I think I spent my extra hour yesterday watching television shows. Now, regular blog readers are aware that SB and I do not have television reception. When we watch TV shows, it’s at Sailor Parent’s house or care of the fabulous wonderment of Netflix. But, lo, I have no discovered that nbc.com will show me the latest episode of any of their shows. Ruh-roh.
So I decided to give Studio 60 another go. I’m a big fan of The West Wing — such a fan, actually, that SB and I got the pilot of Studio 60 on Netflix before the show began. The pilot was cute, I thought, but didn’t really wow me. Then we watched the second episode. Then we stopped. I’ve heard mixed reviews, mostly that the comedy show-within-a-show isn’t actually very funny and that it spends too much time preaching to you. Now, the preaching was pretty common on The West Wing, but it really fit with the characters there. They were actively and earnestly trying to save the world in every episode. The stuff they dealt with was important — wars, and people starving and national budgets and stuff. With Studio 60, I expected they’d still think it was important, but more in a Sports Night kind of way. I expected them to have more personality, more sense of humor.
I did not expect a ten minute tour of the flipping sound stage. Yawn. Plus, the whole “he was a blacklisted writer” thing was telescoped way out, perhaps mostly because it was a rehash of about eight different The West Wing plotlines. It just felt so done. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ve seen this storyline. Random person wanders into your temple-of-work, and you try to dismiss him but it turns out he knows a lot more about it than you and is a piece of living history. It’s like that West Wing episode where Charlie found the letter written to Roosevelt. And once again, the Aaron Sorkin hiring committee busts out and hires the weirdest people for the job openings in the weirdest ways possible. Who hires a staff writer like they’re recruiting for the CIA? In The West Wing, it worked because, well, sometimes they were actually recruiting for the CIA. Here… not so much.
Word on the street is that this show isn’t going to last out the season. I want it to hit its groove, really I do, because I dearly, dearly loved TWW… but I’m a huge Sorkin fan and I don’t see the need to be going back for more episodes. So I can’t imagine what people who aren’t big fans are thinking.
So anyway, that was that. Usually I heard about the goings-on of Studio 60 in the same breath as 30 Rock, which is the Tina Fey sitcom (I can’t be the only person who always wants to write Tina Fet, like she walked out of Attack of the Clones or something, can I?) about the goings-on backstage at another SNL-type show. I find it odd that the same network is pitting a drama against a sitcom about the same topic. I also find the sitcom itself to be extremely, extremely, extremely odd. It’s partially the filming style, which is very out of the ordinary (and not in a good way) — doesn’t have that “set” feeling. Also, the short, jumpy scenes, the total lack of soundtrack, I just wasn’t quite sure what I was watching. Add that to a bunch of really, really unfunny jokes, and a plot that was cut whole cloth out of a Sex in the City episode from, what? Eight years ago? Ten? and I’m wondering what everyone is raving about.
I finally did watch the latest episode of Veronica Mars, btw. (Usual white text.) Eh. I don’t understand it, personally. I’m not clear on how a lowly Vanity Fair reporter actually bugs a cellphone, and how many hours of inane cellphone conversations he must have listened to to get to the one moment in time wherein Logan actually tracked down Charlie and called him, not to mention how the conversation between Logan and Real! Charlie must have progressed, unless Logan left a message for Charlie and it was Fake! Cahrlie that called back. Also, did the guy in the ATM photo look familiar to anyone else? Anyhoo, not exactly up to snuff, IMO. Or maybe I’m just spoiled by watching whole seasons at once on DVD.
So I’ll go back to televion on DVDs, I think. We’re working our way through Battlestar Galactica at the moment, which is very well done, but so frickin’ bleak I need a lot of breathing room between each disc.
We watched some movies this weekend as well. Just like Heaven, the film version of the novel If Only It Were True, which I received in a goody bag in RWA a few years back. I remember it saying on the front cover that it was soon to be a motion picture, but the title change threw me for a loop and I never did see it in theaters. (The book is very good.) Anyway, it was cute. Reese Witherspoon is always top notch, and there were some genuinely funny scenes, but the romantic conflict felt vaguely slight to me. But if you’re looking for a sweet story with some good performances (and one of the most beautiful apartments you ever will see) check it out.
