Behind the scenes at Studio Sixty (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip)

Member Name: jcpurpledragons

Product:	Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Date:	16/12/07 (88 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast paced, witty drama

Disadvantages: Steadily goes down hill

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is an American television comedy drama series created and written by Aaron Sorkin. You may well recognise his name as the creator of the highly acclaimed and successful West Wing.

The programme takes place behind the scenes of a fictional live sketch comedy show, also called Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, whose format is similar to NBC's Saturday Night Live. The fictional show-within-a-show is run by head writer Matt Albie (Matthew Perry) and producer/director Danny Tripp (Bradley Whitford).

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip aired on NBC from September 18, 2006 to June 28, 2007 and received mixed reviews. It aired in England on More Four Thursdays 10pm and repeated Sundays 11.05pm.

The pilot episode grabbed my attention enough to set my Tivo to record all future episodes. From the offset it is fast paced and entertaining. The show draws you in as you gradually learn more about the situation and each of the characters. It's an intricately weaved script that (in the first episodes) results in truly gripping programming.


***Cast***

These are the main cast members who feature regularly and sustain a presence through the show. It's a busy set so there are many minor characters, and regular guest stars too (including Alison Janney from the West Wing, and Sting).

Matthew Perry ... Matt Albie - the main writer of the show,
in love with Harriet.
(Since friends this is by far his best work)
Bradley Whitford ... Danny Tripp - ex drug addict producer. (You may well recognise the actor, and some
of the personality from West Wing.)
Amanda Peet ... Jordan McDeere - Network official in charge
of Entertainment
Steven Weber ... Jack Rudolph - Network Vice President
D.L. Hughley ... Simon Stiles - the male comedy lead of the
show, really brings something to the show.
Sarah Paulson ... Harriet Hayes - a very Christian comedy
talent and in/out of love with Matt.
Nathan Corddry ... Tom Jeter - a sweet lad and comedian,
brother is in the war
Timothy Busfield ... Cal Shanley - the show's editor (also from The West Wing)
Nate Torrence ... Dylan Killington - an unconfident comedian
Lucy Davis ... Lucy Kenwright - freshman writer (British- of The Office Fame. I don't really buy
her in this)
Camille Chen ... Samantha Li - one of the actresses
Simon Helberg ... Alex Dwyer - writer
Ayda Field ... Jeannie Whatley - babe actress
Merritt Wever ... Suzanne - a runner who becomes Matt's PA
Columbus Short ... Darius Hawthorne - freshman writer
Mark McKinney ... Andy Mackinaw - an experienced and very
depressed writer

It's very much an ensemble cast and draws from a variety of interesting characters and accomplished performances (there are only a couple of less convincing performances from Ayda Field and Lucy Davis). In addition to having a generally very strong cast, Studio 60 is a daring, ingenious, comedic drama (well at least to begin with anyway- then it becomes a diluted version of the same).


***Episode Guide***

101 - The Pilot
Broadcast: September 18, 2006
Jordan McDeere hires Matt and Danny to replace Wes Mandell to run Studio 60.
Written by: Aaron Sorkin Directed by: Thomas Schlamme

102 - "The Cold Open"
Broadcast: September 25, 2006
Matt must come up with a strong opening segment and it all falls into place just in time.
Written by: Aaron Sorkin Directed by: Thomas Schlamme

103 - "The Focus Group"
Broadcast: October 2, 2006
A focus group thinks the show is unpatriotic.
Written by: Aaron Sorkin Directed by:Christopher Misiano

104 - "The West Coast Delay"
Broadcast: October 9, 2006
Matt and Danny panic when they discover that a sketch they just showed was taken from another comedian's material.
Written by: Mark Goffman & Aaron Sorkin
Directed by: Timothy Busfield

105 - "The Long Lead Story"
Broadcast: October 16, 2006
A journalist is given full access to the team.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin, Story by: Dana Cavlo
Directed by: David Petrarca

106 - The Wrap Party
Broadcast: October 23, 2006
Lots of interesting goings on at the show after party.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin, Story by: Melissa Myers & Amy Turner Directed by: David Semel

107 - "Nevada Day Part I"
Broadcast: November 6, 2006
Tom is arrested and sent to Nevada on a Friday putting in jeopardy a major network deal.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin, Story by: Mark McKinney Directed by: Lesli Linka Glatter, Timothy Busfield

108 - "Nevada Day Part II"
Broadcast: November 13, 2006
The situation in Nevada spins out of control.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin, Story by: David Handleman and Cinque Henderson Directed by: Timothy Busfield

109 - "The Option Period"
Broadcast: November 20, 2006
Jordan tells Danny he has to fire 15 people or use product placement and Matt discovers the main writers plan to leave.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin, Story by: Christina Kiang Booth and Mark Goffman Directed by: John Fortenberry

110 - "B-12″
Broadcast: November 27, 2006
A virus is going around the cast and crew, Matt brings in a Writer Whisperer, Jordan's press relations take a turn for the worse, and a secret is discovered.
Written by: Eli Attie and Aaron Sorkin
Directed by: Bryan Gordan

