posted
Going with the comparison to West Wing, I think she's a far less articulate Ainsley Hayes. They're both hot blondes, both Conservative, but Ainsley is also smarter than most other people in a room at any given time. Harriet isn't really that sure of herself, or that articulate. She works more from emotion, both compassion and defensive anger, and less from an intellectual harvard education.
I think all of them are less sure of themselves than the West Wing crowd was. That was an argument among supersmart people and intellectuals, only occasionally throwing in an everyman to give them a reality check. Everyone on Studio 60 is an everyman (well, except the execs really I guess), so their arguments are bound to be more confusing, as half the time they don't know what they mean themselves. I think it's more honest and less directly preachy, regardless of how people take it. Quite frankly, I think anytime someone hears an opposing argument directly stated on TV it comes off as preachy. People are direct, it happens, like when Matt tells Harriett off, it's realistic.
Anyway, I like the character flaws, and the dialogue.
Sara Paulson is gay? I didn't know that.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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I'm with everyone who thought the last episode was fantastic. The New Orleans thing could've been maudlin as hell, but it actually came across as very heartfelt and emotional. I think it helped a great deal that Sorkin and Co. didn't try to put any sort of political spin on the events of Katrina; they just paid homage to those who lost (and have still not regained) their homes.
Actually, I think the show in general has been getting better and better over the past few episodes. It seems to be finding its legs at last. Here's hoping it continues its upswing!
Posts: 1321 | Registered: Sep 1999
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Yeah, I was picturing Ainsley beating up on Matt.
quote:As to your second point, meh, I don't think you understand them. Or you're just being a fuddy duddy.
There's a bit of a snowball effect. Behaviour that would've been endearing if I had more respect for them to begin with is instead just annoying, which makes me like them less, which makes the next thing more annoying... the big moments just haven't quite worked.
quote:I like that the conservative character is sort of confused about how she actually feels and how she actually fits into the world.
Is that how conservatives feel? To me it just seems really condescending to write the character representing the side you don't agree with as being confused. And the episode about why his ex-girlfriend was wrong to pose in FHM... ugh.
But yeah, the last episode was definately improved.
Posts: 148 | Registered: Feb 2000
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I think Sorkin writes the conservative character as confused because he honestly can't concieve of someone being sure of beliefs he thinks are wrong.
I've been rewatching the West Wing recently, and I'm reminded of all the places Sorkin is great and all the places he fails.
The sexism is really, really bothering me the second time around, and I don't like how he portrays Harriet in Studio 60. A professional comedian not able to tell a joke? It's so patronizing.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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I have that book. It's really disturbing. I recognized the bit when sneaky blonde girl quoted it and was all kinds of "Ahhhhh snap!"
kat, I think that Aaron Sorkin, who wrote Annette Benning's character in The American President, Dana Whitaker and Natalie Hurley in Sports Night, C.J. Craig, Abby Bartlett, and a whole host of others in West Wing, doesn't really have a problem with writing strong, believable female characters.
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
It was a good episode. I think that Jordan is right on in her hatred of reality TV (or illiterate programing, tee hee hee). Still, I'm getting kind of annoyed with Danny and his persistence. It's cute in some ways, but still, 38 recommendations? That's just a little excessive. I mean, it would be amazing to have a guy pursue you like that, but he's got to get the hint sometime. I know I've harbored crushes way longer and never acted on them. It annoys me just a little bit.
I did think that Tom and Lucy going out was really cute though. They both seemed so excited. It's adorable. They both seem like really innocent and somewhat naive people, and that just makes it so much better. Good episode. Maybe not my favorite, but still a good one.
Posts: 1789 | Registered: Jul 2003
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Though, I don't think the date is going to happen. I'm pretty sure that the event that Jack wants Tom to take that girl to is on Thursday (the night of his scheduled date).
As for Danny, I think he has gone from cute to harassment. The recommendations were kind of funny...but when she said that this is not going to happen, and said to please stop, he should have stopped. For him to say no, he won't stop is inexcusable.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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quote:"And the writers she quoted were all, you'll notice, unemployed."
"This was nonsense," he went on. "The Los Angeles Times should be ashamed of itself!" ... Next Sorkin ridiculed the whole idea that bloggers -- many of whom come from parts unknown, bearing grudges, perhaps, and not always a reliable sense of who they are and what they're really after -- be taken more seriously in the mainstream media than any random josephine walking down Main Street. "An enormous rise in amateurism," Sorkin said of the blogosphere. "And everyone's voice oughtn't be equal."
quote:Originally posted by Evie3217: I did think that Tom and Lucy going out was really cute though. They both seemed so excited. It's adorable. They both seem like really innocent and somewhat naive people, and that just makes it so much better.
