Keep Smilin’
The awkwardly titled Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip began its first and only season on More4, its UK debut, just before the Other Viewer and I left for our annual vacation. When we returned on Monday night, we found our Sky+ planner with a meagre 7% free, so we sat down in our jet-lagged state to enjoy this new import and free up some much needed recording space. Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is a drama series about the production of a fictional comedy variety show of the same name, which isn’t as confusing as it sounds and lends itself to clever segues and cameo appearances quite nicely. I understand that ratings for the show fell like a stone during the course of the season leading to its eventual cancellation but I think , based on the first three episodes, that this typically hard US TV treatment was a little unfair.
The credentials on the show are impressive with a definite West Wing feel to proceedings with Aaron Sorkin taking the head writer duties, Bradley Whitford and Timothy Busfield both appearing in the cast and even the delightfully named WG Snuffy Walden taking the musical lead. Matthew Perry (also a West Wing’er for a couple of episodes) took the lead role and delivered a polished performance and demonstrated, in my humble opinion, a more natural suitability to the small screen. His vicadin-fuelled character had all that Chandler Bing charm but with a mature edge and demons of his own to make for a interestingly rounded character. Bradley Whitford played an almost identical hand to his WW persona but managed to tick all the boxes with a twinkle in his eye and spot-on delivery. The rest of the supporting cast, (or should that be ensemble cast?) each had their figurative fifteen minutes in the early instalments but Sarah Paulson as Harriet and Amanda Peet as Jordan stood out above the rest.
The internally referenced homage to the Sydney Lumet film, Network, formed the basis of episode one as the new president of the NBS network (the fictional network that produces the fictional Studio 60 show) attempted to recover from the on-screen breakdown and consequent sacking of the show’s host. This leads to the controversial hiring of Matt and Albie as the new writer/director partnership and sets up the series. Episodes 2 and 3 serve to highlight the creative process around making the show a reality while the characters personalities and motivations are explored a little more deeply. I guess it may be the TV show about a TV show concept, which could be considered a little too twee that led to audiences fleeing the series in droves, or it may be fact that Mr Sorkin was seen to be biting the hand that fed him for criticising the state of television at a time when quality US shows are in abundance. May be the trick that was missed was to set Studio 60 back or forward 10 years that may have eliminated that feeling that you’re watching something that is a little too clever for its own good.
Tags: Aaron-Sorkin, Bradley-Whitford, Matthew-Perry, Modern Drama, More4, Network, Studio-60
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