Goodbye STUDIO 60
June 29, 2007 by Kath Skerry
I was one of the few people that truly enjoyed STUDIO 60 right from the start. I remember reading the pilot script the summer before it aired and I thought it was brilliant. I waited, I watched, I got involved in the show and then slowly watch its deterioration from great TV to whatever was last night’s series finale.
I’m not going to pretend to know exactly what happened with Studio 60. But from my perspective, as a fan, I have to think that it had something to do with how uneven and wildly self indulgent it often was. In hindsight, I never really knew what the show was about. In the extraordinary first episode I thought it was about the politics and happenings behind the scenes on an SNL’esque show. Being the lover of all things TV that I am, I thought this show was tailor made for me. But that brilliance quickly faded and the show seemed to evolve into a drama that was more about the love lives of the people that ran the show.
Studio 60 was heavy handed – to a fault. Although I often agreed with Sorkin’s POV on political and social matters, it sometimes felt like he was preaching from the top of a 20 story soapbox. If I were taken aback by it, I can only imagine how others that didn’t share similar viewpoints enjoyed (or didn’t enjoy as the case probably was) the show.
Had the show remained a curtains pulled back commentary on the inner workings of TV, I think it could have been successful. But whether it be Sorkin’s ego, his lack of vision or the network’s interference that influenced the outcome, Studio 60 never lived up to its potential. There were moments of genius, but it wasn’t consistent enough to keep an audience engaged.
Better luck next time Sorkin. Looking forward to seeing you soon Bradley Whitford and Matthew Perry. And Nate Corrdry…I will miss you the most.
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I totally agree – loved the premise, but they got lost. I hope Nate gets a good project soon. He was a really nice surprise. Love the Corddry brothers! Also Sarah Paulson was pretty good, was fun when I realized she was the scientist that got eaten by Reavers in Serenity. I hope Lucy sticks it out state-side too!
I too had high hopes for the show.
They had a tremendous amount of talent in front of and behind the camera and it still fell apart.
As talented as Sorkin is, I lay the blame at his doorstep. He was self-indulgent, preachy, condescending and seemed to be using the show as personal therapy.
I liked Sports Night and West Wing, but Sorkin lost the thread on this show.
He is very talented and I hope he has another show soon.
I think I am more sad about Studio 60 this year than I am/was about the end of Gilmore. Because you are right, it had such GREAT potential. And, although I always enjoyed it, I can see why it never got a large audience. Personally, I think that Sorkin picked the wrong medium to write about. I am currently watching TWW for the first time, and the great thing about the show is, yeah, it is preachy at times, but it can be…because it’s about the White House. I also loved Sports Night, and was really excited for S60. Somewhere it lots its way though…
I will miss Matthew Perry the most. This was the first serious role I’d seen him in, and while I love him to pieces on Friends, it was the first time I realized, “Well, golly. That Matthew Perry can really act.” I wish him a long career where he can prove himself as an actor to a larger audience.
I enjoyed it, but after the Christmas Episode (which was fantastic), I just thought it went downhill… and this past bit, the only one I cared about was Nate Cordry. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t great. And, really lacked a lot.
Good start, but lost focus.
I don’t know that I remember a show that changed so drastically, so many times in just one season. It was like 2-3 completly different shows over the course of the year that just happened to have the same sets and cast.
I still have the Christmas episode on my Ipod. Really thought the show was going to take off after that great episode. But when it came back after the holiday break it just wasn’ that good.
I agree. I think the show changed alot in one season. I agreed with alot of Sorkin’s political views and stuff. But the show was turning into a show of the love-lives of everyone. Still, I loved the show. Towards the ends, it was just different for the most part, but still good.
I have the entire series on my iPod. Can’t help myself.
I think the show was absolutely great – and a terriffic counterpart to Heroes on Monday nights. From superfantastic to actually happening. I really wanted to know how the taking on the FCC story developed – maybe it’s the liberal in me… or maybe it’s the communications major in me, but either way I thought it was facinating.