My favorite new show of this TV season is Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Unfortunately, I seem to be in the minority. But that’s because people just don’t get it.
The show boasts a great cast that includes Matthew Perry, Sarah Paulson, Amanda Peet and a handful West Wing veterans. It’s a smart and funny show produced by Aaron Sorkin, the creator of such excellent TV fare as The West Wing and Sports Night. It takes place behind the scenes of a Saturday Night Live type of show called “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”. The key words here are behind the scenes.
One of the main complaints I’ve heard around the water cooler or seen on line, is that the jokes and sketches that are in the show-within-the-show (to be known for this posting as “Studio 60”) are just not funny. I don’t know what they’re spiking the water cooler with, but I have laughed more watching Studio 60 than I have in the last 20 years of SNL.
Well, in case you missed the premise, this show is about what goes on BEHIND the scenes of an SNL type show. The emphasis is not on the content of the show-within-the-show or what happens when “Studio 60” is “on the air”. The humor comes from how the characters react to what happens offstage or in preparation of the show. A couple of the actual sketches were quite funny as well, such as “Spit-take Theater” or when Dateline: To Catch a Predator busted Santa Claus.
It would seem to me that they would not want to compete with SNL for topics/material seeing as how they are on the same network and all. I think the people that are disappointed with the show are just looking for a show like SNL. That is not what this show is. (behind the scenes, people.)
So, do yourself a favor, watch Studio 60 with no pre-conceived expectations or at least the correct one. Watch it expecting that you’re going to see a well-written, character-based drama that will also make you laugh.
Update: Studio 60 Live on the Sunset Strip airs 10:00/9:00pm Central – Monday Nights on NBC (thanks, Bonnie!)
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