Then we saw Failsafe, and, apparently much like everyone else who saw it, enjoyed it decidedly less than Dr. Strangelove. What can I say? I like my nuclear holocausts with a dose of satire. But it did freak me out. How in the world did we ever survive the Cold War? Seriously… how? And of course, it gave me bad dreams, none of which starred a matador, one of which required me to avert the bombers by entering the Maori name for New Zealand into the bombers’ radio signals, and of course, I couldn’t remember if it was Aeoteroa or Aotearoa (it’s the latter).
I have weird dreams.
And we watched Broadcast News, and for people who know more about movies than me (yes, Gina, I’m talking to you), how old are the characters supposed to be in that film? Late 20s? early 30s? They look a little older than me, but I’m not sure if I think that because I tend to think of those actors as being older than me or because it was the 80s or because they were older than me but were supposed to be playing my age or what. Sailor Boy’s theory is that it’s a film about how the stuff you do in your twenties doesn’t end up mattering all that much anyway. I don’t know how much I liked the denounment of the story, which felt flat (yet inexorable), but I really did enjoy the characters and how it refused to take the easy way out at any opportunity. It felt very real. I also loved the DC setting, of course, which made it feel even more real, and that these people might be friends of mine. Also, William Hurt has a cute butt. Oh, and the character of Sally, the tall, beautiful late night producer slut that Casey sleeps with in Sports Night is totally based on Jennifer. (Sailor Boy has instructed me to clarify that he was the one to point that out.)
And, to round up this whole film-entertainment weekend here at Diana’s Diversions, we also re-watched The Big Lebowski and Moulin Rouge. Classics, still such joys to watch. There are a few movies out or coming out that I’m looking forward to. The Prestige, One Night with the King (might wait for that on DVD) and The Fountain, which I’m totally seeing on the big screen and I don’t care who tells me it’s supposed to be some incomprehensible mess. It shall be my big incomprehensible mess. Mine and Hugh Jackman’s.
October 30th, 2006 at 8:39 am
Broadcast News was my favorite movie for a while when I was a kid! Yes, I was a strange kid. Anyway, I rewatched it a couple years ago, and didn’t see it as being about stuff you do in your 20’s that doesn’t end up mattering anyway, but about a group of people in their 30’s who miss their last chance at real closeness. I found the end really sad.
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 9:32 am
BSG, Battlestar Galactica, is my favorite show on television. We (me and the hubs) have an extra copy of the initial mini-series that we loan out to get people hooked.
I do like Heroes, and I watch some other shows because I adore the leading men, but I could walk away from it all and only watch BSG.
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 9:46 am
We watched Roman Holiday and A Room With a View in preparation for our trip this week. Interestingly, I found the pace in Roman Holiday to be remarkably slow. Audrey Hepburn is asleep or in a daze for the first forty minutes of the movie. And then when the action does get going, it slows right back down. There are a lot of scenes where characters are merely looking at each other with no dialogue. Then, the romance just all of a sudden…happens. And in the end…there’s no happy ending! I’d forgotten that part.
But A Room With a View…ahhh, just delicious, beautifully photographed, what a story and what a romance. Just as good as the book.
Marley = )
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 10:07 am
BSG is one of the few my husband and I watch together (the other 2 are heroes and 24). I have the Tivo crammed with fabulous television, but those are the only 3 he cares about .
Big Lebowski is one of my absolute favorites! Diana – any plans to see Little Children? I loved the book, and I think it’s one of the few movies I’ll get a babysitter for.
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 10:24 am
I am also watching “Battlestar Galactica” on DVD. I just finished season 1 and have started 2.0. Evil, evil, I tell you! It is so bleak that I must watch the next episode immediately, hoping that one good little thing might happen.
But I also like the bleak. I like that they make you really believe that this small contigency of humans is all alone in the universe by covering topics like running out of water or fuel. Things that Star Trek never bothered to worry about.
“Veronica” is just not as good as it used to be…and boy do I hate to say that. By not showing the core characters often enough, we miss out on the fun Veronica banter. Her dad has absolutely no connection to what is going on with Veronica anymore…before the big mystery very much involved him. I miss Wallace and Weasel and Mac.
I am guessing for budgetary reasons they are saving these characters to appear in pivotal episodes later on in the season. It is the only thing that makes any sense. Wish they gave VM a little more dough!
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 10:39 am
If you’re on nbc.com or itunes, check out The Office episodes. It’s the best show on TV right now!
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 11:17 am
Max, is the real tragedy that nobody SEEMED sad by the end? But I felt it was just that they’d all kind of… chilled out?
