Studio 60 is a smart, fast-paced new televesion show that is loosely set behind the scenes of a late night comedy sketch show such as Saturday Night Live.
From the mind of the very successful writer/producer Aaron Sorkinson (West Wing, Sports Night), Studio 60 employs a fairly large and varied cast, consisting of everyone from no name TV actors, to “oh yeah I know that guy” TV actors, to successful TV and movie actors (Amanda Peet, Bradley Whitford, Mathew Perry), this impossibly fast-paced drama has the production quality of a movie with sensibility (and episodic structure) of network television.
It’s themes — if there may be said to be themes, since it is perhaps first and foremost a piece of dramatic art striving for realism — are love and romance (what else?), New York/LA life (though the dramatic location for the studio is Los Angeles), and the farthest extremes of excellent human beings performing excellently under pressure.
It is a big-city show about big-city life, including big-city romance, friendship, leisure, stress, and work.
Rumours are it is soon to be cancelled, since viewership dropped 43% after the fifth episode, but a small but enthusiastic population is crossing their fingers. Perhaps the lack of popularity is due in part to the misleading possibility of it being a comedy. Don’t expect it to be funny, even though it is centered around an SNL-type show. It is primarily a drama (the guy made West Wing, after all), with as many funny bits as any good drama, but no more. Superbly written, and acted and directed with a level of attention normally reserved for the big screen, the smart Studio 60 may just raise the bar for television shows across the networks… that is, if it isn’t cancelled first.
See for yourself, and let me what you think. Check out Studio 60, Monday Nov 6, 10:00pm “Nevada Day, Part I”
