Product Description Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip: The Complete Series (DVD)When the beleaguered executive producer of a long-running late-night sketch-comedy series interrupts the live broadcast and has a "Network" moment on the air, the industry, the media and the viewers are galvanized. Into this melee steps shrewd and self-confident network president Jordan McDeere, who squares off against the chairman and rehires a brilliant, unpredictable writer/producer team--which had left the show years ago under a cloud of controversy--to bring it back from the brink. This daring, highly anticipated comedic drama literally goes behind the scenes to expose the politics, personalities and pandemonium of producing a flagship series on a major television network.]]> .com Aaron Sorkin, bless him, believes that "the people who watch television shows aren't dumber than the people who make television shows." He also believes that "quality is not anathema to profit." He puts these idealistic words into the mouth of Jordan McDeere (Amanda Peet), the new, impolitic NBS TV president whose first order of business is to revitalize the network's cash cow, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, a long-running live late-night sketch-comedy series reeling from the Howard Beale-esque on-air meltdown of its creator (Judd Hirsch, alas, limited to the pilot episode). With this Upstairs/Backstage look at Studio 60's tumultuous network politics and stormy personal relationships, Sorkin, the creator of Sports Night and The West Wing, once again tried to raise the bar of prime time fare. That he didn't quite clear it makes this one-season wonder a fascinating object lesson of great hopes and dashed expectations. Studio 60 was perhaps the most hotly debated series of the 2006 season and, love it or hate it, all its strengths and flaws can be savored and savaged anew with this complete-series set. Pretty much above reproach is the ensemble. Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford head the cast as comedy writer Matt and executive producer Danny, former Studio 60 hands whom Jordan brings back to "save" the show. Steven Weber costars as network chairman Jack Rudolph, who clashes with Jordan over reality programming (he wants it, she doesn't), is embroiled in network negotiations with China, and must fend off angry affiliates offended by such sketches as "Crazy Christians." Jordan contends with becoming tabloid fodder after her ex-husband leaks scandalous details of their past. Meanwhile, Matt, a sardonic atheist, is in a whole Ross and Rachel thing with Harriet (Emmy nominee Sarah Paulson), who is devoutly religious and the show's galvanizing star performer (she does do a mean Holly Hunter). Studio 60 has much to say about comedy in wartime, the divided states of America, the creative process, and patriotism. Some of it is deftly handled, some of it is ham-handed and some of it patronizing. Most of it is delivered in Sorkin's signature chock-a-block style and with walk-and-talk urgency. But even at its most maddening, there are enough riveting moments (a performance by displaced New Orleans musicians in "The Christmas Show"), jaw-dropping developments ("I'm coming for you, Jordan," warns Danny, suddenly-turned romantic stalker), and indelible performances (John Goodman's Emmy-winning turn as a plain-speaking Pahrump, NV judge not impressed with the Hollywood types before him in the two-part "Nevada Day") to make Studio 60 a series worth revisiting, if only as a guilty pleasure. The pilot episode commentary by Sorkin and director Thomas Schlamme, as well as a behind-the-scenes featurette, were produced before the show was canceled, robbing this series' fervent fans of the opportunity for some closure. --Donald Liebenson
C**2
Hilarious!
