It’s happening, PopWatchers: Most of the media in the Western world is predicting Studio 60’s imminent demise.
Even though NBC has ordered 3 more episodes of the struggling series, that seems to be more of a peace offering/contractual obligation to Aaron Sorkin than a vote of confidence, given the god-awful ratings and continued barrage of criticism leveled against the show since its inception. The sad truth is that NBC can make more money by slapping on another Deal or No Deal than it can by trying to salvage Studio 60, and because networks only make decisions from a fiscal standpoint these days (unlike, you know, a creative one), you can pretty much kiss today goodbye, and point me to tomorrow.
I’m pretty heartbroken about this, to be honest; as one of the staunchest Sorkin apologists you’ll ever meet — as well as the type of person inclined to go off on rants about how society today is a commercially-driven cesspool of short attention spans and mindless drivel, with entertainment the bloated lowest-common-denominator rat swirling in its brackish depths — I hate the thought that I may never know how Bernard does as the show’s other black staff member, or if Tom’s brother survives AFGHANISTAN, or exactly what purpose Bradley Whitford was on the show to serve. Still, I guess it’s better to just set the cast and crew loose so they may find their way to higher ground, and I’m not gonna complain about having an extra hour of free time in my week.
Ooh! That’s a good question: What should I use to fill that free hour? See how quickly I move on?
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I fear the end is near too. Bumping the show for ‘Friday Night Lights’ tonight is not a good sign even though I think ‘Lights’ would be better off on Monday nights since it is a family show versus ‘Studio 60′ (which definitely is NOT a family show). Sorkin has made better TV in the past, and though this one has been uneven at best, I ultimately believe poor scheduling is what doomed it.
While I was no fan of Studio 60 and feel like 30 Rock is a much better way to go about this style of show, methinks that Monday is a horrible night for Friday Night Lights. It’s bad that NBC keeps changing the night the show is on, but really bad (and I am not the first person to say this) to air a show about football at the exact same time that an actual NFL football game is on. A show about football would attract football junkies if they aired it on Wednesdays or Tuesdays. All other days, some form of real football can be seen live or on tv.
Sorkin? He needs a few years off to cool his jets and to come up with something more creative. Maybe it was coincidence that he and Tina Fey came up with the exact same idea, but IMHO, Fey’s execution has been much less taxing to sit through…
How about ‘Lights’ on Monday night at 8pm (right before MNF), forgetting Jeff Zucker’s new plan?
the fate of this show is not because of poor scheduling… i dont think any schedule can save this show. and i personally thank god (and non-viwers) for that. I hate this show… I still watch it, but i still hate it.
Ugh, cancel “Law & Order” instead. Sample schedule post-football (times are central) Sun 6 America’s Got Talent, 7 Dateline, 8 Friday Night Lights, 9 Black Donnellys; Mon 7 Deal or No Deal, 8 Heroes, 9 Raines; Tues 7 game/reality/news show; 8 L&0:CI, 9 L&O:SVU; Wed 7 The Apprentice, 8 Studio 60, 9 Medium; Thurs 7 Earl / Office, 8 Scrubs / 30 Rock, 9 ER; Fri 7 1 vs 100, 8 Las Vegas, 9 Crossing Jordan
Some things could maybe change but I think it makes sense to change up the originally announced Sunday plans since there’s too much reality Sun at 8/7c already with “Home Edition” and “Race”. And after “Biggest Loser” ends its fall run, have “The Apprentice” as a lead-in to “Studio 60″ — that might help as it seems like a more compatible lead-in (even though I don’t watch “Apprentice” any more myself).
When critics heap such unanimous praise without asking obvious questions like, why can’t Amanda Peet act and why isn’t the comedy funny, it only reinforces that critics are not to be trusted for recommendations.
This only reduces the likelihood that anyone will listen to you when the next Comback comes along.
I’m tired of good programming with half a brain going down. Considering the mindnumbing crap that passes for television, they can’t give Studio 60 more than five weeks? I hope NBC chokes on its own game show.
I know I’m in the minority, but I really like this show. I would be sad if it was cancelled as well. I actually think it’s my favorite of the new shows this season. And I didn’t even watch Sports Night or the West Wing.
