Is Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip back at death’s door? For a while, it appeared the show had been saved from cancellation, thanks to NBC’s order for a full season’s worth of episodes, a slight uptick in the ratings, and Aaron Sorkin’s apparent recognition that his Monday night dramedy needed a change in direction. But this afternoon, there comes a press release from NBC that, if you read between the lines, suggests the series may be gone for good by the end of the month.
The press release announces the March 5 debut of the drama The Black Donnellys in Studio 60’s timeslot. Now, that alone doesn’t mean that Studio 60 is never coming back. But the same press release also notes that 30 Rock is giving up its space in March to Andy Richter’s new comedy, Andy Barker, P.I., but is returning after just one month, on April 19. There’s no fixed date for Studio 60 to resume; the release says merely that it "will return later this season on a date to be determined." Well, maybe it will, or maybe it’ll come back in the summer to burn off the remaining episodes—or maybe NBC will air them only over the Internet.
Studio 60 gets a lot of flak on EW.com, including some from me in my TV Watch column, prompting some readers to ask why I write about the show every week if I hate it so much. I don’t hate it, but I find it incredibly frustrating. All that talent—Sorkin, the blue-chip cast (led by Matthew Perry, pictured)—and all those lofty aspirations, marred by weak execution, lazy writing, dramatic issues that are hard to care about, and a lack of verisimilitude (these characters are comedy professionals, so where’s the funny?). There are occasional laughs, and occasional moments of brilliance, but apparently not enough of them to keep people watching. Still, I (and many of you, I’m sure) keep tuning in every week, hoping that this will be the week the show finally lives up to its potential for greatness. Better hurry up, Studio 60; you may have only four more weeks to dazzle us.
Comments (1-30) of 83
I think Studio 60 is one of the top three shows on television. Here’s why:
1.It’s not a reality show. HA HA
2.You can get slapstick funny on ANY 1/2 hour comedy. They are boring and predictable. Studio 60 is maturely funny.
3.It moves quickly, and the banter is hilarious!
Funny isn’t just what they say. It’s how they react and the expressions on their faces. These actors are brilliant and because they aren’t telling jokes it’s going to get pulled and that’s sad.
AND YOU’RE JUST LOVING THIS!
Good riddance to bad, boring rubbish!
You don’t have to tell jokes to be funny and you certainly don’t need to rely on slapstick comedy to be funny either, having said that, Studio 60 is a big disappointment and probably the biggest snoozefest on tv at the moment. I tried liking it, I forced myself to watch several episodes but it just bores me to tears and since I can’t relate or bring myself to care about the characters and their lives, then I end up watching something else.. like the I-95 traffic camera station which ends up being far more entertaining than Studio 60.
Studio 60= this year’s Cop Rock, minus the entertainment value!
I really was rooting for Matthew Fox but, in the words of Chandler Bing, could this show BE any more pretentious and un-funny?
NBC could have saved itself the money that it took from promoting this horrible piece of obnoxious television by pulling it after the third episode. Thank god they’re coming around… Worst show of the year? how about worst show of the decade…
What I took out of this item: 30 Rock is going away for a month!? No! Oh well, I like Andy Richter, so it should be fine.
Well, good riddance to Studio 60. But if NBC even THINKS about canceling 30 Rock, I can’t be held responsible for my reaction.
hhhmm again, i’m a rare bread! I love Studio 60! I can’t explain it really but i just plain love it, maybe i’m too easy to please but i just think it’s so smart! Love the banter, love the characters!
I don’t understand why people hate the show so much. Grey’s Anatomy is the worst piece of overrated trash on TV and people seem to just love that stink fest. Seriously, Seriously and (wait for it) Seriously.
If this ends up getting pulled, I would be bummed… there are only two new shows from this year that I’ve enjoyed – Studio 60 and Friday Night Lights (which has really grown on me.) I don’t object (as others have) to the fact that this show based on a comedy sketch show isn’t funny… I enjoy the good performances and sharp dialogue. Along with FNL and Criminal Minds, Studio 60 is the only scripted show I make sure to catch each week.
A show about the backrooms antics of a comedy sketch show?
There’s probably room enough for just one of them and it’s called 30 Rock and it’s brilliant!
Unlike Aaron Sorkin, Tina Fey actually WAS part of a comedy sketch show so she knows what she’s writing about.
30 Rock isn’t doing great in the ratings either, so let’s all dump the horrible Studio 60 and unite behind 30 Rock.
Why watch a dramedy about a comedy show when you can watch a comedy about a comedy show?
