Timewaster's Guide Archive
Departments => Movies and TV => Topic started by: Fellfrosch on September 19, 2006, 04:20:05 PM
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This is a new show on NBC which just debuted last night, and it was amazingly good. The commercials have been painting it as a funny little backstage comedy about an SNL-style skit show, and then it turned out to be a very compelling drama about media politics. I heartily recommend it.
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Matthew Perry was pretty funny, especially since his character was drugged up on pain killers.
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I agree. It was created by Aaron Sorkin, who did West Wing, and this show seems to capture the same level of intelligent writing and commentary. (Say what you will about politics, West Wing was well-written and well-acted.)
Last night, during every commercial, I'd turn to my wife and tell her how amazed I was at how great Studio 60 is. I hope it can keep it up.
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(Say what you will about politics, West Wing was well-written and well-acted.
As a drama? yes. As for representing intelligent discussion? on again off again. I think of one ep in particular where the president thinks he can shut down anyone who believes the Bible prohibits homosexuality by pointing out that it also allows slavery, which, in short, is a short sighted understanding of the work. Not only does he believe this is an effective argument (and the writers/producers as well), but he also finds it appropriate to shame a guest at a White House function by using it, and we're supposed to think it's a victory. Very badly written scene, all in all.
Sorry, that's my gut reaction when West Wing is lauded. It's better than most shows, but it has some very irritating aspects, even disregarding my political feelings on the matter.
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I've often heard it referred to as "Left Wing."
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HoMsar, did you just end a sentence with the word 'is'?
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Gemm, did you just end a sentence with the word 'is'?
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Fell, did you just end a sentince with the word "is"?
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I'm finishing a sentence with the word 'is.'
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SE, you did not just end that sentence in 'is.'
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LIAR!
besides, I didn't say I was ending *that* sentence with the word 'is.'
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Did you guys put the word "is" at the end of your sentences?
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no.
I'm Batman.
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Batman you is.
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You obviously don't even know what a sentence is.
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I'm sure there's a rule about this, and I bet Ookla knows what it is.
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That depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is.
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The third person singular present indicative of the verb "be" it is. Your conversation has made me very curious about Studio 60.  (Great, now I'm gonna have to  watch it, but I've already used all my wastable time on TWG!)
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Three sentences account for all of your wastable time? You must be a Junior High teacher.
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Hey, what are yous guys talking about?
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 The commercials have been painting it as a funny little backstage comedy about an SNL-style skit show,
That would be "30 Rock", with Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. Which I wanted to like, but it fell flat.
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The early commercials for Studio 60 took the same tack as the commercials for 30 Rock, despite the fact that it's a completely different show.
I haven't seen 30 Rock yet, but though I really like Tina Fey I have to admit it doesn't look very good. Alas.
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Yeah, ok. I saw one episode of Studio 60, and it was good, but I'm not sure I'll keep watching it. We'll see where it goes....
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The most recent one was kind of poor--an interesting idea that never really went anywhere. I kept expecting a conclusion, and we never got one.
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Fox News is reporting that Studio 60 is very near to cancellation. The entertainment reporter obviously dislikes the show, though, so take it with a grain of salt.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,226092,00.html
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I've heard the same thing from teachers at school (who work and have friends in Hollywood), and from other websites for weeks now. The ratings just keep dropping, in the first month alone they ended at about 1/4th of what the premier start at which is never a good sign for a show.
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That's too bad because I see the plots as having a lot of depth. There were moments in last week's show where things just caught me that I thought were cool. ***SPOILER: Like the old man pretending to be senile so he could have a picture that turned out to have him in it. Then him talking to Matt and others about what it was like for him around WWII, being blacklisted and such. Also the guy showing his parents around the studio and talking about the history of the theater and comedy. I also liked when the president of the network fought not to bid on another sleazy reality show for their network, but instead have a drama about the UN.
Very cool and very different, in my opinion, than many shows. If it gets dropped, I think that really says something about the American audience.
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It might say something, but not what they'd like us to think it says. The truth is that television is in a better state now than its been in for years--we have more intelligent shows, both drama and comedy, and we have storytelling and writing that put most new movies to shame. The reality TV craze is all but over, and the kinds of shows that Studio 60 makes fun of are already dead (they made fun of Temptation Island? Which hasn't been on network TV in years?).
I like the show very much, but I can't buy into the idea (established in the first episode) that it had come messianically to save us from crappy TV. In the end, it's no better acted or written than half a dozen other shows on TV right now. If the same show had come on the air four or five years ago, sure, it would be a godsend, but other people have come along and "saved" TV while this show was still in concept.