My husband introduced me to this unfortunately one season TV show. If you love the West Wing and Saturday Night Live, you will love this. Very well done and very sad Moore seasons were not made
M**I
Classic show
Great show
D**N
I'm telling you, he's the next Shakespeare
The first five minutes of the Pilot of Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip (Aaron Sorkin's brilliant and short lived television series after The West Wing)will explain beautifully why it is that this - the finest and most intelligent piece of television in history - lasted for only one season. Aaron Sorkin is a world class writer. In fact, not since William Shakespeare has a playwrite managed text as though each word were a notated piece of music. Sorkin has the respect of every executive, actor, crew member and writer in both Hollywood and New York, but the average television viewer is comfortably enteratined by "Married With Children" the formula crime shows of Dick Wolf and the formula direction of Jay Sandrich and Jim Burrows.Studio 60 is a behind the scenes look at what happens on a weekly live comedy satire show. It's modeled after the classic "Saturday Night Live" and what we see on the scrfeen moves as fast as what happens in the studio. Backstage is like Boston's route 128 without road dividers and Thomas Schlamme, the director, knows how to film it, cameras moving as fast as toyotas, fvery few cuts, famous "walk and Talks, where w2e feel as though we're wlking with them. The subject magtter is brilliant and it FEELS realistic- the truth- though who would know. Though the show is written like a symphony and is about a TV show what it's really abo0ut is people. Family.And the pilot for this- as well as each subsequent episode, is clearly expensive, a remarkable set and the finest most reverred actors alive today. Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford are remarkable. We know him as Chandler, but tis is a different man entirely and Matthew Perry is a remarkable actor. Amanda Peet, as beautiful as can be imagined, is a class act, first rate actor. Th4e supporting cast is all remarkable and many of them you know (Simon Hedburg who does a remarkable Nicholas Cage, is now a household name as Howard Wolowitz on "{The Big Bang Theory".) In addition, on the first 45 minutes we have Steven Webber (who makes you forget his irresponsible jokester chanracter from "Wings" within ten seconds) Ed Asner, Fellicity Huffman, Donna Murphy and Judd Hirsch. The budget for actors salaries alone show that the network was well invested here. I suppose that it's much like the music publishers and recording executives who, back in the 1970's and 80's, lost money on the work of Stephen Sondheim because they knew that one day he'd be recognized and they'd more than make their money back. Soprkin';s work requires an audience who must think and listen; watch and connect. It's not the sort of television that one can miss half of and still be able to chat about it at work the next dayt.like Sondheim, we'll all catch up. Now Sondheim is rehgarded as the finest composer alive and the all time best writer of musical theatre. I predicted that in 1979. Here's my prediction now: Aaron Sorkin is the next Shakespeare.This is likely the case here. You won't find a better DVD set anywhere and given the brillliance, the comedy, the speed and the acting here, you won;t want to rent it because you can watch it over and over. (John Goodman does a remarkable two episoded arch as a Nevada Judge that is some of the best work ever seen on television)We learn, we love and we see another one of Sorkin's family shows. Mom and Dad are executive producers instead of a President and CHeif of Staff, but they're all here, there's love and support and every single episode is as impressive as a major motion picture written by Aaron Sorkin- Charlie Wilson's War, A Few Good Men, Social Network.Cause if you don't know Aaron Sorkin, it's time.
R**R
John From Cincinnati Goes Hollywood
This creative gem from Aaron Sorkin has something in common with another, albeit completely different creative gem from another award winning writer, David Milch's "John From Cincinnati". Both were scripted by writers with prior successes of major proportions: Sorkin with "The West Wing", et al, and Milch with "Deadwood" "NYPD Blue", "Hill Street Blues", etc. Tragically, both shows were canceled after just one season because their respective networks failed to support either show long enough for it to develop a solid audience. Both shows had stellar casting, excellent writing from week to week and solid direction. Commerce over art. What a loss.I watched "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" back when it was originally broadcast on network TV and thought it was everything one would want in a weekly series. I was sorry to see it go. I was recently drawn to watch it again after reading "Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live as Told by its Stars, Writers, & Guests". I was captivated here by Sorkin's writing from the POV of an inside look at a weekly late night comedy sketch show, as well as the directing, sets, acting, dialog, pacing, & camera work - love the signature extended "walk and talks" throughout the series. In addition, the casting of this show was sublime. The chemistry between Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford is genuine and it's so much fun to watch them together. You really believe there's a bond between these two guys that goes way beyond a working show business partnership. After "Friends", Matthew Perry was never better than he is here. Add in Steven Weber, Amanda Peet, Sarah Paulson (excellent on a couple of episodes of "Deadwood" by the way), Timothy Busfield ("Thirtysomething"), D.L. Hughley, Simon Helberg ("The Big Bang Theory"), John Goodman ("I don't roll on Shabbos!")...what more could you want? Weber, in particular, is a standout as a network executive. His performance is electric.The subject matter here is unique - not another overly simplistic police procedural or medical drama. After reading "Live From New York: An Uncensored History...", I found Sorkin's writing about the inner workings of a late night sketch show to be spot on. Something I didn't truly appreciate the first time around and in a completely different league than "30 Rock". Tina Fey is great, but she's no Aaron Sorkin.I agree with the other reviewers here. This show is a lost gem. Some of the references are a bit dated, but ignore those and watch this series. If you like smart writing, great dialog, and enjoy watching a superb ensemble of actors doing what they do at their very best, you will not be disappointed. Although, if you're like me, you'll be left wishing there was more than just this one season.
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