I know. Too bad it's not going to happen. Jack is going to order Tom to take the viola chick out that same night and turn her off to improv, in order to make her rich daddy happy so that he'll dump them in order to screw the board of directors.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Tom is taking the viola-girl [edit: not planning there for Lucy, I don't think] to the Catholics in Media awards.... Tom... you know, the guy who dressed up as Jesus Christ...
I think Jack is hoping he'll get soundly flamed and viola-girl will share in a lot of the heat.
posted
So, it's not absolutely official yet, but what do you all think the odds are that we won't get a season 2?
Posts: 3960 | Registered: Jul 2001
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At the moment, I'd say not very good, but the show finally seems to have hit its stride, so I'm hoping the ratings will start to go up.
I agree that Danny's pursuit of Jordan is sort of creepy, the thing is, that kind of pursuit seems to be the only kind that Hollywood ever shows. I'm not saying that to excuse Studio 60, just that I'm sort of surprised that other people were bothered by it too. I was disturbed by the same thing in The Devil Wears Prada, but no one else seemed bothered by it. I've begun to think I was the only person who noticed.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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I think Danny's pursuit crossed over a line and that he's going through one of Sorkin's character breakdowns. Everyone seems to be telling him to cut it out and he's just barrelling along. I doubt this is going to be treated as a favorable thing in the coming weeks.
I think that the timing for this, if that's what he's going for, is poor. It's too early in the show, especially considering it just took over a month off, to be dropping a heavy line like that where one of the main characters you are supposed to like goes through some serious issues that make him less likable.
As for the second season, I don't know, Aaron Sorkin made an awful lot of money for NBC. I get the feeling he may have a lot more leeway than other people, but if this were a regular show, I don't think it'd last.
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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Okay, I was hoping they'd change it back, but it appears that NBC.com is no longer putting the entire episodes of Studio 60 online, which is my only source of TV at the moment. They would seem to have replaced it with godawful shows like The Apprentice, and Grease... Oh, and Passions... Posts: 609 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I'm looking forward to Jack's China deal. It's a strange plot line to be excited about, but I think Sorkin set this up well. The deal Jack made with the father is going to blow up because promising the to dissuade the daughter from comedy is the wrong call. I know we are supposed to be rooting for Jack, but there was something too Ethel and Lucy about the way that went down for it to work.(It's also weird that a guy from the PRC would find a 5 second delay so objectionable. I barely find a 5 second delay that objectionable.)
I have a hard time believing that Harriet can't tell a joke, but it's impossible for me not to have a little crush on her. It's unexplained why Matt just doesn't want to be with her. His motivation is poorly done, I think.
Danny the stalker. I thought that back in the 90s, California passed a proposition that funny, moneyed white guys can't be seen as stalkers in the eyes of the law. Every play they make is a viable opportunity. Maybe I have the facts wrong.
The speeches are a little preachy, but these are preachy people with convictions and that's not a bad model for living. I'd be careful disparaging reality TV because it's not like Friends raised the national discourse, but in regards to Jack's boardroom behavior, I do like it when coporate characters call each other stupid and mean it.
quote:Originally posted by MrSquicky: I think Danny's pursuit crossed over a line and that he's going through one of Sorkin's character breakdowns. Everyone seems to be telling him to cut it out and he's just barrelling along. I doubt this is going to be treated as a favorable thing in the coming weeks.
He's an addict. He's behaving like some addicts do. An addictive personality can show itself in more than just substance abuse. Sorkin would know this if anyone would.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Oh yeah, that's actually exactly where I was thinking that this was going. I'm afraid that Danny is going back to the coke or is going to have a break-down fighting it and honestly, I don't think the show is ready for either right now. I don't feel enough connection or warmth for the character to stay attached while he goes through that.
Actually, thinking about it, the letters of recommendation thing sounds like something that someone who was on coke would think was a good idea...
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
The letter of reccommendation bit was right next to a good idea. If they had been faux-letters, all written by him, but in the voices of different people, it would have been funny. Space them out a little bit, one fake letter every other day.
Posts: 5600 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Oh, I know that Tom is going to have to take the viola girl to Harriet's thing that Thursday. But that doesn't mean that Tom and Lucy can't have a date later. I mean, unless Sorkin makes it so that Lucy gets incredibly angry and hurt by it, but I think that's a little extreme.
