Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: Yeah, I watched it

Posted by Maggie August 29th, 2006 at 03:27pm In General

Despite my earlier mocking of the concept, I netflixed the pilot of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. I just couldn't wait. And I have to say, it was totally worth it. I loved it, and I think you will, too.

Obviously I love television, and it's a show for people who really care about TV. Smart people. Which, you know, we all are, of course.

Practically the only available photo. Hi, Matthew Perry. Hi, Back of Bradley Whitford's Head.

Bradley Whitford plays a variation on Josh again, only this time he has a drug problem (because it would've been too obvious to give the Matthew Perry character a drug problem) and his name is Danny. The actor who played Danny Concannon (Tim Busfield, who I will always and forevermore refer to as "Danny") now plays a character named Cal. Matthew Perry's character's name is Matt. It's not as confusing as I just made it sound, but does suggest that Aaron Sorkin might need to invest in this.

They all work on an idealistic version of Saturday Night Live in LA, along with the tutor from Deadwood, frickin' adorable Nate Corddry, and DL Hughley, and they're bossed around by much-prettier-in-person- (yeah-I've-totally-seen-her-in-person) Amanda Peet and way-too-good-at-playing-the-asshole Steven Weber. There are quips and one-ups-manship and anxious chatter galore. People boss each other around and go for smoke breaks and confess their secrets to their best friends. Then they talk about art and commerce and censorship and patriotism. Then they insult each other some more. It's awesome.

My one concern is about the show-within-a-show. Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford are supposed to be some kind of geniuses at writing comedy. I completely believe that the behind-the-scenes stuff will be hilarious, in that snappy Aaron Sorkin way. But if the sketches on the fake SNL aren't funny, doesn't that kind of ruin the whole premise? Sketch comedy is really hard. We've all seen it not working (I'm looking at you, Horatio). So hopefully we either won't see too much of the actual sketches, or they'll manage to pull it together. I'll be rooting for them.