Watching Studio60

Five questions that popped into my head while re-viewing Nevada Day Part II:

1. How great would it have been to have a face-off between Wilson White and Judge Bebe? When the scene in which Ed Asner’s White intimidates Jordan was immediately followed by the scene in which John Goodman’s Bebe made Jack melt down, I couldn’t help but wish these two great actors could have chewed some scenery together — whether butting heads or chatting over pie at the diner.

2. Did Jack take Danny’s advice to heart? Certainly he rushed to Jordan’s defense after being softened somewhat by their airplane conversations. But I’m thinking about Danny’s advice that he should “be a broadcaster now.” Not too long after this, is it, when Jack decides to take on the FCC over the soldier’s battlefield expletive? They don’t call Danny the puppetmaster for nothing.

3. Is some of Danny’s master manipulativeness rubbing off on Matt? He did a fine job of getting Dylan to want to take that News 60 seat, if only for a short while. Of course, as long as Matt’s pulling the strings, Harriet’s never going to get to be the sexy shill.

4. Did Kim really mistranslate? If so, hey, thanks, girl, ’cause Jack’s rant was priceless. But it seems equally likely that her businessman dad was backpedaling after realizing he’d stepped on the wrong side of the honor debate.

5. Was Jordan already pregnant when all this doesn’t-want-kids talk was going on? Danny guesses her condition two episodes further on, in “B12.” We’ll have to keep track of how much time elapses between this episode and that one. But it kind of adds some irony to Jordan’s very bad situation. And more bad situation to it, I’d think.

Studio 60, NBC, Nevada Day Part II, commentary