A few months ago, PopWatch wondered how NBC was going to choose between two developing series inspired by the backstage goings-on at Saturday Night Live. Now, the New York Post, which has the latest details on both shows, quotes an insider as saying NBC wants to put them both on the air. Here’s how they stack up:
Untitled Tina Fey Project
Who’s behind it? Current SNL head writer and faux news anchor Fey
Who’s in it? Current SNL player Rachel Dratch, as a Fey-like head writer/performer, and SNL alum Tracy Morgan
Show format Half-hour sitcom
Potential roadblocks Fey and Dratch’s busy work schedules on SNL
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Who’s behind it? West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin, who also created the behind-the-scenes-of-a-TV-show series SportsNight
Who’s in it? Matthew Perry, as the sketch show’s writer/producer; Amanda Peet (pictured) and Steven Weber as meddling network executives; D.L. Hughley and Nathan Corddry (The Daily Show) as stars of the sketch show; and Evan Handler (Sex and the City) and Carlos Jacott as the show’s writers
Show format Hour-long drama
Potential roadblocks Won’t have the insider’s perspective of Fey’s show; won’t be funny; Sorkin and NBC will have to try not to repeat the conditions that led the network to fire him from West Wing
Which show do you think sounds more promising?
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Gotta go with Tina Fey. Tina proved her writing chops with Mean Girls, and Tracy Morgan is one of the as yet undiscovered talents from SNL (the man is funny, but has still not found the right platform for his style of humor).
And no dis to Sportsnight fans, but I never understood the draw of that show. Why should an almost identical idea yield a greater reward?
But then again, I DID say that My Name Is Earl was doomed to failure when it was brought up in popwatch last year…
Sorry Tina — I love you, but Sorkin will win out on this one. The format might be more of a “dramady” too… ‘cos there have been some episodes of The West Wing that have been a riot. (C.J. having to decide which turkey to pardon?)
I know Sports Night had some humor, but how can a show about a sketch comedy show not be a comedy. Maybe Tina Fey was holding material for her own show. It would explain this seasons SNL although last weeks show was the most consistantly funny in two years.
Sorkin has written some hilarious stuff on both the West Wing and Sports Night, and I’ve laughed at both of those shows more than I have at the past seven years of Saturday Night Live.
I think I’m more likely to check out the Aaron Sorkin show just because I LOVED Sports Night, RIP. But I think they both sound really promising. It’s definitely new territory that I think could be really fun, if handled well.
Does anyone else think that’s a god awful picture of Amanda Peet above? Not her best photography…
what’s a serires?
Amanda Peet on television? Oh my. Now that is a great idea. That’s the smartest career move since Sarah Jessica Parker went to HBO. Well done.
My vote goes to the Sorkin serires (hey, if that’s what they’re calling them…) Better depth in the cast, and I can’t believe that a show with that many comic actors in it won’t be funny. Plus, since no one on it works for SNL, they’ll have more license to go after it.
Must we choose? Though not a West Wing fan, I loved Sports Night. The cast lined up sounds great for ‘Sunset Strip’ and it’s one of the potential series I’m most excited about. But if Fey can bring the the funny she brought to ‘Mean Girls’ (minus the sappy ending I hope) to the sitcom, wouldn’t Fey’s goofy yet intelligent sensibility be a good fit with ‘Scrubs’?
Sorkin’s got the best cast, buy Fey’s has the best format and the experience on the field.
Her show will be better, I think.
it’d be a dramedy kind of something like veronica mars which is a drama, but where the comedy comes from the characters
Josh gets the Boom shakalaka award for the totally awesome idea! Tina Fey needs to be selling Braff A Vespa scooter on Scrubs…or guesting as a patient,Dr., whatever…
95% sure Rachel Dratch will be leaving at the end of the season. SNL will be going through a major cast shakeup. Seth Meyers is now a head writer; he’ll surely contribute to what Tina is unable to. She’s contracted with SNL for a few more years, but with the that, the sitcom, and her new baby she’ll burn out within the year.
Without a doubt: Aaron Sorkin. Tina Fey is funny, “Mean Girls” was great but Sorkin is nothing short of a genius. A genius whose first brilliant series was cancelled because folks didn’t watch and who was fired from his second brillaint series that lots of people have stopped watching. But a genius nonetheless. I’d have the man’s baby if I could. If I were a woman. Which I’m not. And if I were into his type. Which I’m not. But Sorkin’s series will be outstanding. And I bet a lot of people will watch it. If NBC shortens the name.
Aaron Sorkin. The title is kind of boring, so they should maybe change it, but it’s a good cast (aside from Amanda Peet who I’ve never been able to stand) and an interesting concept. How about they give the role to Courtney Cox-Arquette instead? Have a mini Friends reunion. I can just see her as an uptight network executive; she’d be perfect!