Watching Studio60

Boy, that Danny and Matt, they sure have a way with women, don’t they? Not a good way, maybe, not a straightforward and mature way, but a way, alright.

I watched “The Christmas Show” again last night, and although I think Matt is just kind of playing with Harriet because he doesn’t want Luke to have her, I fell all over again for Danny’s declaration to Jordan, and the way he just kind of took ownership of her in this episode, even though she didn’t really trust the reasons why.

In the debate over whether Danny’s being sweet or a stalker, I gotta go with sweet. And I completely buy that Jordan loves him too, but you don’t want the guy you love to be with you out of pity. I can’t wait for them to get locked on the roof and straighten all of this out.

Maybe it’s because I watched a West Wing marathon for several hours yesterday afternoon, but … there was something sort of Josh-y about Danny in this episode, wasn’t there? That bit where he leaned back to get a look at Jordan after he left her office was a total Josh move, and the way he was sort of snarking off to the doctor while Jordan had really no idea why he was even there seemed kinda Josh-like, too. But there is a difference between the two characters, and one of them is that it took Danny one episode to say it, and it took Josh … how many seasons?

Matt seemed like he was gaining in maturity when he was so congratulatory and gracious to Harriet about getting the movie role … but he just couldn’t resist getting that dig in about Luke, could he? The kiss at the end seemed mostly designed to keep the girl off-balance, and not really to start anything. It’s too bad, though, ’cause Matt could have used an ally in his pursuit of Christmas, and Harriet would have been the obvious choice. Why is Matt, the Hater of All Things Religious, such a Christmas purist anyway? I guess embracing the secularization of the holiday is in some ways a blow against religion, or so many religious authorities seem to tell us every year.

Whatever character growth we didn’t see in Matt, we sure saw in Jack, who is transforming from a business-minded shark to a broadcaster with a conscience. Bummer for him. I loved the way Wilson White stepped right up and joined him in the fight. I was a little surprised that they were both so low-key about Jordan’s out-of-wedlock pregnancy, but I guess they both had bigger disasters to tackle. Lucky for her.

All in all, I thought it was a strong, sweet, snappy outing for the show, capped with that beautiful, beautiful rendition of “O Holy Night” by the New Orleans musicians. But really, any episode that has Cal trying to make something work against silly odds is a winner with me. Snow, and pina coladas, all around!

Studio 60, NBC, The Christmas Show, review