Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Studio 60

It's the best new show on T.V.. And there are a number of reasons for that, reasons that come before actually watching the show and reasons that incredibly clear after watching the show. For those of you who have not yet seen it, I will tell you why you need to see it, and for those of you who have, I'll tell you what makes it so great.

REASONS WHY IT WOULD BE GOOD
1. Aaron Sorkin is writing the show. He's created it. And NBC's been plugging that. How often do they plug a show by the creator? And mention him by name (a la: "From the producers of Friends and Mad About You")?
2. There isn't a show like it on T.V. -- in premise that is. Always a good sign for a new show, it's not trying to make a stale formula work, it's its own mixture.
4. Extremely good actors. Always a positive to bring, while not superstars, actors who bring something to the table.
5. Did I mention Sorkin's writing the show?

REASONS WHY IT WILL BE GOOD
1. Aaron Sorkin is writing the show. Having watched it with this in mind I couldn't quite remember what I was missing with him not being around (he left the West Wing which was terrible after he left). Then I watched the show. And remembered.
2. It's intelligent. Sorkin doesn't pull punches with topics, but I feel he gives them a fair treatment, even if he doesn't agree with them. He shows difficult issues the respect they deserve. Not easy to do in 41 minutes of T.V. that has to keep people interested. Actually, it's pretty impressive.
3. All the characters are strong characters. There's no weak character, no comic relief. Each is already quite developed and rounded -- though this does not leave them without their flaws, not easy to write in when dealing with such strong characters. Especially his female characters, all very, very strong -- in every show he's ever done.
4. It challenges you to think. NO SHOW ON TV DOES THIS.
5. Did I mention Sorkin's writing this.

So give it a chance. It's not like anything you know -- not even like the West Wing, it's much different in tone which is good lest it be like the West Wing and not it's own mixture. Let's just say that I stopped watching any and all dramas on TV once Sorkin left the West Wing because all others are formulaic.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

You didn't happen to tape it, did you?

I forgot to DVR it, and I really wanted to.

If you did, in fact, tape it, could you bring it to work so I can borrow it?

Thanks man!

Anonymous said...

Grasshopper, I am very surprised to see you get caught up in this slick crap.
Let us not forget the following about the writer:
"While Sorkin has an obvious problem with Christianity, it's actually broader than that. He thinks religion in general is bunk. In 2002, he told a crowd at the Sinai Temple in Los Angeles that "I was turned off on religion." The rabbi interviewing him asked him if he believed in God. He said he viewed the wide array of religions as "many fairytales" that "seem hardly to be doing what they intended." For Sorkin, spirituality was "a meditative thing that has to do with helping others and not waiting for it to come from a divine source."

What this means is Sorkin -- and all the Sorkins in Hollywood -- are probably never going to write a daring, potentially offensive script with the concept of mocking "crazy atheists." Instead, in our upside-down popular culture, the unbeliever is the sacred cow."

Grasshopper, turn the TV off and listen to music instead.

AaronG said...

First off, I'm not that opposed to Christianity as being a "fairy-tale" for it does have some of the appeal of such tales. Second, he's not wrong, necesarily, when he says religions "seem hardly to be doing what they intended." (of course those comments were made well before his run drug addiction/rehab (so his views might of changed)).

Finally, ironically you call me grasshopper (seeming to suggest your superiority in this matter) yet it's clear that you refuse to watch or engage something with a differing view. Seems that's very un-squirrel like of you. As long as it is respectful towards it, and engaging, then he'll have my attention.

And as far as your crazy atheists sketch would go (aside from it being redundant!) remember, if there were no God, there would be no atheists. Also, c'mon, Christians make it very, very easy to be the subject of satires -- even by other Christians.

AaronG said...

Also, yes, I did tape it, but I sent the single through my HDTV to the VCR which then, slightly distorted the picture to 4:3. It's watchable and I'll try to remember to bring it in. But you can go online at NBC.com and watch it...it's streaming free. Seems like that's your best option.

sara* said...

I recorded it and can't wait to watch it.

I would argue though that 30 Days is a show that makes you think.

Anonymous said...

What? You mean shows like Laguna Beach don't make you think? They make ME think...about turning the tv off.


Also, I agree with Sara. 30 Days is a really good show that is quite thought-provoking, particularly the episode where they had to survive on minimum wage for a month...in Columbus.

mel said...

I thought it was an amazing show and you are definitely right about there being nothing else like it on tv right now.

sara* said...

Hey, Aaron - I went to Matt Hep's wedding today. He's a married man. You're gonna be a dad. Apparently we're all growing up.

AaronG said...

So there's a Mrs. Hep got married. Wow. We is all growin' up.