Watching Studio60

If you’ve been following along with my Studio 60 Revisited Monday night marathon, tonight’s the night for “Monday,” which originally aired on January 22, 2007.

As I wrote about this episode back when it aired in the U.K., “it’s the one where Danny calls Jordan, continues to call her even after she blocks his number, has his friends fax her with recommendations, and when she asks him to please back off, replies ‘No.’ It’s the one where Matt bids on Harriet, Tom asks out Lucy, Simon and Darius disagree about a Fruit of the Loom sketch, and Jordan wrangles with a new head of Illiterate Alternative Programming who’s read a stupid book about power. And it’s the one where Jack and Wilson wage war over the FCC ruling and make a deal with the father of viola-playing Kim that involves her going out with Tom on the very night of his just-made date.”

I remember, too, when the episode first aired in the U.S., that the reaction to Danny’s pursuit of Jordan was not good. Lots of critics and critical viewers felt Danny wasn’t so much being a persistent suitor as being a stalker, and that when he refused to back off when Jordan said, “No,” he crossed a line. I’m going to be very interested watching it again, knowing how this couple ends up, and having retraced the origins of their romance in this second time through the episodes.

It’s been pretty clear to me that a case was made for their attraction being mutual from the first episode, and up until this point at least, that Jordan likes and courts Danny’s attention but is distrustful of getting it for being pregnant. We’re meant to eventually understand that this is the reason for her rejection of his advances. I’ll be looking to see if that comes through strongly on the second viewing.

Interestingly, I had a whole bunch of YouTube videos linked from that earlier post that have been taken down due to copyright complaints by NBC. You know, they had to go and cancel the show, you’d think they’d still let us keep those silly little clips.

Studio 60, NBC, Monday

Alert to West Wing fans in the U.S. — the cable channel Bravo is doing a marathon of the show today — Season Four episodes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thanks to TV Squad for tuning me in, but I wish I’d read that blog entry before I missed the two parts of “20 Hours in America” and “College Kids.”

The West Wing, Bravo

If you’ve been following along with my Studio 60 Revisited Monday night marathon, tonight’s the night for “B-12,” which originally aired on November 27, 2006.

Take this 12-question quiz to check your memory of “B-12.”

1. What does “B-12″ refer to?

a. The parking-lot level where Jordan parks her car.
b. The winning number in a lively staff game of bingo.
c. A military-mocking segment on “News 60.”
d. A shot being given to the cast to stem a virus outbreak.

2. Who do we find out cannot tell a joke?

a. Cal
b. Harriet
c. Jack
d. Jordan’s ex

3. What does Danny find out about Jordan?

a. She’s fired
b. She’s pregnant
c. She’s married
d. She’s a man

4. Which game-show host is this week’s guest host?

a. Pat Sajak
b. Alex Trebek
c. Howie Mandel
d. Drew Carey

5. Who was the musical guest?

a. Corinne Bailey Rae
b. Alicia Keys
c. Fergie
d. Sting, forever and always

(more…)

Or, “The One Where They Finally Get Rid of Ricky and Ron.”

If you’ve been following along with my Studio 60 Revisited Monday night marathon, tonight’s the night for “The Option Period,” which originally aired on November 20, 2006. We haven’t been seeing much of the writing staff in the last couple of episodes, other than Lucy and Darius — and Lucy and Darius are all that’s left after the gang o’ hacks ditches the show along with their erstwhile leaders, to go make a sit-com out of “Peripheral Vision Man.” Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

This is also the episode in which Harriet decides that the best way to get back at Women United Through Faith — the group that cancelled her singing engagements in “Nevada Day Part II” when she was insufficiently intolerant of gay marriage — is to pose in lingerie for one of those men’s magazines in which reputable actresses get nearly naked and you just have to shake your head and say Why? That’s what most of Harriet’s friends are doing, and of course it’s Matt, the one who would probably most like to see those pictures, who finally talks her out of it.

In some ways, “The Option Period” is actually “Nevada Day Part III,” since it takes place on the same day as “Part II,” with the show that almost had to be completely recast and the wrap party thereafter. There’s some good Jordan-Danny banter about product placement, budget cutting, and her precarious work situation.

We’re one episode away from the one where Danny figures out Jordan’s pregnant, and two from the one where he declares his love. I’m still looking forward to picking up those early warning signs. View along with me, won’t you?

Studio 60, NBC, The Option Period

If you’re watching along in my Studio 60 Revisited Monday night marathon, tonight we’re viewing episode seven, “Nevada Day Part I,” which originally aired on November 6, 2006.