Totally agreed with Rahul. Love or hate the show, it clearly garnered some fans and could stay on the air if the right night’s found. Why not air it on an otherwise weak night for NBC (really, any night other than Thursday) or at a time when competition is weak? Fiday night’s been dying for a breakout hit since the X Files moved itself to Sunday.
I am posting this everywhere, so forgive me if you’re annoy.
http://www.niggaspace.com/
How can something like this exist? Why hasn’t no one taken it down? I hope someone at EW checks it out and writes a blog about it because as a person of color, this offends me more than anything that Flava Flav could do on his TV show (which actually I like).
As a Sorkin fan, this show just wasn’t hitting the mark. The things that were supposed to be funny almost never were, and unlike the West Wing, a comedy sketch show isn’t exactly a great justification for those pompous speeches that made so much sense in the context of national politics. As you said yourself, Whitney, the show is the “worst kind of coastal narcissim”. Or something to that effect. I can’t be bothered to look up everything.
I’d stick ‘Studio 60′ on Wednesdays at 10. Elizabeth -start renting those two shows.
I miss Medium. I’m so glad it’s coming back in a couple weeks, even if it is on a different night. I think it was a big mistake for NBC to move it. I hope it still does well though. It is one of the most underrated shows out there.
LOL, Mike–I too hope NBC chokes on Deal. Seriously, if they really want to be ABC (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, anyone?), the least they could do is give Aaron Sorkin a full season before dumping him for low ratings. (I know ABC gave him two, but Sports Night deserved that more than Studio 60 seems to now.)
I’m effing pissed.
I think the problem with STUDIO 60 was that it was hyped waaaaaaay too much before it even aired.
I really like it. I think the cast is phenomenal, specially Amanda Peet and Mathew Perry. I never thought that Perry would be able to shrug off the “Chandler” vibe, but he has managed. The show is only getting better with each episode, and I for one will be with it till the end.
Mostly I just feel bad for the actors. They all give it their all (yes, even Amanda Peet) and I was so happy to see that all these great people (Timothy Busfield! Nat Cordury! Evan Handler!) were getting good, solid work. Well, good solid work until last week’s episode, which was just pathetic. Aaron Sorkin is ridiculous to think that anyone is going to really feel moved by a Clifford Odets moment (I hated that bit, and I’m a theatre nerd.) It’s so pompous to think a woefully overblown self-portrait will pass as thoughtful television. So, sorry actors, but good riddance.
Please just tell me that if they do end up ditching Studio 60 someone else will snatch up Bradley Whitford and put him in a role worthy of his talent. I don’t think I can live in a world where he isn’t regularly on my television set.
Personaly, I am extremely upset. I really do like the show. And if it does get “cancelled” I am not going to be happy. This has happened before to shows that I really like such as Firefly, Threshold, etc. I honestly think that Studio 60 just hasn’t hit it’s stride yet. That is the problem with sitcoms today, great ideas, great concept, but hard to introduce. The studios don’t get this, if they keep cancelling great shows because they don’t beat out the latest American Idol or whichever the first time out, the shows don’t get a chance to get better. Part of telling a serialized story is that in order to prolong the story say over 22 episodes per season, it’s to spread the story out. I’m certain that if given one more chance Studio 60 will redeem itself. I seriously hope that with the three more episodes that it does well.
SAVE STUDIO 60!
“Totally agreed with Rahul. Love or hate the show, it clearly garnered some fans and could stay on the air if the right night’s found. Why not air it on an otherwise weak night for NBC (really, any night other than Thursday) or at a time when competition is weak? Fiday night’s been dying for a breakout hit since the X Files moved itself to Sunday.
Ep sato | Oct 30, 2006 4:45:20 PM”
I totally agree, put it on a different night when it’s not up against a show like Heroes. For me being in Canada, I don’t know how the studio can get away with this, but CTV (Canadian Television Network) has been airing the day before on Sunday nights at 10pm EST, and they are new episodes too. What is sad though was that Studio 60 was replaced last night by Van Helsing!!!!! I was not happy. But agreed, put it on another night. Keep us Studio 60 fans happy!
