UK Edition
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Cast: Amanda Peet (Syriana), Matthew Perry (Friends), Bradley Whitford (The West Wing)
Airs: Mondays at 10pm on NBC
Timeslot competition: What About Brian (ABC), CSI: Miami (CBS)
UK pickup? Channel 4 / More4
Plot in a nutshell: Behind-the-scenes politics of a Saturday Night Live-style network skit show.
What's it all about? Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip is the NBS network's flagship weekly skit show - but the laughter seems to have slowly disappeared since the departures of comedy writing partners Matt (Perry) and Danny (Whitford) several years ago. After the new executive producer becomes so tired with the repetitive gags that he has a to-camera rant live on air, new network president Jordan McDeere sets about trying to woo Matt and Danny back to the show. Judd Hirsch and Flick Huffman make pilot cameos as the outraged exec and show guest respectively.
Does it work? Coming from the likes of Aaron Sorkin and Tom Schlamme, and with a respected cast to boot, you expect quality. And in Studio 60, you do get quality. A nice mix of behind-the-scenes political drama (always stick to what you know, boys) and light comedy, executed in a clever manner, make for a satisfying hour of telly. The only problem it faces - especially when it flies over the pond to the UK - is that it's a little too insular. Not least because we don't have an SNL-style show on the conscience to relate to here, but even then, it perhaps veers a little too much towards the "industry" still for the savvier US public.
You'll like this if you liked... The West Wing
Chances of success: Before anyone had even seen the pilot, this series had a loyal following. But it faces a number of uphill battles if it is to survive the cut-throat Fall season and live beyond its initial 13-episode order. Key will be how the audience takes to the backstage politics setup. Sure, The West Wing was a huge hit and ran for seven seasons, but there the subject matter was something instantly relatable and magnificent on scale. Hardly comparable to a fictitious sketch show. And historically, shows-about-shows rarely tend to work (lest we forget, Sorkin's similar series Sports Night was cancelled after just two seasons). Add it all up, and what do we get? A series that may well prove a cult hit but fails to get the monster ratings it commands. But ratings aren't everything, right?
