Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

[Neuqua]

I don't know why but I'm liking this considerably more than Heroes, and yet America does not agree with me.

[dime]

the show is definitely not as sharp as sportsnight was...but that doesn't mean it's bad. just not sorkin at his finest.

the "stolen material" about dropping food with bombs and all that was embarassingly unfunny.

[vex]

Yeah, it wasn't a funny sketch, but it made for a good episode.

[sterlingice]

Good news from the full ratings for Monday

Heroes is helping the peacock fly.

The freshman show, about regular folks the world over who discover they have super powers, has seen its audience grow each of its three week. Last night's episode grew 7 percent from the previous week in adults 18-49.


The episode, which featured the introduction of effectively creepy arch-villain Sylar, scored a 5.9 rating, 14 share in adults 18-49, with 13.3 million viewers overall, making it the number one new show of the fall season. The show helped Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip recover from a slide last Monday--last night, Studio grew 12 percent from the week before.

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/art...ticle_7955.asp
NBC's 'Studio 60' tumbles to new low
Troubled drama falls 18 percent, to a 3.1 in 18-49s

By Toni Fitzgerald
Oct 17, 2006

After recording its first week-to-week uptick in ratings last week, NBC’s highly touted drama “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” dipped to a series-low for last night’s episode, erasing all of the previous week’s gains and then some.

The 10 p.m. show averaged a 3.1 in adults 18-49, according to Nielsen overnights, down 18 percent from last week’s 3.8. It was also down 9 percent from the show’s previous low, a 3.4 on Oct. 2.

“Strip” dipped to third place in the timeslot, behind ABC’s “What About Brian,” which was up week to week from its premiere.

So what’s the problem with “Strip?” Though certainly one issue, already raised by media people, is that the show is too inside Hollywood to draw non-media junkies, it may also be that the show’s quality is sliding.

After an excellent pilot, the show has slumped into inertia of sorts, with a love story that doesn’t go anywhere and no overall plotline giving the show urgency. Another issue is the writing for the show-within-a-show’s comedy sketches. They’re rarely funny, and they take up too much of the program’s time.

Certainly all new shows go through ups and downs creatively, and though the stories may have faltered, creator Aaron Sorkin still offers crackling dialogue. But this latest ratings downturn is certainly not good for a show that media people already tabbed the year’s most disappointing in a recent Media Life poll.

Yet it’s worth noting that NBC still won the night among 18-49s, its fourth victory in five weeks, thanks to the strength of its 8-10 p.m. lineup of “Deal or No Deal” and “Heroes.”

[vex]

[larrymcg421]

I don't understand that article at all. I think the show has only gotten better since it's pilot.

It's a shame that the ratings have been dropping, but I still bet this survives for the full season. NBC just doesn't have much else to replace it with and already have other holes on the schedule. It'll be interesting to see if the ratings spike after MNF is done.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

It'll be interesting to see if the ratings spike after MNF is done.

I'd be surprised if it lasts that long.

[Coop]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

So what’s the problem with “Strip?” Though certainly one issue, already raised by media people, is that the show is too inside Hollywood to draw non-media junkies, it may also be that the show’s quality is sliding.

After an excellent pilot, the show has slumped into inertia of sorts, with a love story that doesn’t go anywhere and no overall plotline giving the show urgency. Another issue is the writing for the show-within-a-show’s comedy sketches. They’re rarely funny, and they take up too much of the program’s time.

I agree with all of these points, i think next week might be the last week I watch this show. Another thing, the only character I really like is Matthew Perry's character.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I'd be surprised if it lasts that long.

Why? What does NBC have to move in there? They already have to deal with Friday Night Lights and Kidnapped. 30 Rock and 20 Good Years had underwhelming premieres and I doubt either of those will survive. If this show was on CBS, it would have been cancelled already, but the fact it's on NBC wil buy it some more time. Also, they've poured alot of money into this show, so they have a big interest in seeing it become successful. Moreso than the aforementioned shows.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Why? What does NBC have to move in there? They already have to deal with Friday Night Lights and Kidnapped. 30 Rock and 20 Good Years had underwhelming premieres and I doubt either of those will survive. If this show was on CBS, it would have been cancelled already, but the fact it's on NBC wil buy it some more time. Also, they've poured alot of money into this show, so they have a big interest in seeing it become successful. Moreso than the aforementioned shows.

ding ding

the salaries for matthew perry and the west-wing alum guy (yeah you can tell i'm real good with borderline famous actor's names) alone give them a reason to keep this show plugging past when they might otherwise cancel it early.