111 - "The Christmas Show" (source NBC)
Broadcast: December 4 2006
Matt wants a Christmas show, Danny starts to become obsessive about Jordan, Harriet is offered a moview role, and the show features musicians from New Orleans.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin Story by: Christina Kiang Booth and Cinque Henderson Directed by: Dan Attias

112 - "Monday"
Broadcast: January 22, 2007
Matt is frantic about Harriet, Danny is harassing Jordan and Jack and Wilson fight with the board of directors.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin Story by: Dana Cavlo and David Handelman Directed by: Lawrence Trilling

113 - "The Harriet Dinner"
Broadcast: January 29, 2007
Thinking Luke is bidding, Matt bids thousands to accompany Harriet to a charity dinner.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin Story by: Eli Attie
Directed by: Timothy Busfield

114 - "The Harriet Dinner Part II"
Broadcast: February 5, 2007
Things continue to fall apart with Matt and Harriet, while Jordan and Danny spend time locked on the roof.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin Story by: Mark Goffman and Dana Calvo Directed by: John Fortenberry

115 - "The Friday Night Slaughter"
Broadcast: February 12, 2007
Matt remembers how he and Harriet first met and reminisces.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin Story by: Melissa Myers & Amy Turner Directed by: Thomas Schlamme

116 - "4 a.m. Miracle"
Broadcast: February 19, 2007
Having lost Harriet Matt faces serious writer's block.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin Story by: Mark McKinney
Directed by: Laura Innes

117 - "The Disaster Show" (source NBC)
Broadcast: Thursday, May 24, 2007
Allison Janney is the guest host while the show suffers from a strike from the prop guys and a bomb threat.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin Story by: Chad Gomez Creasey & Dara Resnick Creasey Directed by: Thomas Schlamme

118 - "Breaking News" (source NBC Press Release)
Broadcast: Thursday, May 31, 2007
Jordan experiences an emergency with her pregnancy, Tom's soldier brother has been captured and Matt's pill use gets discovered.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin Directed by: Andrew Berstein

119 - "K&R"
Broadcast: Thursday, June 7, 2007
The cast rally round Tom, whilst Jordan gives birth.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin, Story by: Mark Goffman
Directed by: Timothy Busfield

120 - "K&R Part II"
Broadcast: Thursday, June 14, 2007
Jordan is having complications and Simon makes a regrettable statement to the press.
Teleplay by: Aaron Sorkin, Story by: Jack Gutowitz & Ian Reichbach Directed by: Dave Chameides

121 - "K&R Part III"
Broadcast: Thursday, June 21, 2007
As the hostage situation appears to be getting worse, Tom accepts help to try and buy his brother out. Jordan is critical.
Written by: Aaron Sorkin and Mark McKinney
Directed by: Timothy Busfield

122 - "What Kind of Day Has It Been"
Broadcast: Thursday, June 28, 2007
As the last in the series- I couldn't possibly ruin it by telling you what happens- you'll just have to watch and find out!
Written by: Aaron Sorkin Directed by: Bradley Whitford

The series starts out as excellent as we learn more about the characters and the behind the scenes insanity of running a television show. The problem is that there is simply not the diversity and relevance of material that a show like the West Wing had to sustain it. When the show does try to have a social commentary it doesn't quite pull it off; it is much more successful when exploring characters than the political climate of America.

When things between Matt and Harriet (the Ross and Rachel of the show) get really bad the show starts slipping into flashback sequences. Whilst as a one off this would work as a change of style, the fact that it does it so often starts to feel like a cop out of actually writing well in the presence. The hostage situation and difficult birth lead to some real emotional content, but the show has lost some of its spark by this point.

The show met critical acclaim from the pilot, but failed to sustain audiences well enough to generate a second series. If you watch all 22 episodes, and are anything like me, you will enjoy all of them, but increasingly feel like something is lacking.


***Awards***

Art Directors Guild 2007 Nominated
Excellence in Production Design Award Television - Single Camera Television Series
For the pilot episode.

Banff Television Festival 2007 Won Banff Rockie Award Best Continuing Series
For the pilot episode.

Directors Guild of America, USA 2007 Nominated DGA Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series' - Night
For the pilot episode.

Emmy Awards 2007 Won Emmy Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
John Goodman
Nominated Emmy Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series
Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series for the pilot.
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the pilot.
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Eli Wallach

Golden Globes 2007 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Sarah Paulson

Satellite Awards 2006 Nominated Satellite Award Best Actor in a Series, Drama
Matthew Perry
Best Actor in a Series, Drama, Bradley Whitford
Best Actress in a Series, Drama, Sarah Paulson
Best Actress in a Series, Drama, Amanda Peet

Writers Guild of America, USA) 2007
Nominated WGA Award (TV) New Series


I do recommend the show as a good watch, particularly if you enjoy witty comedy dramas. Just be aware that the rest of the series doesn't quite live up to the first few episodes.

Summary: Worth a watch (especially if you like the West Wing style of comedy drama)