I started the season loving Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and with mixed feelings about 30 Rock. I'm ending it happy about the news that NBC renewed 30 Rock and with mixed feelings about Studio 60. While I mourn NBC's presumed cancellation of the pre-Christmas Studio 60, I can't summon any sadness over the presumed cancellation of the post-Christmas, creative crash-and-burn Studio 60.
But there's an interesting factor in the fates of the two behind-the-scenes-of-an-SNL-like-show shows: Studio 60 kicked 30 Rock's ass in the ratings.
Now, by "kicked ass," you have to imagine a 98-pound weakling beating up a 70-pound weakling. Or, to be specific, an 8.5-million weakling beating up a 5.8-million weakling. That's the overall audience for each show, and it's Studio 60 with the bigger numbers.
Those ratings come from Lisa de Moraes of the Washington Post, who points out that Studio 60 also won the ratings race in the 18-49 age bracket advertisers love, and the two shows are equally (un)popular with upscale viewers.
So what's with NBC's announcement about how happy they are with the newly renewed 30 Rock's potential? As de Moraes says sarcastically after quoting NBC's praise-filled Kevin Reilly, "it's barely worth mentioning that NBC Universal 2.0 owns 30 Rock but not Studio 60 - that's owned by Warner Bros."
That's got to be a huge factor, maybe the deciding factor, though I think she's simplifying. I'd guess the 60-minute drama is far more expensive to produce and therefore the studio and network aren't seeing as large a return on the investment. I also assume NBC has more promising dramas to fill its schedule than promising comedies, and that they took into consideration Studio 60's creative floundering and 30 Rock's creative solidification. Studio 60's ratings went into a nosedive, so that plus the critical praise and awards to the half-hour show speak in favor of 30 Rock having more potential to grow, à la The Office, rather than crash and burn, à la... Studio 60.
But the fact remains: in viewers, 30 Rock did not triumph over Studio 60. So while I'm not mourning the loss of Studio 60, I can't stomach the crowing about 30 Rock winning the battle of the behind-the-scenes series just because it's a better financial investment for NBC.
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Article comments
1 - TV and Film Guy
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2 - seerox
I just caught a couple episodes of 30 rock recently. I think it will be a hit when more people catch on. Tina Fey is good stuff.
3 - Monkeydarts
Thanks for all the inside considerations. That was good stuff. As a viewer, I started off liking both shows, but with the edge to 30 Rock because it was bright and airy, and had me laughing at every turn. Studio 60's production was slick and sexy, which attracted my attention, too, but the characters just kept getting more and more pompous, which was a huge turn off for me. Plus, Studio 60's weekly story lines started merging together into one big blob of personalities. I felt like I was watching the same show week after week, which made me stop watching it. I started watching Studio 60 to hear about SNL day to day operations, but now it's just a soap. Studio 60 makes me feel like I had to have been there to get the joke. Whereas, 30 Rock welcomes me in to laugh along with them, which I'm still doing every week. I agree with NBC's choice. Thank you.
4 - Bianca
I watched both in the beginning. Studio 60 lost me. It was over-dramatic and decidedly NOT funny. I felt like Sorkin was using this show and it's "clips" as a political soap box. Now, 30 Rock is hilarious. Tina Fey is a great writer and adding Tracy Morgan and Alec Baldwin (GREAT!) makes it quirky and wonderful. AND, a main focus of the show isn't the sketch comedy.
5 - Kate
I disagree with folks that think characters became more pompous. I think if anything Matt was more so prior to the Christmas episode. People can't function in LA if they're not convinced that on some level what they do deserves to be seen and heard. They might be insecure but they have to have healthy egos to put themselves out there, period. Seeing them struggle in ratings (which apparently are dipping on the fake-show) would be interesting. Gotta give them a chance first.
Matthew Perry, Bradley Whitford, and Steven Weber in particular have given fantastic performances and I look forward to the whole cast. When asked to reference a scene I enjoy I can come up with so many I lose track for Studio 60 but only a handful of 30 Rock at best. Aaron's words still pop and things like Tom and Dylan trying to get their sketch on the air or the snafu with the Real Care baby's "accident" were hilarious. How can anybody say the show's not funny? And the 'funny' is extra...could it be that it's not the sketches (which are still funnier than SNL right now) or comedy at all that's the problem. Are people actually upset with the drama?
6 - Eric
The Biggest misconception about Studio 60 is the fact that its not a Comedy. Yes its set behind the scenes of a comedy sketch show, and Sorkin will throw in a joke or two, but it is 100% a drama. I think many people had this expectation that it was going to be a huge comedic hit.
I think if NBC would give Studio 60 another season and a decent time slot(having to compete with Monday Night Football and then CSI: Miami) it could turn into a hit like The West Wing.
As for 30 Rock, I thought it started out pretty poorly, but it has definetly improved over the course of the year and deserved to get a 2nd season.
7 - jb
30 Rock kicks Studio 60's Ass.