[Joe]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Why? What does NBC have to move in there? They already have to deal with Friday Night Lights and Kidnapped. 30 Rock and 20 Good Years had underwhelming premieres and I doubt either of those will survive. If this show was on CBS, it would have been cancelled already, but the fact it's on NBC wil buy it some more time. Also, they've poured alot of money into this show, so they have a big interest in seeing it become successful. Moreso than the aforementioned shows.

they can just plug the whole lineup with Deal or No Deal and they would get many more viewers.

[Celeval]

Add in the success of Sorkin's previous shows, I can't see Studio 60 being cancelled short of the full season. Moved off Monday night at 10, perhaps.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Joe

they can just plug the whole lineup with Deal or No Deal and they would get many more viewers.

That strategy was disastrous for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and Deal or No Deal isn't even close to that show at it's peak. They're probably already stretching it with two airings a week.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Celeval

Add in the success of Sorkin's previous shows

Careful not to overestimate that.

WW lasted seven seasons & had a good run while SN was a critical success that failed to get over with audiences.

Right now S60 isn't doing either.

[ThunderingHERD]

FWIW, I thought last night's episode was the weakest yet, especially disappointing since the episode that preceded it was the strongest. There wasn't enough humor--Perry was relegated to looking dour the entire show and Whitford didn't have enough screen time. Too much time was devoted to the rather preachy and incredible (as in quite literally not credible) behavior of network execs Peet and Asner. Sting was just a distraction.

[ISiddiqui]

I just saw last night's episode (DVR recording). I like the show, I think the dialogue is great (I wasn't a fan of the West Wing for its very left leaning politics typified by that utterly ridiculous presidential race in the last season), but I agree that inertia has already hit the show. Not good to hit that line so early. I like the dialogue, but its losing me. It's a show I feel I can wait to see the recording of, unlike, say, Heroes (which I have to see the night it comes out... either live or on recording).

[Crapshoot]

Yeah I like Studio 60, but its not grabbing me. I enjoy the characters, the dialogue and what not, but its fast becoming an attempt at a character study - in which the main characters are often shunted of the the side (Sting ? Martha whatshername ?). I want to see it succeed, but I doubt it lasts at this rate.

[ThunderingHERD]

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/54117

[digamma]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

Yeah I like Studio 60, but its not grabbing me. I enjoy the characters, the dialogue and what not, but its fast becoming an attempt at a character study - in which the main characters are often shunted of the the side (Sting ? Martha whatshername ?). I want to see it succeed, but I doubt it lasts at this rate.

One line from this show last night summed up for me why it's not a hit (not verbatim):

"Half of this country hates the other half, but for 90 minutes each week, you two can put your differences aside and shine."

I enjoy Sorkin's writing. I enjoy the acting. But, please, PLEASE, come off your high horse. It's about making a television comedy show, not about solving national issues.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by digamma

One line from this show last night summed up for me why it's not a hit (not verbatim):

"Half of this country hates the other half, but for 90 minutes each week, you two can put your differences aside and shine."

I enjoy Sorkin's writing. I enjoy the acting. But, please, PLEASE, come off your high horse. It's about making a television comedy show, not about solving national issues.

He's been on that horse for a long time now. I don't think he's ever coming down.

It's not always bad. Sometimes he brings out some really good stuff while preaching at the same time. Sports Night actually had alot of preaching, but it was more subtle and done in humorous ways. That line you mentioned was pretty awkward, though.

[digamma]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

He's been on that horse for a long time now. I don't think he's ever coming down.

It's not always bad. Sometimes he brings out some really good stuff while preaching at the same time. Sports Night actually had alot of preaching, but it was more subtle and done in humorous ways. That line you mentioned was pretty awkward, though.

The high horse was somewhat warranted on the West Wing. That show was about the White House. About world affairs. This is about a television show.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by digamma

The high horse was somewhat warranted on the West Wing. That show was about the White House. About world affairs. This is about a television show.

I don't disagree. I'm just saying it's not likely he will come down from it. The best hope is he can be more subtle about it.

[Joe Canadian]

FWIW, I think part of the reason it has been canceled has been dealt with in-show. The normal viewers of a Sorkin show are worth more than the average viewer...

I like the show... but there's something about it that just doesn't get me the way Hero's is. For one, they need to stop showing so much of the sketch show, that pregnancy skit was horrible.

[RPI-Fan]

Originally Posted by Joe Canadian

FWIW, I think part of the reason it has been canceled has been dealt with in-show. The normal viewers of a Sorkin show are worth more than the average viewer...

I like the show... but there's something about it that just doesn't get me the way Hero's is. For one, they need to stop showing so much of the sketch show, that pregnancy skit was horrible.

Cancelled???

[vex]

Originally Posted by RPI-Fan

Cancelled???

"

[larrymcg421]

I checked mediaweek, futon critic, yahoo tv, variety, and hollywood reporter, and there is no mention of a cancellation. I think that post was a bit of jumping the gun.