Rosie, I watch both GA and S60 and both are top quality televison or at least better then 90% of the dribble on (AI,24,CSI+++). Is it any wonder why most people can’t relate to it? They’ve all settled for mediocrity! If they cancel it, I just hope they wrap up the plotlines and not leave me hanging!
I can’t wait for the day that I don’t have to type this anymore, but here it is: Cancel Studio 60.
The ep on 1/22 was the strongest I’ve seen, and finally met the high expectations I think everyone had for this show. They used Bradley Whitford and Steven Weber. Hallelujiah! And Tom wasn’t preaching about something. Thank you…Of course, this past week wasn’t as strong, but I’m going to keep watching.
Studio 60 is the only reason I watch NBC but here’s the bigger question: Why is the media so obsessed with writing about it? Surely there’s other things to talk about besides one network show.
Personally, I think that if no one knew that Aaron Sorkin was attached, that the media wouldn’t hit the show so hard.
The next time I find a new show that has fast pacing and SOME intelligence. I will run, not walk away.
Jane-Just curious, what shows do you really like? We can write to have those cancelled as well.
Nobody watches ‘Snoozio 60′ because the show is as good as it’s sketches are funny. But where, o’ where, will we get our fix of well-dressed white liberals walking-down hallways really fast while spewing sanctimonious-bull$hit?
This just figures. I didn’t like this show when it started, but kept watching because I liked the cast and wanted to see the direction it was headed. Now with Jack standing up against the FCC for a time delay, and the possible Danny/Jordan romance, I’m hooked, and look forard to the next episode. I hope they at least allow them to finish out a full season’s worth of episodes.
Dude, please don’t cancel this show. I’m still not over Arrested Developments early exit.
I don’t get why people who don’t like it are trying to get it cancelled. Can’t you just let sleeping dogs lie?
And ditto to the Grey’s Anatomy commenter. That is by far the worst show on television. I’d take Studio 60 over that any day.
Studio 60 is the best show on TV right now, if they dump it I may have to stop watching NBC all together.
You think GA rocks and I don’t. It is just not my cup of tea. GA is just popular right now. I just don’t like it. I have tried and it just did not do it for me. I did not like Studio 60 when it started, but now I do.
First off, I think we all agree GA is not the best or worst show on television. Secondly, Studio 60 is a tough show to watch, in my opinion. I’ve tried sitting through episodes, but the hallways keep distracting me (how many feet of hallway can you fit in a sketch show, anyways?) However, the cast is excellent and make the show stand out completely. Honestly, Aaron Sorkin should be the one fired.
Studio 60 will be missed about as much as Standoff is.
Why do people often think that because they don’t like a show, it’s got to be the worst show? Obviously, not everyone thinks the same. Does this mean everyone hating on GA is more intelligent or has a grasp on what’s good or not? I think not..
Perhaps I wasn’t specific enough in my first post so here goes my second attempt. Personally, I don’t like Studio 60, to me, the writing is lame and uninteresting. I don’t think it’s the worst show out there, who knows what show is..but at least to me, it’s just plain boring.
Perhaps it has to do with Matthew Perry and his connection to FRIENDS, one of the most racist shows of the 90s (how many people believe minorites are a minority in NYC and not a majority?!) so maybe I am being unfairly biased.
Studio 60 is NOT the best show on TV, but neither is Brothers and Sisters. And damned if I’m not thrilled when I find a new episode of either on my DVR. They are BOTH entertaining shows, with interesting characters, and I hate to break it to everybody, but as somebody who works in the sketch comedy world for a living, there not a lot of comedy backstage. It’s always DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA.
I was excited to start watching two new shows this year: Studio 60 and Friday Night Lights. I enjoy Studio 60 sometimes, but it sure isn’t magic in a bottle. I agree with whoever said Aaron Sorkin should be the one fired, because I like the actors but don’t care much for the writing. Nor do I care much about the characters.
I would be fine with Studio 60 staying on the air, but it isn’t a must-watch by any means. Given the choice between keeping this show and keeping Friday Night Lights, I’d choose the latter in a heartbeat. I kind of feel like The Bachelorette during the final rose ceremony: there are two choices left, a witty and articulate guy in a tux who went to the right schools, and a gruff, soulful musician in a football sweatshirt. Given my background, people would expect me to take the guy in a tux…but the guy in the sweatshirt stole my heart.
A lot of the criticism of Studio 60 has been much more pretentious, lazily written, preachy, and pleased with itself than the show has been. A lot of it also has been bad-tempered, while the show is good-hearted and fun.
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