in at #28, and Howard Stern, #24. Denzel hit #14, with Tiger just ahead of him at #13, and this was a shocker - David Beckham made # 8 - I didn’t think many people in the States even knew the name. But any prizes for picking the #1 spot - it’s 1997’s Sexiest Man Alive - George Clooney. To view the list: Click here.

They also have the top 99 women (why more women then men?) but I haven’t looked through that yet. Another time maybe.

I caught this headline during my daily ’surf” session and thought maybe Studio 60 was being moved, but No - it’s staying exactly where it is, on Monday Nights at 10.00pm, with the same lead in - Heroes. Only Tuesday, Wednesdays and Sundays are being affected with the mid season shuffle - Is that a dance???
I have to admit to being overwhelmed by trying to visualize the new lineup - (I am a very visual person) so I will wait until it all starts again in January to figure it out, but in the meantime, I will watch the rerun of The Christmas Show next Monday and eagerly await the start of the new episodes on January 8th.