It’s such a great show – intelligent, funny, actual acting and good scripts (imagine that!). Last week’s show sucked, but aren’t we all entitled to an off day? There are huge shows that would never have gotten huge unless they’d been allowed to grow slowly (Seinfeld, anyone?). Stop with the instant gratification nonsense! Try using some of the network millions made from reality shows to support good drama. People will watch. It’s called patience. An attention span. Cater to it!
I think the need to move it a new night. And maybe to 9:00 p.m. I think the 10 p.m hurts the show to degree, because it’s not a complex or gory show like a ER. I LOVE the show, here in Canada, I get to watch it on Sunday nights at 10 and then again on NBC on Monday’s. I don’t want the show to go, but maybe put it on Tuesday or Wednesday. Put Medium back on Monday’s. It fits with Heros more than Studio 60. Totally different audiences between Studio and Hero’s. But anyway, I don’t want Studio 60 to go. Love Matthew Parry and the show.
Alex, Whitney said “liberal elitism” but I like your turn of phrase too. I will be using that little gem come election time.
Paige, all together now: “Cancel Studio 60″
“I never thought that Perry would be able to shrug off the “Chandler” vibe”
Yeah, but did he really want to shrug off a friendly, loveable vibe for a self-satisfied, smug vibe?
I’m with Joey Jo Jo Joey- cancel Studio 60!
I gave the show a chance, but I never got hooked. I was expecting more from the show, but it never showed what I wanted to see. I mean, I was expecting to learn about the TV buisness and production, but they didn’t put enough emphasis. (I’m a film production major, by the way.) I wanted to see more of the skits but the show never even emphasived on them. The skits were not even funny. 90% of the dialouge used in each episode are babble. Just “blah blah blah” to a point where I don’t know what’s going on. Plus, Harriet Hayes is really annoying.
The show is simply not entertaining. I’m switching to 30 Rock.
I really found Studio 60 to be the most enjoyable new show this season, it’s a shame we’ll end up with the same old drab shows we get each season.
I haven’t watched the show, or any new shows this year. Why watch a new show, get invested in the characters, only to have the networks cancel three episodes in. What’s wrong with network TV? The quick hand on the plug.
From the moment I saw the Pilot episode, I knew the show would be cancelled. The pilot, put down television as a vast wasteland, that may have been through a few years ago, but I think we’re entering a golden age of TV. LOST is brilliant, the New BatttleStar Galactica is through provoking and revolutionary, Grey’s Anatomy is smart and has a huge heart. 24 is thrilling, intelligent action. So, from the very first scene Mr. Sorkin pretty much raised the expectations that his show would leave them all in the dust, and then they became bickering one dimensional charicatures that spouted out Mr. Sorkin’s biography like a bad novel. I’m not saying the show is a failure, it had a great cast and an amazing set, but I while my brain was engaged my heart wasn’t, and I need that emotional involvement to bring me back the next week. People complain that this is a drama about a comedy, so the sketches didn’t need to be funny, but I disagree… Danny and Matt were set up to be the BEST in the business, so the sketches not only had to be funny, but they had to be the funniest sketches ever on television. Sorkin raised a high bar, then he didn’t even try to jump it.
I love Studio 60. It makes me look forward to Mondays. I would be sad if it were cancelled, too. The episode last week reminded me of the episode on West Wing where Toby’s donated coat ends up on a homeless guy and he ends of investigating his life. I love the characters on Studio 60, the blending of real life guest hosts, the dialogue. And yes, I love Matthew Perry. Bradley Whiteford is great,too. Now, that said, I also love 30 Rock, which every week makes me laugh out loud. Keep them both, please. NBC shouldn’t jettision what is classy on its schedule and replace with schlock. Back in the 50’s when game shows abounded, television also gave birth to the golden age of drama. The two can coexist.
Maybe they can just replace it with a show that revolves around Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford in some other situation. Two’s Company, Two Friends, The Beverly Hills-Billies, 4 and a Half Men? Or pop them into another show that won’t get cancelled: They can be leaving LA after Studio 60 is cancelled and be flying to Australia to start their next movie and crash on LOST Island. They could have some heretofore unknown superpowers and end up on Heroes. They could provide witty comentary on Monday Night Football. I’m just saying…