Danny is just creepy now. I would be scared by a guy, no matter how well-recommended, who just doesn't know when to cut it out. At least Matt, although still obviously in love with Harriet, isn't as blatantly stalkerish and can (sometimes) function at a normal level.
I agree with Jack's move to fight this thing, but I don't think it's going to go over as well as it could. Plus, it weirds me out that Jack is going to "take care" of the viola girl's obsession with comedy. That's just a little strange.
Posts: 1789 | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Evie3217: Danny is just creepy now. I would be scared by a guy, no matter how well-recommended, who just doesn't know when to cut it out. At least Matt, although still obviously in love with Harriet, isn't as blatantly stalkerish and can (sometimes) function at a normal level.
Lucy has been a little stalkerish, too.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I'm pretty sure that Danny is not headed for a breakdown. I read an interview with Aaron Sorkin saying that we were heading into a large amount of romantic comedy over the next few weeks. I think the Danny/Jordan thing is supposed to be romantic comedy, not drama.
posted
I don't think Lucy has been stalkerish. She's been cute and has a crush. Although I'm still not sure whether she has a crush on Simon or Tom. Still, I think the whole Lucy/Tom thing is going to be cool.
And thank god Danny isn't headed for another breakdown. That's way too early in the season. And the romantic comedy angle is a good one for them to play, considering that they haven't been drawing that much of an audience. Hopefully this will all turn out well.
Posts: 1789 | Registered: Jul 2003
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So am I the only one who thought the conflict between Lucy and Tom was horribly contrived. Tom didn't need to lie. It's not like the truth was some horrible secret.
I liked everything else about the episode, though.
Posts: 413 | Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Avatar300: So am I the only one who thought the conflict between Lucy and Tom was horribly contrived. Tom didn't need to lie. It's not like the truth was some horrible secret.
Tom is a wimp. And Matt and Danny are both terrible role models for him. I forget which one of them told him to lie, but it was bad advice.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
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there was no reason for him to lie...but it is not surprising that he did. He is awkward, and doesn't know how to talk to women. Someone who he looked up to told him to lie, so he did. It was a mistake, but one that fit his character.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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Is it just me, or have the last two episodes just been sort of, you know, weak. The first one back from break was great, but the two follow ups haven't really done it for me.
They just haven't been as sharp, in my mind.
Just my two cents.
Posts: 3960 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Me too. And I was disgusted by the exchange between Simon and the writer. I don't care what the issue is, Simon was a total jerk, and he shouldn't have been excused for it.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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He was a jerk, but is it surprising? He is a star, and he along with the other stars think that the writers are beneath them.
Posts: 1901 | Registered: May 2004
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I was definitely underwhelmed by this last episode. It didn't help that every gag was telegraphed a mile in advance.
Posts: 2149 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Lupus: He was a jerk, but is it surprising? He is a star, and he along with the other stars think that the writers are beneath them.
I'm pretty sure that condescension toward Lucy was not part of Tom's motivation in lying to her. And I really enjoyed the last two episodes, apart from Simon's interactions with Darius. Studio 60 is quickly becoming one of my favorite shows, and I look forward to seeing it each Monday even more that I anticipate Heroes--which is starting to annoy me with its slow pace.
Posts: 413 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Simon is being a jerk to Darius. I hope that stops. It's mean; and it seems like bullying because Simon is so much higher on the totem pole than Darius is. Plus, Simon didn't (as he keeps saying) get Darius hired, except by having Matt come round to the venue where he was performing. Matt heard Darius doing stand-up and recognized potential. Or am I remembering wrong?
I also thought Harriet was pretty ruthless in this last episode. I agree that Matt's behavior has been less than stellar, but sheesh, she just didn't let up.
Wheeee, I like this show!
But wouldn't Jordan be better with Jack? I think so.
Posts: 910 | Registered: May 2000
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I think the bit about Matt hiring Darius (instead of Simon) is going to come up, and turn the tables a bit.
In fact, Simon had walked out and was actively ridiculing the previous performers when Darius went on, and Matt had to shush him to hear Darius' routine.
Posts: 3960 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Agreed. Simon's recollection of events is incorrect. I'm just hoping that's a plot line and not a plot error.
Posts: 413 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Oo, did anyone see Monday's episode? Harriet defended Matt! Woohoo! (I did a little happy dance and went back to watch that part over again.)
Posts: 910 | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Not to long ago the person who makes Studio 60 mad e very similer show called Sports Night. I think it only had two seasons but it was really good. The same show really only the production of a late nights sports show instead of SNL. You can almost match every single character from both shows.
Posts: 28 | Registered: Nov 2006
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