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Forget the Cheerleader — Save NBC

NBC is in big financial trouble these days.  The once proud network will be laying off workers and cutting scripted shows to a minimum, replacing them instead with mindless reality and game shows.

TVGuide.com has a list of suggestions on how to save the network.  Number six on the list is the only one that bothers me...

6. Kill SNL and its Progeny — Having two shows spoofing your own irrelevant late night show is painful enough. Studio 60, 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live should all go away. That means big cash savings, and lots of empty time slots to play with.

Continue reading "Forget the Cheerleader — Save NBC"... 

'Studio 60' needs a renovation

USA Today has it's own ideas on how to win back the audience Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip has lost since its debut.  My favorite:

#1. Can the comedy
Sorkin has a prodigious gift for writing witty, literate, dramatic dialogue that can break the tension in a scene. But that's not the same as writing sketch comedy, and his show's attempts to do so have been so painfully dull, they call into question the oft-praised talents of Sorkin's alter ego, Matt. Tell us the idea for the sketch, but don't actually produce one.

Continue reading "'Studio 60' needs a renovation"...

Jeff Daniels talks 'SNL', 'Studio 60'

The Philadelphia Daily News recently spoke with actor Jeff Daniels, who hosted Saturday Night Live in both 1991 and 1995.  The subject of the article mostly involves Daniels' newfound career as a folk singer, but also during the interview he was asked to compare his experiences on SNL to the kinds of things that go on during any given episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.  His answers will shock you.

Okay, not really.  But still, it's a good read.

Continue reading "Actor Jeff Daniels is a singer-songwriter too"...

Studio 60 Gets Sacked... Temporarily

TVGuide.com is reporting that on Monday October 30th, Friday Night Lights will replace Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip for a one night "experiment".

This could be good for Studio 60.  If FNL does well being paired up with Heroes (and it should because they're better matched shows), then Studio 60 can find a better time slot.  But I also don't understand NBC's thinking here... they're going to run a football drama up against Monday Night Football?  And expect better ratings?

In other Studio 60 news, E! Online reports that Amanda Peet's pregnancy will be written into the storyline.  As if her character didn't already have enough problems...

Studio 60 Was Better When It First Came Out

How can you not love The Onion?  Today's issue features an article on how the current version of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip just isn't as good as it was back in the day.  Meaning four weeks ago.

Continue reading "Studio 60 Was Better When It First Came Out"...

Sorkin crack written in to 'Studio 60' script

They say "write what you know", and Aaron Sorkin knows crack.  The Philadelphia Daily News reports that Sorkin's accidental reference to his previous drug use during comments at a recent press event for Studio 60 were then written into the show itself.

Continue reading "Sorkin crack written in to 'Studio 60' script"...

'Studio 60' Drags Down NBC Ratings

by Scott Collins
LATimes.com

Matt and Danny may be pulling good ratings with their fictional TV show, but in real life, NBC's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" is another story.

"Studio 60" stars Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford as a bickering writing duo that presumes to rescue a once-funny late-night comedy show a la "Saturday Night Live." But it's become clear that writer Aaron Sorkin's backstage drama needs a lifeline of its own. On Monday the show slipped to its lowest rating so far in the critical adults aged 18-49 bracket, with a 3.1 rating/8 share (7.8 million total viewers), according to early data from Nielsen Media Research.

"Studio 60" dragged down NBC's performance for the night, although the network still narrowly beat CBS in the 18-49 demographic (4.7 average rating vs. 4.5). The fantasy thriller "Heroes" has turned into a solid hit for NBC, this week handily winning the 9 p.m. time slot with a healthy 5.7 rating/13 share (13.1 million total viewers). But "Studio 60" retained just 54% of that audience -- an anemic figure by any yardstick, and especially for an expensive, heavily promoted show once considered NBC's ace in the hole this season. Most embarrassing footnote? "Studio 60" was beaten in both the demo and among total viewers by ABC's drama "What About Brian?" (3.5 rating/9 share; 8.3 million total viewers), a sluggish holdover from last season. CBS' forensics fest "CSI: Miami," as usual, dominated the 10 p.m. slot, with a 5.6 rating/14 share and 17.6 million viewers.

NBC is rightly touting its improved ratings performance this year. In fact, it's the only network posting a year-to-year increase (up 15%) in the 18-49 demo through the first four weeks of the season. However, all of that gain is attributable to NBC's high-rated Sunday night NFL games. When Sunday nights this season and last are taken out of consideration, the network is actually flat in 18-49, with a 3.5 rating. That means that NBC's entertainment programming is, taken as a whole, failing to find traction so far.

And yes, that includes "Studio 60."

Studio 60 Might Need Saving First

With Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip's ratings dropping drastically from the performance of its pilot, numerous articles are being written today about the decline (and what might be done to save it).  Here's a few of them:

* Throw 'Studio 60' a Lifeline - Times Herald-Record
* What's behind ratings plunge at 'Studio 60'? - Palm Beach Post
* Highbrow 'Studio 60' Turning Off Audience - New York Post