_______________
Heather, I originally saw the miniseries in Australia, and then my brother tried to get me to watch it, but I got as far as the episode where they had to jump every 39 minutes or whatever and was all, “That’s enough for me!” But now Max above, and others, are trying to get me back into it.
_______________
Marley, I never liked Roman Holiday growing up, but I watched it again a few months ago and I completely adored it. The pacing works fine for me, and yeah, the romance is sudden, but it’s movie land. (Says the girl who just watched Moulin Rouge.)
_________________
Jami, Sailor Boy’s parents went to a sneak of LC and came back with less-than-stellar reports. I think I’m going to wait for the DVD.
__________________
Kristin, I do like that they think about those things. Have you ever watched Farscape? They also worry a lot about running out of food and stuff. I can only put up with the bad stuff for so long, though. Starving was always just a jumping off place for Farscape’s plotlines.
And I don’t know what to think of Veronica Mars. It just seems so odd to me to have show after show of “Mac just stepped out.” And I would like Keith involved. Or at least not just FORGETTING about his whole stolen art thing — what are they thinking with him this season? But I guess that’s always the way. Look at Buffy. They were never quite sure to what to do with Giles once they got out of high school.
_______________
Allison, I watched the British version, which I liked. I wasn’t sure what they’d do with an Americanized one, so I’ve been staying away.
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 11:31 am
BSG and Lost I watch with the bf mainly so I can yell at the characteres about what awful people I think they are. I don’t know, for some reason I enjoy that.
I sorta wish VMars had ended at season 1. I’ve enjoyed season 2 and some of season 3, but 1 was Perfect.
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
Word is that even though NBC orderd up three more episodes of Studio 60, the show is history.
The ratings are dreadful and there’s the following from Roger Friedman at FOXnews.com:
“Sorkin and friends will argue that NBC has done something wrong, or that the audience isn’t smart enough. Alas, in this case, neither is true. ‘Studio 60′—as I wrote on August 7th after viewing the pilot—is just a bad show. There’s nothing wrong with the acting, directing, or dialogue writing. But the premise is faulty. No one cares whether a bunch of over caffeinated, well off yuppies, some with expensive drug habits, put on a weekly comedy sketch show from Los Angeles.
Even worse: no one cares whether or not the people from the Bartlett White House puts on a comedy show. That’s what ‘Studio 60′ is, essentially: the “West Wing” annual talent show. There’s so much earnestness involved in this endeavour, you start to think that nuclear war will be declared if the ‘Studio 60′ staff doesn’t air some joke—usually one we don’t hear anyway. The whole thing just feels weighted down and frankly, not entertaining.”
Entertaining…that’s always the bottom line.
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 1:55 pm
I’m loving Studio 60, which is the only show I’m watching on TV. I’ve even let HEROES go (although I did like it).
I tried 30 Rock, and didn’t really like it. It is odd.
I did hear that Studio 60 won a “save an endangered TV show” poll on E! and that they just ordered three more scripts, so it ain’t dead yet!
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 2:59 pm
I hereby confess… I don’t like Broadcast News. It reminds me too much of the people I work with. It’s hard to get close to journalists in my experience. I have no idea how old the characters are supposed to be. I assumed at the end they were in their 40’s? Late 30’s? I did like the one scene where Joan Cusak is (in spite of everything) getting that piece to air. Been there. Done that. No fun. But they made it look funny.
However I LOVE Roman Holiday, pacing and all.
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
larramie, that’s so funny, because that’s EXACTLY, what I thought of S60. It was like hte same schtick reallyw orked for me ont eh West Wing, because the stuff they did was important. It built hospitals and stopped wars and cured cancer and shut down the KK and stuff. I don’t feel that way here. I feel as if they should feel really attached to what they are doing — hell, I write comedy and I think it’s important — but I didn’t feel the same global sense of investment.
I compare it to Sports Night a lot because there I felt like when they got all up in arms about some issue they were having on the show, it really was an issue about sports. And yeah, SN was a sitcom so they could be lighter about it, but still. I just wish they’d lighten up occasionally. And stop stealing plots from West Wing.
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
Joan Cusack is an excellent comic actress. I almost always enjoy her work.
My favorite Joan line is a toss up between:
“Six thousand dollars? It’s not even leather!”
and
“Sometimes, I sing and dance around my house in my underwear. Doesn’t make me Madonna; never will.”
