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| Photo courtesy of AP |
"Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip": Review of Season Premier
By Beth Patch, 9.20.06
The new TV series, “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” is about a late night comedy show, but it’s not funny. It’s a drama.
The story focuses on the behind-the-scenes relationships and politics of the “Studio 60” cast, executives and network CEOs.
In the beginning scenes, the long-standing executive producer, Wes Mendell (Judd Hirsch) isn’t allowed to air a controversial skit that may be offensive to Christians. Wes fumes a little and then bursts onto the set of a comedy skit in progress on live TV. Making an emotional appeal for the return of non-censorship, he begs viewers to change their channels and stop watching the hosting network, NBS.
This fast moving scene sets the pace for the rest of the episode. After Mendell’s outburst, the network big shots are left scrambling to save what air time and future the show have left. Matt Albie (Matthew Perry) and Bradley Whitford (Danny Tripp), former writer and director are hired before the episode ends.
The controversial decision is made by Jordan McDeere (Amanda Peet), NBS’ new president. Portraying an unconventional and powerful image, Jordan makes the executive decision to bring Matt and Danny back to the show to “save it.”
Key to a recurring religious theme, viewers meet the Christian of the studio staff and Matt's former girlfriend, Harriet Hayes (Sarah Paulson). Matt and Harriet’s messy break-up is explained in this scene:
Harriet: We didn’t break up because of a Dodger game.
Matt: No, we didn’t.
Harriet: When you were promoting the movie, I was holding your hand every step of the way, but when I had a CD to promote in 52 markets in 15 days, you disappeared.
Matt: I didn’t disappear.
Harriet: You got cold, and you got mean.
Matt: Right after you went on the 700 Club, is that timing lost on you?
Harriet: It was an album of spiritual music. Those are the people who buy spiritual music.
Matt: I don’t care if it was an album of the Three Wise Men covering the Dooby Bros., you put on a dress and sang for a bigot.
Their core differences surfacing, Matt scoffs at Harriet’s Christian values. “Studio 60” depicts mixed emotions about respecting Christian values. Threads of this topic begin with the controversial skit. Many scenes later, a cast member subtly asks Harriet if the skit offends her. She denies that it does.
At one point Harriet agrees to comply with a co-worker after he has either “accepted Jesus Christ” or finished a project. By the end of the pilot it appears that Harriet may be in a lion’s den, alone and strong in her faith.
As demonstrated in the dialogue, Matt is hostile to the 700 Club and the Studio sits on the fence over offending Christians. Hopefully the show will come up with something better than cheap shots at Pat Robertson as the season progesses.
“Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” appears to be ready to tackle some very realistic dilemmas in TV writing, producing, network politics and religion. Christians beware, the show may take a hard left.