[Coop]

http://community.tvguide.com/forum.j...umID=700000049

Studio 60 is getting sacked by Friday Night Lights. At least temporarily.

Sources confirm that NBC is handing Studio 60's Monday/10 pm time-slot over to FNL on Oct. 30 for what I'm told is a one-night experiment. But, let's face it, if FNL performs better than Studio 60 — and that bar has been set pretty darn low — we may be looking at the birth of a Monday night football franchise on NBC.

All told, this is a great vote of confidence for FNL and an ominous bit of foreshadowing for Aaron Sorkin's struggling drama.

[larrymcg421]

The Oct. 30th airing of Studio 60 was scheduled to be a repeat, so this isn't the major deal they're making it out to be. They're probably just testing to see if Friday Night Lights will be a better fit for Heroes. It might be, but it should have even more difficulty competing with MNF.

I really don't see NBC giving up on Studio 60 so quickly. They gave Sorkin a 13 episode guarantee and paid a fortune for those 13 episodes. If they determine it doesn't fit at Monday night (which is not where they originally wanted it anyways), they can always try it out in a different slot. They have a history of sticking with low-rated shows, and it paid off big time with The Office last year.

[Coop]

Dont forget Seinfeld, that kind of paid off

[Joe Canadian]

NOTE: I meant to say, the reason it hasn't been canceled...

[Joe Canadian]

All told, this is a great vote of confidence for FNL and an ominous bit of foreshadowing for Aaron Sorkin's struggling drama.

How is putting FNL up against Monday Night Football a good thing for that show? It would seem to me that this move would hurt a football based show...

[JonInMiddleGA]

In a tangent that could prove relevant to the future of S60:

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/art...ex_31.asp#7995
NBC plans major cutbacks in workforce and shows
A broad axe is falling at NBC Universal. The General Electric Co. division plans to reduce its use of scripted shows on NBC and to shrink the network's spending on news, as part of an effort to eliminate $750 million of operating expenses by the end of next year, according to several reports this morning. The cuts will affect about 700 NBC Universal workers, or 5 percent of its payroll. Most of the layoffs will come in the news department. The company is expected to confirm the moves later today. Over the past two years, NBC slipped into fourth place among adults 18-49 and saw its upfront take plummet. Meanwhile, NBC Universal's operating profit has dropped 10 percent in each of the last three quarters. The cutbacks reportedly will include the elimination of scripted shows in the 8-9 p.m. primetime slots. Those shows are much more expensive than reality TV and game shows, and NBC hasn't had a huge scripted hit since "Friends" and "Frasier" ended two years ago. Jeff Zucker, head of NBC Universal's television group, told The Wall Street Journal that NBC pays $1.1 million for an episode of the game show "Deal or No Deal," compared to $2.6 million per episode for the drama "Friday Night Lights."

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

In a tangent that could prove relevant to the future of S60:

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/art...ex_31.asp#7995
NBC plans major cutbacks in workforce and shows
A broad axe is falling at NBC Universal. The General Electric Co. division plans to reduce its use of scripted shows on NBC and to shrink the network's spending on news, as part of an effort to eliminate $750 million of operating expenses by the end of next year, according to several reports this morning. The cuts will affect about 700 NBC Universal workers, or 5 percent of its payroll. Most of the layoffs will come in the news department. The company is expected to confirm the moves later today. Over the past two years, NBC slipped into fourth place among adults 18-49 and saw its upfront take plummet. Meanwhile, NBC Universal's operating profit has dropped 10 percent in each of the last three quarters. The cutbacks reportedly will include the elimination of scripted shows in the 8-9 p.m. primetime slots. Those shows are much more expensive than reality TV and game shows, and NBC hasn't had a huge scripted hit since "Friends" and "Frasier" ended two years ago. Jeff Zucker, head of NBC Universal's television group, told The Wall Street Journal that NBC pays $1.1 million for an episode of the game show "Deal or No Deal," compared to $2.6 million per episode for the drama "Friday Night Lights."

That's depressing.

[Fidatelo]

TV is quickly becoming irrelevant. What a bunch of idiots.

[Joe]

probably because of all the money they had to spend on Sunday Night Football

[Joe Canadian]

So basically NBC is cutting their budget because they are in fourth place... with the result being that they stay in fourth place. Unscripted television isn't what saves networks, it's scripted long running television series that do this. Case in point is ABC, which jumped out of last place on the backs of Desperate Housewives and Lost.

As longs as NBC doesn't cancel Heroes & The Office I'll be okay. I'm sure the other networks will be happy to pick up the scripted shows NBC passes on.

What makes this story even funnier is that NBC is doing the exact opposite of the fake network in Studio 60.

[Coop]

Heroes is doing great in the ratings so that isnt going anywhere, so is the office. this is kind of depressing stuff to read.