Alright, okay, tonight we’re celebrating New Year’s Eve and watching Dick Clark or what’s left of him, making like Jordan McDeere and drinking too much and wandering around asking people to be our friends. But this week, this week, sometime this week, we’re going to watch Nevada Day Part 1, in which Tom’s arrest for improbably hitting someone who attacked Harriet mushrooms into an extradition to Nevada on an old speeding ticket, then mushrooms further into a drug rap because of what was in the pockets of Simon’s jacket when he borrowed it.

This episode is special for a couple of reasons. It’s the first episode with a title that doesn’t start with “The,” for one thing. It’s also the beginning of what will be three multi-part episodes for the series — besides this Part I and II, there’s “The Harriet Dinner” Parts I and II, and “K&R” Parts I through III.

Most especially, though, the two “Nevada Day” episodes won Studio 60 its one and only Emmy, for John Goodman’s performance as a judge who can give Jack Rudolph a run for his money. For that matter, it won John Goodman his one and only Emmy, too.

Later this week, I’ll be posting a review, recap, memorable lines, and five questions about “Nevada Day Part I.” Catch up when you’ve recovered from New Year’s reveling, and read along.

Studio 60, NBC, Nevada Day Part I

Well, it’s a little later than planned, but Aaron Sorkin’s new play, The Farnsworth Invention, is finally getting its opening night tonight, December 3, according to Playbill. (That’s Sorkin above with, from left, stars Hank Azaria and Jimmi Simpson, and director Des McAnuff.)

Farnsworth was originally slated to have its formal debut (after weeks of previews) on November 14, but the Broadway stagehands’ strike scuttled that. The strike settled, the show went back on November 29, and an extra performance was added tonight for the rescheduled opening. I guess people who had opening-night tickets have to have opening-night tickets whenever opening night ends up being.

Monday night’s an appropriate night for a Sorkin show, though, since most of us had it reserved for Studio 60 last year. And this year, too, if you’re following along with my rewatch the DVDs on Monday plan. Up tonight is “The Focus Group,” the series’ third episode, originally broadcast on October 2, 2006.

It’s the one in which the network insists on allowing a focus group to weigh in on the new Studio 60, and Danny tries to keep the results from Matt. And it’s the one in which Shelly’s prediction that the Rapture radicals are going to find some mud to sling at Jordan comes true, with an old DUI making new news. It’s also the one where there was a great deal of discussion of a sketch referencing Commedia dell’Arte. And Rob Reiner was the guest host, though I have absolutely no memory of that.

Watch it tonight, and let’s jog our memories together. Unless, what, you have tickets to a Broadway opening or something?

Then tune in tomorrow for a quick review, followed through the week by a full recap, memorable lines, and five questions.

Studio 60, NBC, The Farnsworth Invention, The Focus Group, Aaron Sorkin

It’s another Monday night, another night to pretend that it’s a year ago and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is still on and use our DVD sets to transport us back. This week, I’ll be re-watching episode two, “The Cold Open,� which originally aired on September 25, 2006. That’s the one that had the press conference in the beginning, the Gilbert and Sullivan parody at the end, and a whole lot of worry about how the Christian right would react to the resurrected Crazy Christians sketch in the middle.

And what will you miss if you join me at Studio 60 tonight? Let’s see what the networks are offering at 10 p.m. On CBS’s CSI: Miami, “a wealthy family’s nanny turns up dead at a dinner party.” On NBC’s Journeyman, “Dan discovers a young criminal in the making.” On ABC’s October Road, “Hannah shares her feelings with Nick upon his return.â€? And on the show I’d probably be otherwise watching at 10 p.m., HGTV’s House Hunters, “A couple search for a condo in Portland, Ore.â€?

Anything there you can’t miss? Hmm. That’s the beauty of DVDs, anyway. You can watch the episode any time you like, and just pretend that you watched it at 10 p.m. And I might do the same. ‘Cause maybe I haven’t seen that particular House Hunters yet, and even if I have, there’s just something about watching somebody else’s real estate decisions at the end of a long day that’s kinda soothing, you know?

But I’d probably, on any given day, rather be watching Matt and Danny and Jordan and Jack and Harriet and Tom and Simon and Cal and all the rest of that hyperarticulate, walking-and-talking crew. Whenever you wind up re-viewing the episode, stop by here tomorrow for my quick review, then all through the week for a full recap, memorable lines, and five questions.

_{Photo by Terri Mauro}

Studio 60, NBC, The Cold Open, DVD

As I mentioned back in October, Steven Weber is going to have a guest-starring arc on the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters as a love interest for a character played by Rachel Griffiths, and that series of episodes starts tonight at 10 p.m. Also guesting for the first time in this episode will be Chevy Chase as an old boyfriend of Sally Field’s character, and Lyle Lovett as himself, serenading Calista Flockhart and Rob Lowe as they nervously approach their wedding day.

