Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip pilot
In a burst of self-confidence, NBC is releasing two of its pilots for the upcoming season on a single DVD, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and “Kidnapped.” This might suggest they think both are great, but they previously have released turkeys for free onto iTunes, so there’s no guarantee.
While I’m lukewarm on “Kidnapped” (more on that in a moment), “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” — one of two shows about Saturday Night Live this television season — is a winner.
(We rented the two shows on DVD from Netflix, although I’m told both are now floating around the Internet via BitTorrent and other mediums.)
I expected something much more reverential of SNL from an NBC show. Fortunately, Judd Hirsch’s meltdown before the opening credits even roll throws that out the window, attacking the fictional version of SNL, and television in general, for being too afraid of offending anyone and of putting commerce ahead of art (although acknowledging it’s always been a battle between the two).
The cast is good, with a lot of depth — there are recognizable solid actors who don’t have any lines in the pilot, but just appear in group shots — including an incredibly unpleasant Steven Weber, Amanda Peet playing a non-bimbo character (although her hot babeness is mentioned repeatedly by other characters), Tim(othy) Busfield, D.L. Hughley, Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford.
A great cynical little show and one I definitely intend to TiVo this season.
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This makes me happy. I’m a huge Sorkin fan, and love the casting. Pre-launch buzz like this gives me hope.
J
Comment by John — August 15, 2006 @ 11:42
This show is good on so many levels it hurts. The first segment prior to the credit roll is filled with great bits of tension and each introduced character gets the grand treatment. It’ll be very nice to have Sorkin back on the small screen to entertain us.
Comment by Jonah Weiland — August 16, 2006 @ 16:41