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Coop

Heroes is doing great in the ratings so that isnt going anywhere, so is the office. this is kind of depressing stuff to read.

I wouldn't say The Office is doing great. It's finished 3rd in its timeslot and 10th on Thursdays in total viewers the past 3 weeks (9th for the season premier)

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

In a tangent that could prove relevant to the future of S60:

http://www.medialifemagazine.com/art...ex_31.asp#7995
NBC plans major cutbacks in workforce and shows
A broad axe is falling at NBC Universal. The General Electric Co. division plans to reduce its use of scripted shows on NBC and to shrink the network's spending on news, as part of an effort to eliminate $750 million of operating expenses by the end of next year, according to several reports this morning. The cuts will affect about 700 NBC Universal workers, or 5 percent of its payroll. Most of the layoffs will come in the news department. The company is expected to confirm the moves later today. Over the past two years, NBC slipped into fourth place among adults 18-49 and saw its upfront take plummet. Meanwhile, NBC Universal's operating profit has dropped 10 percent in each of the last three quarters. The cutbacks reportedly will include the elimination of scripted shows in the 8-9 p.m. primetime slots. Those shows are much more expensive than reality TV and game shows, and NBC hasn't had a huge scripted hit since "Friends" and "Frasier" ended two years ago. Jeff Zucker, head of NBC Universal's television group, told The Wall Street Journal that NBC pays $1.1 million for an episode of the game show "Deal or No Deal," compared to $2.6 million per episode for the drama "Friday Night Lights."

well here's one viewer they'll lose then. UGH...I am so sick of all the "unscripted" reality shows/gameshows. BORRRRRRRINGGG

[rowech]

TV SUCKS!!!!! There needs to be actual sitcoms that get this...are funny. I watch basically three shows in a week. House being the only one I would classify as a can't miss. The rest of TV just doesn't cut it. I enjoy CSI and Two and a Half Men.

Shows I thought had promise -- Four Kings, a show called Quintuplets (I think), and there was another one with a name that escapes me. These networks are in such a hurry to find the next hit, they aren't willing to give any show a chance if they don't hit it right away.

[Joe Canadian]

Originally Posted by rowech

There needs to be actual sitcoms that get this...are funny.

I enjoy ... Two and a Half Men.

The two statements above do not make sense together...

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by rowech

These networks are in such a hurry to find the next hit, they aren't willing to give any show a chance if they don't hit it right away.

When a Desperate Housewives sized hit is getting more than $500k per :30 spot versus $100k-$150k per spot on the also-rans (multiply the diff. by the number of spots in a show & you'll see how quickly it adds up), I can't be too critical of networks for looking for a home run.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Joe

I wouldn't say The Office is doing great. It's finished 3rd in its timeslot and 10th on Thursdays in total viewers the past 3 weeks (9th for the season premier)

Yeah but generally advertisers aren't looking for total viewers. They're looking for Adults 18-49, a demographic that The Office is very successful in. For example, last week The Office was #11 for the Thursday night in total viewers but it was #6 in 18-49 (behind only Grey's Anatomy, CSI, ER, Survivor, and Ugly Betty). Last year, it was #69 out of all shows in total viewers but #31 in 18-49.

[primelord]

Originally Posted by Joe Canadian

The two statements above do not make sense together...

Well to be fair he also said he thought Four Kings had promise. So we can see where his taste is.

[wade moore]

Meh. I'm really growing to like this show more and more, so I hate to see that it's not doin gwell. But, again, I usually see one show I really like each season get dropped.

[Barkeep49]

While I thought last week's show was poor, it did have the first time I thought a sketch was funny: that Nancy Grace sketch? Yeah it made me smile.

I would be amazed if we don't get at least 18 episodes of Studio 60, for all the reasons already mentioned.

[Joe Canadian]

New episode tonight, next week a rerun of Friday Night Lights has taken Studio 60's slot... could this be a sign of things to come? I think so, especially with the news NBC is trying to cut costs... there's no way they'll order more episodes after the 13 episode run they already have.

Sadly this show is dead...

[larrymcg421]

As I noted earlier, the Studio 60 episode that was scheduled for Oct. 30 was the pilot, so they are only pre-empting a repeat. I don't think things are quite that ominous yet. I'll be more worried when NBC decides to give The Black Donnellys a try in the Monday 10pm slot.

[Celeval]

Originally Posted by Joe Canadian

New episode tonight, next week a rerun of Friday Night Lights has taken Studio 60's slot... could this be a sign of things to come? I think so, especially with the news NBC is trying to cut costs... there's no way they'll order more episodes after the 13 episode run they already have.

Sadly this show is dead...

Next week was, I believe, already scheduled to be a Studio 60 rerun.