As far as I’m concerned, Lovett alone’s enough reason to tune in. But I’m curious to see how the erstwhile Jack Rudolph will fit in with the business and personal shenanigans of the extended Walker clan. If you’re planning to tune in tonight for the Weber watch, here’s a quick introduction to the characters and storylines you’re going to be seeing.

(more…)

Do you remember how excited you were for that first episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip?

There was such anticipation over the start of a new Aaron Sorkin show. It took some of the sting out of the end of The West Wing (which hadn’t been Sorkin’s West Wing for a while anyway) to know that Josh would be resurfacing, right away, in a show by the master.

I remember the drumbeats that went on all summer before. Clips being released, script pages on the loose, early critics reporting in, general crazy excitement. And when the pilot finally aired, there was still a universal ring of praise … although even by that time, it was starting to be undercut by writers who figured that if everybody liked something, it was cooler to hate it.

The tide of public opinion rolled out pretty steadily from there. And I’m sure I’m not the only fan who felt a little embattled, compelled to defend the show but saddened and embarrassed by the blasting it continually received.

With the availability of the DVD set, I’ve wondered if I would enjoy the later episodes more now, without the negative vibe that enveloped them when they first aired. I’ve been surprised, actually, when collecting YouTube clips to feature on this blog, at how sharp and funny it all was – I thought so at the time, but so few others seemed to, I doubted my memory.

Now, with nothing on at 10 p.m. Mondays I’m inclined to watch, and the writer’s strike making that likely to continue, I’m going to create my own little repeat season of Studio 60 on my very own DVD player. It starts tonight, when I’ll be watching the pilot again. Over the rest of the week, I’ll have a quick review, a full recap, a gathering of memorable lines, and five questions about the episode. Then next Monday, I’ll do it all again with episode two, and so on.

Want to relive the glory days of Studio 60 with me? Pop in the DVD, and tune in tonight. Then add your comments to mine.

Studio 60, NBC, pilot, DVD

Hi, I’m Terri, and I’m going to be keeping this “Watching Studio 60″ blog going — for the folks in the U.K. who are watching the series for the first time; for the folks in the U.S. who are excited about the DVD release in October; and for the (possibly very few) folks like myself who hold out the hope that maybe, one day, when all the trash talk subsides, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip will work itself up a little cult following. I’m going to keep the flame burning for a while.

Personally, I’ve never understood why this show was so viciously reviled. You’d think Aaron Sorkin had gone around and personally stole everybody’s lunch money. As far as I’m concerned, any show that brings Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford into my living room once a week is a good thing — and if they’re spouting Sorkin-speak, so much the better. I found the show entertaining, sometimes thought-provoking, and entirely worth my time each week.

If others didn’t … well, okay. That’s the way it goes. I don’t care for police procedurals and reality shows. So I don’t watch them.

What I don’t get is people who watch shows they hate just so they can make sure they still hate them, then somehow blame the show for their wasted time. The bulk of writing from repeat-angry-viewers spewing hatred at shows like Studio 60 and another show I thought was panned all out of proportion, John from Cincinnati, has just astounded me. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it! Is that such an impossible concept? Talk about that remote in your hand being a crack pipe.

Anyway, I’m going to try to keep some positive dialog about Studio 60 going here, as well as news and gossip about what the cast members are doing now. If you’re also thinking good thoughts about the show, please share them in the comments as we go along. I’m not the only one still on the Studio 60 bandwagon, am I? Am I? Helloooooo?

_{Photo: NBC.com}

Studio 60, NBC, Aaron Sorkin, Bradley Whitford, Matthew Perry

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.

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.

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.

Good News - Studio 60 has received 4 nominations from the 2006 Satellite awards
Matthew and Bradley for Best Actor in A Series, Drama and Sarah and Amanda for Best Actress in a Series, Drama.
The Satellite Awards are awarded by the International Press Academy and are a spin off from the Hollywood Press Association and the Golden Globes.
Winners will be announced on December 17th at a location yet to be determined.

So - Studio 60 is on hiatus until January 8th, which will leave me with little actual show stuff to write about. I will continue to search the internet and magazines for intersting news, but I will also try and write about related stuff - like worthwhile charities that the stars of Studio 60 may be working with, or information on some of the topics touched upon within the shows - such as The Hollywood 10. - So don’t go away, keep watching and reading and I will endeavour to keep it worth your while.

Thank you for being a visitor