Which of course, are amazing lines all on their own; but Joan’s delivery is spectacular.
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
I’m watching Studio 60, but feeling very ambivalent about it. I’m watching it mainly because I love the actors–Bradley Whitford, Matthew Perry, Steven Weber (plus it’s nice to see Amanda Peet acting in a non-slutty role for once). I’ll continue to watch it to watch the acting, but if it’s cancelled I won’t be too sad. I’m hoping it steps up soon. I’m interested in the characters, but not as much as I should be at this point. If not that I DVR it (like TiVo but without the bells and whistles), I don’t know that I could sit through the commercials.
I’m also DVR’ing MEN IN TREES. Has anyone seen that? It’s on Friday nights, which IMO is a horrible night to get a new show started. I began watching it b/c it stars Anne Heche, who used to act on an old soap opera I was once addicted to and which got cancelled, and because the Alaska setting is actually B.C. The first couple of episodes, I thought it was going the same way as Studio 60. But now I’ve really gotten into the characters and am really enjoying the show.
Cindy
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 4:55 pm
Colleen, thank you for saying that. I thought I was gonna be the only dissenter about Studio 60.
I love it, too. In fact, it’s my favorite of all the new shows. I’d give up every single other one before that one. It helps that I never watched West Wing (I hate politics), so I don’t have the “didn’t we already see this?” feeling. I love the dialogue and the relationships and I feel there’s a lot of chemistry between characters. It annoys me that they’re planning to dump it, because it may not be in the top 25 (the only new shows that are, are Ugly Betty and Shark, neither of which, IMO, deserve it) but it has better ratings than other shows on that and other nights. Can’t they get rid of Friday Night Lights instead?
I started watching Veronica Mars on DVD this weekend. I can’t agree that it’s a perfect show. It began with a huge, huge, annoying cliche (people you love always let you down). And PUH-LEEZE! It wasn’t enough that her boyfriend dumped her without reason, her best friend was murdered, her father lost his job, her spoiled, stupid friends ostracised her and her mother left. No, she has to be date-raped, too. Toooo much.
I’m enjoying it for the most part, but I’m pissed that Troy turned evil out of the blue. So my love isn’t so strong that future seasons will disappoint me too much.
[Reply]
October 30th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
Wait, so she’s NOT playing a “slutted up” part? What was all that stuff last week about the underground sex clubs?
It’s funny, but momst of hte people who have told me they like it are people who never watched the West Wing. I wonder… compared to TWW, I just don’t see the draw.
And there shall be no dissing of VM Season 1 on this blog! It *is* perfect.
The whole point is that this poor girl, at 16, had everything in the world thrown at her. She and her dad have an us-against-the-world stand and that’s why. It’s the old thing of “chase your characters up a tree and then start throwing rocks at them.” There’s a reason Veronica has turned prickly. She’s a survivor.
[Reply]
October 31st, 2006 at 2:41 am
Studio 60 cancellation imminent.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,226092,00.html
[Reply]
October 31st, 2006 at 9:33 am
I was really tired when I started watching the first episode of Studio 60 and it just seemed too much like what I didn’t love about The West Wing, all that intensity striding down the hallways. But then, thanks to Tivo, I watched it the next day, wide awake, and loved it. It’s a smart show with great characters, especially Matthew Perry. But, I sort of agree with the writer in the piece linked above which basically says the show isn’t working because noone really cares about getting the perfect skit for a ’saturday night live’ type show. I’ve noticed the last two episodes aren’t as compelling, especially when they focus on the show within the show. I hate to see it cancelled so soon though.
Favorite new show for me now is Brothers and Sisters, kind of a modern day ThirtySomething, with Calista Flockhart, Sally Field, and Rachel Griffith.
[Reply]
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:30 pm
I don’t know why this keeps happening to me.
I posted an apology a few days ago, Diana. It was here. I saw it. And now it’s not.
I’m sorry for dissing a show you love on your blog. I hate when people do that to me, so I shouldn’t have done it here. It just so happened that all the thoughts floating in my head coincided iwth your post.
I don’t think VM is prickly at all. I love her. I love who she is, how smart and fearless. I adore her father, and think most of the characterization (especially Logan) is really well done.
[Reply]
December 12th, 2010 at 5:39 am
It’s reported Sarah Palin is planning on visiting the United Kingdom. How’s she ever going to know where it is – unless she can see it from her house? LOL!
[Reply]